Worked at the Belmont stakes for the first time and getting a chance to watch the triple crown. All the employees are friendly alot of people betting or just walking around. The experience was nice, but Belmont needs a make over the bathrooms are very out dated, they need charging stations/ outlets to charge your cell phones. They also need more varieties of food. read more

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Nearly ten years, I've participated in the Belmont Stakes. Each experience doesn't compare to the previous. Gets bigger and better each year. This year, I had the opportunity to park at entrance under Ruby parking lot section. Nothing, like spending the day around beautiful horses . Watching people and meeting new friends. Staffing Family-friendly. Signature drinks with cups too keep. Multiple food trucks, beer festival on the 3rd floor. Cigars., live music from Diplo. The main race ran around 6 or 7 pm. Dont recall exactl time. [Belmont Signature drinks ]. All I know is I won some $$$. read more

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I've watched the Triple Crown races on tv for a while now, but had never been to an actual horse race. However, my luck changed this year when a few girlfriends and I got tickets for the Belmont Stakes race. We arrived around 1pm ready to go. DRESS CODE: We got dressed up and wore either comfortable low heels or wedges. The stadium is all concrete, but there was grass out back near the paddocks and food trucks. I ended up walking around 3 miles that day, so bring spare sandals or flats if you go with a less comfy heel. PARKING: My friend drove and chose the Emerald lot ($40/day). It was a quick schoolbus ride to the races when we arrived, but a little bit of "every man for himself", crowding onto the buses, and drunk people as we left for the day. FOOD/BEV: The lines were a huge issue, and management should take note, since I saw plenty of people getting off the lines out of frustration. Food truck village had long lines, so we were flexible and chose a less busy truck. Drink lines were better if you were flexible. I didn't mind drinking the "Belmont Jewel" all day long so I stuck to those stands, but towards 5pm the specialty stands started running out, so I went to the main bar line. I ended up waiting 80 minutes to get some white wine. Proper management would've moved the "sold out of booze" staff to the main bar and opened up a few more registers. I also had a bartender try to tell me that pinot noir was white wine. Other bartenders were good though. Credit cards are accepted. RESTROOMS: Again, long lines, but if you try and time it to go when a race is happening, you can avoid some of the crowd. BETTING: Cash only! I rarely gamble, so didn't know that this is a thing. The ATM's there charge $4 fees, so not too bad, but again, long lines. You can bet on the NYRA app, which I didn't have, or on the automated machines, which were confusing and not user friendly. My friend also looks at the horses at the paddock, then chooses which ones to bet on, so an easier automated machine would've allowed her to see more of the races in person instead of staring at a monitor. You should be able to do both. SEATS: Again, it felt like you could either bet smartly by checking the paddock, or watch the race from the stands, but not both. I chose my primary horses earlier in the day, so I was able to watch that race, but ideally I'd like to bounce from the paddock to the betting line to the seat a little more efficiently, and would consider that when choosing my seats. OVERALL EXPERIENCE: This is a once in a lifetime experience, that could be so much better with a few minor improvements for guests that would help generate even more revenue! I'm not sure that I'd come back to the Belmont Stakes, but am looking forward to checking out some of the smaller event days, like at Monmouth or Aqueduct. read more

I've gone to Belmont Stakes event the past couple of years ! Being that I've just experience the Preakness 2023 in Pimlico Maryland , by far Belmont Stakes is the best . Belmont Stakes is for everyone , and you don't have to know about horses , you just have dress up and know how to have fun ! Don't forget the fascinator or hats for the ladies and your best dress ! So let's start about parking your car , it might cost you about $25 and up to park your car . There's a bus to take you near the entrance , my best bet for ladies bring flats so you can switch it and save the dress shoes for picture taking and mingling ( foldable that you can slip in your pocket book ). Don't forget no liquids allowed . They will check you at the entrance . Once your in , you get to mingle with lots of people just looking to have fun ! The fun part , you get to see the horses in the paddock if they're not racing , take pictures . And whoever sponsor the event say a champagne brand , will have they're own kiosk where you can do selfies and take pictures . Maybe some free tasting if their wine or champagne. For the boys , cigar , cigar and more cigars ! Boys make sure sure you dressed nice too ! Don't forget your fedora !There's a stage where you can take photos , and if you're there early they have photos booths and someone to take a pic of you for free . The very last race is held around 6 pm so you'll have ample time to mingle and takes last if pics . The Belmont Stakes is a must see wether you're a horse lover or not ! It's an experience that you'll want to do it again and again every summer ! read more

