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The Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, the 1 1/2 mile "Test of the Champion" for three-year-olds and the final and most demanding leg of the Visa Triple Crown, is already one of the great events in sports. This year, the 137th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 11, will again be the centerpiece of Belmont Park's 60-day Spring/Summer Meet, but it will be an even more special event, as this year marks the 100th anniversary of Belmont Park.

Seats for the Belmont Stakes will be offered through a lottery. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, February 28 in order to receive the highest priority for seat assignment. Seats will range in price from $20 - $110, and will include the price of admission. Applications for seats may be made on-line at nyra.com and those who ordered seats last year will receive applications in the mail. General admission to the Belmont Stakes is $10; Clubhouse Admission is $20. General parking is $10, while Preferred Parking is $25.

Click Here to download the Reserved Seat Application for the 2005 Belmont Stakes
Click Here to download the Seating Chart for the 2005 Belmont Stakes.

Coolers are permitted in Belmont Park's backyard area, but no glass containers of any kind and no alcoholic beverages will be permitted. The restriction regarding alcohol has been enacted in the interest of patron safety and in an attempt to make sure that people drink responsibly. "The Belmont Stakes remains one of the great values in all of sports," said New York Racing Association President and CEO Charles Hayward. "Our prices have been raised to keep pace with the other Triple Crown host tracks - Churchill Downs (Kentucky Derby) and Pimlico (Preakness) - yet, we still offer the least expensive seat and admission prices."

Although the Belmont Stakes will again enjoy national and international television coverage from ESPN (3 - 5:30 p.m. Eastern) and NBC (5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Eastern), nothing beats the singular experience of being part of the on-track crowd. First-race post is noon, Eastern on Belmont Stakes Day for a card that will also include important divisional races like the Grade 1, $400,000 Manhattan Handicap for three-year-olds and up at 10 furlongs on the turf; the Grade 2, $250,000 Brooklyn Handicap for three-year-olds and up at nine furlongs; the Grade 2, $200,000 True North Handicap for three-year-olds and up at six furlongs; the Grade 2, $200,000 Riva Ridge Breeders' Cup for three-year-olds at seven furlongs and the Grade 2, $300,000 Just A Game Breeders' Cup Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile on the turf. For a true racing fan, that lineup is hard to beat. Then, add in the Belmont Stakes.

"We had a record 120,139 people attend the Belmont Stakes last year, when Birdstone stopped Smarty Jones from becoming racing 12th Triple Crown winner," Hayward said. "It is hard to imagine a 2005 Belmont that could rival the excitement generated by Smarty Jones, so we are expecting attendance to be lower this year. But the Belmont Stakes experience will be more comfortable and enjoyable for the event-loving fans that have made New York's biggest horse race such an enormous happening. And, it will be big again this year being part of Belmont Park's 100th anniversary celebration."

Belmont Park, which opened for business on Thursday, May 4, 1905, will open the doors on its Spring/Summer Meet on its 100th anniversary date, Wednesday, May 4, 2005. Additionally, Belmont Park will host the 22nd Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on Saturday, October 29 as the highlight of the Fall Championship Meet.

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