ELMONT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - The thrills and economic boost of Saturday’s Belmont Stakes horse race have revived talk of bringing a casino to Belmont Park, WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported.

WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs On The Story

“We’ve been promoting this for over seven years at the Elmont Chamber and we feel that it’s now time,” Julie Marchesella of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce told Xirinachs. “They have to sit down, get the pencil to the paper, come up with a really great idea.”

“There’s a lot of bleed likewise within our economy and within our industry of folks going elsewhere to enjoy gaming and that aspect,” Moke McGowan, president of the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, said. “And it would be keep that economic activity here at home.”

Local deli owner David Mantos told Xirinachs the park needs it, the community needs it, and the county needs it.

“They’ve been talking about that for 27 years, and that’s all it’s been. Just speculation. Just talk,” he said. “It’s about time.”

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