Belmont Stakes Guide
Airports
New York has two local airports being Laguardia Airport (LGA) and Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Where to stay
Depending on your budget and your preferences, New York City offers a wide variety of hotels. I always book through expedia.com since their rates are typically lower than calling the hotels directly for a reservation.
Get the best price at Expedia.com — guaranteed!
New York Nightlife
New York has been dubbed the “city that never sleeps”, and for good reason. With well over 500 watering holes, you’ll have no problem
finding a place that you’ll love.
Check out http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nightlife/ for more information on the New York nightlife.
Tickets
Tickets to the Belmont are hit or miss. Since it is the final leg of the Triple Crown, ticket prices will range from $300 to $2000+ if there is a potential Triple Crown champion. If there is no chance of a Triple Crown champion, it is likely that you can score great seats below face value. A handful of people apply for Belmont Stakes tickets through NYRA.com but they only go if there is a potential Triple Crown winner. Look on and craigslist.com for these people unloading their tickets.
Alternatively, you can also apply for tickets around mid-winter at http://www.NYRA.com/belmont and get tickets at face value directly from Belmont Park. Also, do NOT buy general admission tickets from scalpers! Belmont Park has unlimited general admission available at the gate, and a scalper will overcharge you for something you can get for face value.
Unlike the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Park does not have infield seating. Instead they have an infield like atmosphere in the paddock area, complete with concessions and betting windows. Though not as wild and crazy as the Derby and Preakness infields, the Belmont Park paddock area is still a great time. One important note…on Belmont Stakes day, Belmont Park does NOT permit anyone to bring alcoholic beverages into the facility. If they search your cooler and find booze, it will be confiscated!
Click here for a general layout of Belmont Park and the Paddock area
Click to enlarge the Belmont Park seating Chart
the view from section 3C
Just like any track, the higher up your seat is located, the better the view is. Make sure you place your wagers for the Belmont early and get to your seat. If you wait until just before post time, you may not be able to get back to your seat. Everyone who has a general admission ticket to the clubhouse will be standing on the platform at the top of the seating area, and it might be 4 rows deep with people shoulder to shoulder. This makes it very difficult to even figure out where the aisle is located.
Getting to the hotel from the track
Assuming that there is a potential Triple Crown champion, do not expect to leave the track via taxi. With over 100,000 people in attendance, you have a better chance of hitting the pick 6 with 6 singles than getting a cab. One year I actually ending up paying a limo driver $400 for a ride to the city because I couldn’t get a taxi, and he couldn’t get cell phone service to find his party.
I would suggest either taking the LIRR to and from Belmont Park, driving yourself, or hiring a car service. Although the train is the cheapest way to travel, you can expect to wait in line for over an hour unless you hustle out right after the Belmont Stakes is run.
