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June 08, 2016
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Long Island Rail Road is Your Best Bet for Fast, Convenient Service to Belmont Park for 148th Running of Belmont StakesSaturday’s Big Race Highlights 3-day Belmont Stakes Fest That Starts Thursday
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Wednesday, June 8, 2016
For Release IMMEDIATE
Contact: MTA Press Office (212) 878-7440
Long Island Rail Road is Your Best Bet for Fast, Convenient Service to Belmont Park for 148th Running of Belmont Stakes Saturday’s Big Race Highlights 3-day Belmont Stakes Fest That Starts Thursday
The 148th running of the Belmont Stakes is this coming Saturday, June 11, but the only sure thing about the big race is that the MTA Long Island Rail Road is the best way to get to Belmont Park.
Coming off a stellar performance at last year’s Belmont Stakes when the LIRR moved more than 50,000 customers in and out of a newly modernized Belmont Park Station in record time, the nation’s busiest commuter rail line is once again primed and ready for the big event.
“While there is no Triple Crown this year, we still anticipate as many as 20,000 customers will ride the Railroad to Belmont on Saturday,” said LIRR President Patrick A. Nowakowski, who in 2015 oversaw $5 million in station improvements including longer platforms capable of handling two additional train cars. “We will be shuttling folks to the racetrack all day. We hope many stay for the post-race entertainment, but in any case we have a departure plan that ensures a smooth exodus.”
Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Saturday’s big race is the highlight of the annual three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival that kicks off tomorrow, Thursday. This year’s festival is all new, revamped to feature 19 stakes races over the three days and more music, food and fun than ever. Events continue Friday right through Stakes Day. The New York Racing Association encourages fans planning to be on hand Saturday to purchase discounted general admission tickets in advance for $20. On Belmont Stakes Day, general admission tickets will be $25. Regular daily LIRR service is available to Belmont Park on Thursday and Friday.
Train Service to Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes Day, Saturday, June 11 Eastbound The Railroad has scheduled 18 trains to Belmont Park from Penn Station with the first train departing at 9:39 a.m. and the last at 4:32 p.m. Customers should check the LIRR website www.mta.info/lirr for specific departure times. Two other Belmont-bound trains will originate at Jamaica Station. Customers coming from Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn or traveling west from Nassau or Suffolk must change at Jamaica to catch a Belmont-bound train. Westbound Trains will begin departing Belmont Park Station at 4:19 p.m. with subsequent departures at 4:51 p.m., 5:18 p.m. and 5:51 p.m. After the Stakes race, trains will depart Belmont Station as quickly as possible on a “load and go” basis until Belmont Park closes and everyone is accommodated. Those heading home via Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn or traveling east of Jamaica must change at Jamaica for their train.
Leaving Belmont Park on Saturday Evening Will Still Take Time LIRR customers should anticipate a wait on line to board trains as thousands of fans emerge from the track at once. Once again, the Railroad will be employing the much quicker and more orderly departure plan that it used successfully after the 2015 Belmont Stakes. LIRR personnel and MTA Police will be on hand to assist customers throughout the process.
Stay & Enjoy for the Post-Belmont Stakes Concerts The LIRR and the New York Racing Association say fans can avoid the rush and the long lines for boarding homebound trains by remaining at the track for the last two races of the day and the post-race concert featuring Grammy-nominated recording artist Daughtry and a special performance from the smash hit Broadway musical, “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. The concert ends at about 9 p.m.
Getting to Belmont Park by Subway and Bus Racing fans can also access Belmont Park by taking the Q2 and Q110 buses, which will take them right to the LIRR’s Belmont Park Station. The Q2 bus connects with the F subway at 169th St., and the Q110 bus connects with the E and J subway lines at Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer.
Pick Up the LIRR’s Belmont Park Brochure Customers can pick up a copy of the special Belmont Stakes Train Service brochure at all LIRR terminals and stations. In the brochure, a copy of which appears at the end of this press release, they will find the Belmont Stakes Train Service timetable as well as many handy tips for making the most of Belmont Stakes Day. The brochure can also be found at the MTA LIRR website www.mta.info/lirr.
Buying Train Tickets to Belmont Park on Stakes Day
First race post time on Saturday is 11:35 a.m. The 148th running of the Belmont Stakes is set for approximately 6:36 p.m.
Fares to Belmont Park on Stakes Day
Eastbound from New York, Brooklyn and Woodside: At Stations: One-way $8; Round-trip $14 On-Board: Tickets will NOT be sold on board Belmont-bound trains.
Eastbound from Jamaica Station At Stations: One-way $7; Round-trip $12 On-Board: Tickets will NOT be sold on board Belmont-bound trains.
Round-trip fares from Long Island with transfer at Jamaica: Zone 3 (Rosedale, St. Albans, Queens Village, Hollis) $12 Zone 4 (Far Rockaway, Lynbrook, Hempstead, Mineola) $13 Zone 7 Long Beach, Massapequa, Hicksville, Oyster Bay) $15 Zone 9 (Babylon, Deer Park, Huntington, Northport) $19 Zone 10 (Bay Shore, Sayville, Ronkonkoma, Patchogue, Port Jefferson) $25 On-Board: Tickets will be sold at the higher on-board price.
For More Information For up-to-the-minute service info, download the LIRR’s Train Time app or sign up for LIRR service alerts at www.mymtaalerts.com. Customers can also contact the LIRR’s Customer Service Center by calling 511, the New York State Travel Information Line, and saying: Long Island Rail Road. If you are deaf or hearing impaired, use your preferred relay service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the LIRR 511.
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