Changes Coming To Popular Race Track In New York State

As the third leg of the prestigious Triple Crown, you can’t underemphasize the importance of the Belmont Stakes. Held five weeks after the famous Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes, legendary horses like Secretariat have secured their triple crown titles at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York for years - that is, until this year. 

Due to massive renovations planned for the nearly 120 year old park, the Belmont Stakes will be moved from its home in Long Island to another famous track farther upstate. 

This year’s race will be held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga, New York in front of a crowd of approximately 50,000 fans. According to the Associated Press, the $455 million Belmont Park Project is expected to last into 2025, so there’s a huge possibility that Saratoga could host the Belmont Stakes two years in a row.

“It’s the most historic venue in the country. It’s one of the coolest sporting venues on the planet, and it’s one of the greatest tourist towns in the nation.” - David O’Rourke, CEO of the New York Racing Association

Big Changes At Saratoga Race Course For Belmont Stakes

Racing fans all over New York are getting excited for the massive event taking place on June 8, however, Saratoga Race Track regulars should be aware that there’s going to be some changes taking place at their beloved course that they may not be used to.  

Per the Albany Times Union, there’s going to be two massive differences between attending the Belmont Stakes and a regular day at Saratoga. 

Tickets For Belmont Stakes In Saratoga Will Start At $50

For one thing, tickets to attend Belmont Stakes will be a lot more expensive than frequent Saratoga Race Track visitors are used to. General admission tickets to the big race will cost $50 - 5x more than a regular day at the track. 

NYRA officials stated that ticket prices for the race are the same as they were last year, when the event took place at its usual home of Belmont Park in Long Island. Still, it’s a lot more pricey than your typical $10 track ticket. 

BYOB Off-Limits At 2024 Belmont Stakes

The other big change for locals is saying “bye bye” to BYOB. Saratoga Race Track is not allowing visitors to bring in their own alcoholic beverages, which they can do at other races throughout the summer. Instead, they’ll have to buy their booze from the vendors on-site.

If those changes don’t bother you, and you’re willing to shell out the extra cash for the Belmont Stakes, you can buy tickets beginning Thursday, February 15th at 10am.