NYRA to Cap Belmont Attendance at 90,000
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In an acknowledgement there are accommodation limits at Belmont Park, the New York Racing Association has decided to cap attendance at 90,000 for this year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) day of racing.
In a May 6 release NYRA said the attendance cap is similar to policies and practices of professional sports teams.
"(The attendance cap) will not only result in an enhanced experience for Belmont guests, but will further improve access to and from the Belmont property on Saturday," NYRA said. "It will also complement Saturday's post-race concert, which is anticipated to further stagger the exit from the Belmont property following the final race."
NYRA has landed the Goo Goo Dolls for a concert following this year's Belmont Stakes.
Belmont Park has experienced problems in recent years with large crowds on days a horse is going for the Triple Crown. Last year, after California Chrome came up short in his Triple Crown bid before 102,199 fans, an estimated 36,000 guests using the Long Island Rail Road were stuck at the track awaiting service for hours after the race.
In 2008, water was shut off or pressure was lowered throughout the facility when 94,476 turned out to watch Big Brown 's attempt to win the Triple Crown.