Close to 2,000 runners are expected to enter the sixth annual Eamonn Coghlan 5K Classic set for the Belmont Park Race Course in Elmont on Saturday, Aug. 25 when the gun goes off at 5 p.m. sharp. The 3.1-mile road race that stays on the grounds of Belmont Park is open to runners, joggers and walkers of all ages.

Belmont Park at this time will be closed to the sport of horse racing, which is still at Saratoga.

The race is being conducted as a highlight of New York's Irish Festival, which is held on Aug. 24, 25 and 26. The festival contains music, entertainment, amusements, pony rides, dancing and much more.

The race is named after Eamonn Coghlan, who is known internationally and winner of many races on the track, especially at Madison Square Garden.

Now 49, Coghlan indicated that he will compete again, just for the fun of it. Last year he was timed in 17:35 and third place in his 40-49 age group.

"For an old man, my time wasn't too bad," Coghlan said after last summer's race. "I'm no longer trying to break records."

Last year Paul Mwangi won the race going away in 14:27. Over the years, other winners were Jason Brown, who captured the inaugural running, with a clocking of 14:32 in 1996; Alem Kahsey (14:59) in 1997, Trevor Murray (14:34) in 1998, and Tesfaye Bekele (14:43) in 1999. Mwangi and Murray indicated that they expect to compete again.

The Classic, which is becoming more and more popular, is expected to attract the cream of the crop from the Metropolitan area and is being conducted with the cooperation of the New York Racing Association and the College Point Road Runners Track Club.

Start To Finish will time and score the race for the first time.

The total prize money is $6,000 with the first five place finishers male and female receiving cash prizes. Free bus ride service is provided and departs from the New York Road Runners Club at 9 East 89th Street in Manhattan. Buses will return to the club after the race.

Belmont Park is also easily accessible by public transportation.

For further information, call 1-(212) 685-4649, 1-(212) 686-1210 or 1-(718) 762-1519.