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Witnessed Justify win the triple crown here and it's only the 13th horse in history to accomplish this feat. It was pretty awesome to see it and everyone was so excited about it! Never seen a crowd so excited for horse racing granted this was my first horse race ever. LIRR ran a special train here on race days, but it took us 2.5 hours from Penn Station to make it here. Put a real damper on everything, but Justify's win made it all worth it. read more

Belmont Stakes - Horse Racing Near Me - Elmont, New York

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If the Kentucky Derby is decadent and depraved (according to Hunter S. Thompson) what is the Belmont Stakes. I've been to a few horse races here before but finally made it out to the last leg of the Triple Crown. Strange as I've lived in the area my whole life. But we did as the locals do - we pregamed the day, walked over 10 minutes before the race, slipped in, watched the race and then returned to the house for more drinks. My friends had just enough time to place a bet and buy a beer. For an establishment as old as Belmont, things could run a bit more smoothly. While our bags were checked, the guy at the ticket counter told us we need to return to the bag check to buy the ticket. Confused, we exited through a door and somehow made it to the grandstand. Whoops, but I guess good for us? read more

I had a good time but I think it's due to the great weather and good company. Getting here isn't hard. We caught a train at Atlantic station near Barclays or Penn station which is about $15 round trip. Hold on to your ticket because you get a $1 off entry to the race track. We got here on a non prime event so it's pretty empty or very empty. Ride took about 1 hour. My friend who got super interested into horse racing told us the in and the out. To be honest, you just have to pull the wallet out and start se game. I play with $1 bets since it's for fun and it's alot of fun. I never though I would get up and cheer for my horse with so much energy. Well I lost the $1 but it's super fun. Food here is so so. Very basic. We end up going to the third floor. There are more options and sorry nothing healthy. I would advice you to bring food or alcohol or water. Definitely water. They don't really check. The place is huge. Make sure to visit the garden and do some horse watching. Don't think too much. Just put your money in or ask someone. read more

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Nothing can describe the excitement and energy at Belmont Stakes. I'm not a huge sports person and I've never watched a horse race in my entire life. But living so close to Long Island, Belmont Stakes has always been on my bucket list. So glad I finally went! Belmont Stakes is an annual Long Island tradition (now in its 148th year) where locals and visitors watch the races, picnic, eat, drink, and just have a great time with family and friends. The betting system is super complicated if you're into that... Make sure to do your research beforehand. Food truck village had tons of great options: Korilla BBQ was my favorite. The philly cheesesteak and truffle fries were a bit disappointing. The food trucks accept credit cards, but the bar is cash only. There are tons of ATMs on site though. There's plenty of seating even with General Admission but make sure to get there early. We got there around 11-1130 and it was perfect. We had enough time to get food, grab seats, look around, etc. The afternoon crowd gets super crazy so beware. Since it can get hot outside, try to spend some time indoors too. We alternated between outside and inside seating and it helped a lot. Such a fabulous day! Overall, a MUST visit especially if you're in the area. Can't wait to be back next year. Kentucky Derby - you're up next :) read more

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The admission is cash only. There's an outer courtyard area with a playground and small duck pond, and monitors that allow you to watch the races. They have picnic tables and I suggest packing your own lunch. You can bring in any beverage as long as it's not in glass containers. You can go inside the actual race way stands and set up on the small patch of grass with your lawn chairs, coolers, small child tent or sit in the benches that face the tracks. You can purchase a book to help you place your bets on the races. Learn the terms "To win" .... "exacta" and "to show" ahead of time from Google; it makes it a little easier to place your bet. It's a fun day to go and you can bring kids with you. read more

