What You Need to Know for Belmont Stakes Day

Photo: Triple Crown contender American Pharoah arrives on Long Island. (Credit via Facebook/Long Island MacArthur Airport)

American Pharoah is seeking the elusive Triple Crown at Saturday’s 147th running of the Belmont Stakes.

The 3-year-old American thoroughbred has a chance of becoming the first horse to win the Triple Crown since 1978.

The first race is scheduled to kick off at 11:35 a.m. and the Belmont Stakes race is scheduled for 6:50 p.m.

For everything else, from transportation to banned items, here’s what you need to know:

• Admission

Tickets will not be sold at the park gates on Saturday. The New York Racing Association urges fans to not board the LIRR without buying a Belmont Park ticket in advance.

The NYRA expects tickets to sell out before Saturday’s event due to the newly implemented paid attendance cap of 90,000.

General admission tickets can be bought on Ticketmaster here for $15 ($19.50 after fees) while they last.

Park gates will open at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

• Live entertainment

Saturday will feature a pre-race short set and post-race concert by the Goo Goo Dolls. Belmont Stakes Day will also feature performances by Broadway’s Jersey Boys and the USMA West Point Cadets.

• Long Island Rail Road

Nassau and Suffolk residents will need to change at Jamaica to catch a Belmont train. The LIRR recommends buying round-trip tickets in advance.

Only Belmont rail tickets will be accepted for train service to and from Belmont Park.

• City, monthly, weekly or ten-trip tickets will not be valid on the Belmont Park trains.
• LIRR tickets will not be sold on trains.

Check out the LIRR’s Belmont Stakes timetable and fares.

For more information, call 511, the State Travel Information Line.

• Parking

For those driving to the event, parking gates will open at 8 a.m.

Parking fees on Saturday will range from $20 to $125. Parking is available on the grounds of Belmont Park and will be available on a first-come, first-sold basis.

Tailgating is not permitted.

NYRA will offer a bus shuttle service between the parking lots and the track entrance.

• TV Schedule

NBCSN will provide live coverage of the Belmont Stakes:

Friday:

• Belmont Stakes Access— 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday:

• Pre-Race Coverage— 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• The 147th Belmont Stakes— 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Post-Race Coverage— 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

NYRA Security Restrictions

• No alcohol may be brought into Belmont Park
• No coolers, backpacks, duffle bags, briefcases or luggage are permitted.
• No purses larger than 1 foot in diameter
• No umbrellas, non-folding or folding furniture
• No cameras with detachable lenses, tripods or lenses more than 6 inches in length.
• No camcorders
• No selfie sticks
• No drones or radio-controlled aircraft
• Bring all items in clear, plastic containers
• No glass bottles
• Here’s the full list of banned and accepted items.

For more information, visit the Belmont Stakes website.