Francesca LeDonne Photo

NYRA highlights Belmont Stakes Racing Festival policies

by Pat McKenna, Mark Bardack

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced various fan-related policies for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will be held at historic Saratoga Race Course from June 6 through June 9.

On both Thursday, June 6, and Sunday, June 9, admission gates open to the public at 11 a.m. prior to post time at 12:50 p.m. On Friday, June 7, admission gates open to the public at 10:30 a.m. prior to 12:20 p.m. post time.

Belmont Stakes Day, June 8, will feature an early post time of 10:45 a.m. Admission gates open to the public on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Backyard picnic tables will be available free of charge on a first come, first served basis during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Fans can access the backyard to secure picnic tables at 11 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday and at 10:30 a.m. on Friday. On Belmont Stakes Day, fans can access the backyard to secure picnic tables at 9 a.m.

Please note, re-entry will not be permitted at any point during the four-day Festival.

In addition, tables remain available in the reserved picnic paddocks on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Reserved tables for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes were previously allocated via a sales drawing.

Launched by NYRA in 2015 to provide fans the opportunity to conveniently reserve a backyard table, the reserved picnic areas for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be located to the north and south of the Saratoga paddock. Admission for six is included with the price of each table, which may be reserved through Ticketmaster.com

Cash will not be accepted for food and beverage purchases, admission, parking or programs (with the exception of the official Saratoga store) during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

The main track will be open for fans to watch morning training Thursday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. The Oklahoma Training Track will be open for fans to watch morning training on Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. On-site parking is not available during training hours. The Oklahoma Training Track is accessible to pedestrians through Gate 21 on East Avenue.

While breakfast will not be served on the Porch during the Festival, breakfast options will be available from the Finish Line Grill, various food trucks and several concessions, including Dunkin’.

Each fan is permitted one folding chair and one 12”x18” cooler for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Small bags and purses are permitted. Tables, pop-up tents, wagons and alcohol may not be carried onto the grounds during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Professional photography and/or videography equipment is prohibited for fans. This includes cameras with detachable lenses, tripods/monopods and any equipment designed for the sole purpose of video and/or audio recording.

A comprehensive list of permitted and prohibited items can be found at Belmont Stakes Policies.

The NYRA Box Office located at Gate A will open on Saturday, June 1 at 9 a.m. and remain open through the duration of the Festival.

Backstretch tram tours and frontside walking tours will not take place during the four-day event and will resume during the Saratoga summer meet.

For information about the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, visit BelmontStakes.com.