Belmont Stakes - During race 3 - Horse Racing Near Me - Elmont, New York

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Food: Didn't eat but I'll be sure to pack a basket next time Brew: Heinekin Got the summer beer special, which was a $5 deal inside, but you should BYOB. But for a hot summer months outside on the tracks, I suggest a light lager or a Pilsner with a higher water content to keep hydrated Awesome place to spend with the family on a beautiful sunny Sunday. You can picnic outside on the grass in between the huge tress providing shade while watching on one of the many screens. You can also make a reservation to picnic in one of their private areas near the track with grills on premise to throw your own party with friends and family. It's relaxing and fun to cheer on your favorite horses even if you don't have $ on the line. It was my first time at the racetrack and I'm looking forward to returning before the summer is over. read more

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Let's first start By saying. The park is beautiful. Went there for the Belmont race. Justify triple crown woo hoo! With that being said. Let's go to the negatives. I had a hard time finding our seats. People working had no clue. We were walking from one end to the other no one knew exactly where BB seats were. Drink lines ridiculously long. Only having two people on at the bars. Ran out of their signature drink the Belmont Jewel. (Really!!!). How you can run out of mixers is just poor planning. read more

Belmont Stakes - Horse Racing Near Me - Elmont, New York

I have been to the Belmont Stakes twice. I have gone for fundraiser and enjoyed the venue and the food. The venue its self is rather clean and spacious. You can watch the race through glass window. They have a VIP room as well. I like that! Don't be afraid to wear a derby hat. Go super fabulous. You may be at the Kentucky derby one day. Perfect practice makes perfect. read more

I came here for a YEE (Yelp Elite Event) last weekend & I had a great time. I can also finally say "hey I've been to Belmont!" The building itself is HUGE! We got to hang out at the Paddock which was awesome. Overall just an awesome day. Thanks to our main man Drew who is back to being our Community Manager (hip hip HOORAY!) and organized this awesome event with Dan with ABR! read more

To anyone traveling from out-of-state, I would say go here when you have the opportunity to see a potential Triple Crown champion. My wife and I were fortunate enough to see Justify win the 150th running of The Belmont Stakes. To put it in perspective, out of the 150 races, only 13 have resulted in Triple Crown winners. It's a rare and exciting event to witness and alone makes a trip here super special. That being said, I can't give this event five stars. There are a few things that I hope will be worked out and improved in years ahead. To begin, we were super excited to hear and sing along to "New York, New York". But you could barely hear it where we were on the second level near the 1/8 mile pole. No one was even singing it around us, which was super disappointing. I think you have to sit on the other end if you want that experience. On top of this, many of the workers that we asked various questions during the day often had no idea what the answers were to our questions. These didn't seem like crazy complicated questions. For instance, we asked, "Where's the Yellow Lot?" And we got an "I don't know." And then we got two different workers pointing in two different directions. Another one was, "Is there a charging station for cell phones?" Again, we got an "I don't know." Another was, "Which places here are selling the commemorative Belmont Stakes beer?" And again, an "I don't know." Needless to say, we lost a lot of time just roaming around trying to find things. Also, just so you know, about thirty minutes before the actual Belmont Stakes race, what seemed like mostly drunk college kids came up to the paid seating looking to find empty places to sit, and some just stand in the stairs between the seats. It's very annoying to those who actually paid for seats to have drunk kids stumbling around you. And here are some tips to make the most of the trip. 1. Go early. Get there when the gates open at 8:30. You'll get to experience the entire day of racing and the lines for betting and getting food aren't a problem from 8:30 until around 1 or 2. That's when things get crazy. 2. Eat a hearty breakfast and hearty dinner after the race so you can minimize, perhaps, what you have to eat while you are there. 3. If you're coming from out-of-state, find a hotel around 20 minutes away, so you're not stuck dealing with the traffic of the event in the days leading up to it. 4. Place all of your bets for the later races at 1 or 2. That way, you're not standing in ridiculously long lines. 5. Make souvenir purchases early so you don't have to worry about anything selling out after the main race. 6. Purchase good seats that are as close to the starting gate as possible. You'll actually hear "New York, New York" and perhaps not have to deal with annoying drunks trying to find empty seats for free. 7. Read the official Belmont website to see what you can and cannot bring. You definitely don't want to have to walk back out to your car and have to wait in line again. 8. Bring sunscreen if hot or a poncho if rainy. Bring binoculars to see the horses on the far end of the track if you don't want to watch on the big screen instead. 9. Buy a parking pass if you drive there. It's worth it. 10. Do your research! Look at a diagram of where you are supposed to park and where you are supposed to sit. Don't expect the staff to know where to direct you. While there are some who do, there are MANY who don't. So, there's my four stars. I wouldn't take my experience of seeing a Triple Crown winner for the world, but I think the experience could be improved a great deal. read more

