NYRA Outlines Belmont Traffic-Flow Plan

The New York Racing Association May 26 said it has implemented a strategy to expedite access to and egress from Belmont Park for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival June 5-6.

The highlight of the festival is the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), in which Zayat Stables' American Pharoah will bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

"Fans are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and build significant time into their travels to and from Belmont Park, particularly on Belmont Stakes day," NYRA said in a release. "Significant delays should be anticipated accessing and exiting the property, with fans encouraged to arrive early and stay late."

Last year, when California Chrome failed in his Triple Crown bid, there were lengthy delays in parking lots and the Long Island Rail Road.

NYRA earlier said it would cap attendance at 90,000 for Belmont day to better accommodate customers. NYRA said that as of May 26 "nearly 75% of all available tickets" for the Belmont have been sold, which means more than 20,000 remain with about 12 days to go.

Officials are urging patrons who use public transportation to purchase round-trip tickets.

Public transportation access to Belmont Park will be enhanced through $5 million in combined investment by NYRA and the Long Island Rail Road. Included is a refurbished transit rotunda at the west end of the grandstand and new station platforms that will increase capacity from eight to 10 cars, NYRA said in the release.

"Still, customers are advised that they may have to wait up to 90 minutes to board trains at the end of the day when tens of thousands converge on the station all at once," NYRA said.

All Belmont parking lots have been reconfigured to allow vehicles to more readily access designated exits, the racing organization said. There also will be new shuttle bus routes, pedestrian walkways, property maps, and entrance procedures such as digitally scanned tickets.

NYRA for the first time has scheduled post-race concerts June 5-6 to stagger the crowd as it exits the facility.

New security protocols have also been implemented for this year.

"All fans (will be) subject to enhanced screening prior to entering the Belmont property," NYRA said. "Guests attempting to enter the clubhouse, grandstand, or the backyard with prohibited items will be asked to return those items to their vehicles or dispose of them. No storage will be provided for guests arriving with, or attempting to enter with, prohibited items. A full list of prohibited and permitted items is available at BelmontStakes.com."

"The safety of our guests, our equine athletes, our horsemen and horsewomen, and all of our employees is the top priority of the New York Racing Association," NYRA vice president of security George Venizelos said. "To that end, we continue working closely and collaboratively with our partners at the local, state, and federal levels to keep our guests safe and on the move throughout this mega event."