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We were looking forward to the Belmont Stakes 2022 after the covid shutdown to fans the previous 2 years. Took the train from Penn Station which was convenient but the ride was ridiculously stop and go slow and took 50 minutes. I don't know why but that's LIRR for you. The "day of" general admission ticket cost $50 which didn't seem too bad until you saw the amenities provided. Basically the area provided for GA was the Grandstand and "the backyard" which was set up nice with tables and a large astroturf area. The problem was not enough food and drink vendors and the ones that were there had long lines with waits close to an hour. They easily could have 3 times the amount of food/drink vendors. Another unfortunate result of the long lines in the backyard was they fouled up pedestrian flow and you had to constantly make your way around them. Another chronic problem that is NEVER addressed is the overflowing garbage cans that never seemed to be emptied, It's pretty disgusting and an easy fix if the venue just dedicated personnel to address it. The event is fun with a mostly younger crowd (at least where we ventured) with a lot of security in and around the venue. read more

Like many others, I came here to watch the Triple Crown, and yes, I did witness the triple crown! Please please please pay more to have proper seats. The general admission tickets are reasonably priced but you won't have a seat. We walked around to the other levels to see if there were any empty seats we could sit at, but every door was guarded and the door rats were mean. While standing near one door rat, her supervisor came around and screamed at her: I don't care what you do, just make sure people they don't get in. Do what ever it takes, push them, shove them, block them, use force if you have to. I was shocked and disgusted. Seriously, you are not supposed to use violence and push people down the stairs. Had I not witnessed this disgusting scene, I would have given this place one more star. read more

Came here for a beer festival, what a cool experience. Getting to walk around this icon racetrack, drinking great beer, hanging with good friends what a great time. It was cool getting to see some of the horses out being trained, and getting to look at the racetrack really close up. read more

The "Belmont Stakes" is the 3rd leg of horse raceing's Triple Crown. Elmont, NY is just outside of NYC. A must for any horse racing fan like me. When I went to the "Belmont" I found it to have a pleasantly rural feeling despite it's location. The race is a long one but that also makes it more interesting. A horse racing shrine. read more

We were at Belmont for the race. Belmont sucks (very disorganized -- they freakin' ran out of beer, AND their signature bourbon cocktail), lots of young drunks (at least they were mostly cheerful), the LIRR sucks (huge delay sitting on the track not moving for about an hour!). Even getting inside the track, they only had two entrance gates and people were crowded like cattle (not even like horses). Ridiculous. It ain't Saratoga. But the race was surprisingly exciting. Then we had an awesome dinner in Manhattan. read more

Let's see how strick they are with the attire. Let the games begin. I not wearing anything sloppy, but I am certainly not dressed for a wedding. I may have to use a little tin and card to get my way in. We shall see. I came to hear that horn and the ringing of the bell. read more

Definitely a " bucket list" event. The energy, excitement, and history of this event are incredible. It's such an incredible experience, anyone who is a fan of racing or just a casual spectator must attend at least once! read more

The Belmont Stakes last year was a horrible experience. The event is so poorly organized that even though we arrived early, we never saw the race because the signage was non-existent and we could not find our seating before the race started. The staff had no idea! When we located our area, the Grandstand was so packed we couldn't get in. Afterwards, it took us 3 hours (not exaggerating!) to get out of the parking lot. The State Police finally came about 10:30 at night to direct the line of waiting cars out an alternate exit. Horrible, horrible, horrible. The organizers need to find another profession, preferably one in which a brain and customer service is not required. read more

There's so much fun to be had in the Belmont Stakes. Trumpet player open each contest. Both colts and fillies attend the race. The horses trample the mud with their hooves. Trainers hope for best. Ladies show new fashion hats. Correspondents clear the lenses, but reporters are not in the press pool. Jockeys keep quiet on the withers. All the crying fans also laugh, eat, drink, bet for win or exacta, raise the hands, and stand up. Grandiose! Over the top! read more