Whether you are attending the Belmont in person or not, you probably would like to know the schedule of events for the day so you can keep up with it on television or via simulcast at your local track or OTB. Here is the full schedule courtesy of NYRA.
THE MAIN EVENT
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Saturday, June 8th, 2002 first race post time: 12:30 p.m. Eastern
Belmont Stakes post time: race 10, 6:10 p.m. Eastern
PARKING: $2 General Parking; $7 Preferred Parking. There is no valet parking
on Belmont Stakes Day. Parking fields open at 8:15 a.m. Because of the expected large crowd, fans are encouraged to make use of mass transit on Belmont Stakes Day.
ADMISSION: $2, Grandstand; $4, Clubhouse. Gates open 8:30
a.m. Eastern.
SECURITY RESTRICTIONS: No coolers will be allowed in the buildings. Coolers
will be allowed in the Grandstand Backyard Area ONLY. Anyone with coolers
will only be allowed admission to the Grandstand Backyard through the
Paddock Admissions gate and the West End Entrance. Drop off areas will be in
place 100 feet from the building. All carry-in items will be searched.
Metal-detecting wands will screen all customers. No barbecues, sternos,
propane tanks or any other cooking equipment will be permitted.
SPECIAL WAGERS OFFERED
ACORN/BELMONT DOUBLE: Belmont Park will offer double wagering on Friday,
June 7th's Grade 1, $250,000 Acorn -- the one-mile first leg of New York's
"Triple Tiara" for three-year-old fillies -- and the Belmont Stakes. Bettors
will cash if they correctly pick the winner of both the Acorn and the
Belmont Stakes. Minimum wager is $1.
NOTE: Friday, June 7th, is a Sunset Friday. First race post is 3 p.m. Eastern. The
Acorn (5:40 p.m.) will be televised live by ESPN during its one-hour
telecast beginning at 5 p.m.
$1 Million Belmont Stakes Day Guaranteed Pick 6 mutuel pool: Pick the
winners of races six through 11, including the Belmont Stakes (race 10), and
you could walk out of Belmont ahead forever.
FIVE DAILY DOUBLES: In addition to the traditional daily doubles on the
first and last two races of the card, NYRA will offer daily doubles on races
6-7; 8-9 and 10-11 on Belmont Stakes Day.
$500,000 Belmont Stakes Day Guaranteed Pick 4 mutuel pool: The $1 Pick 4
produces huge payouts on a daily basis and will only be enhanced by the
$500,000 guarantee. Play the Pick 4 on races eight through 11.
$5,000 Bet on the Belmont Stakes: One lucky fan, determined by draw, will
bet $5,000 on one horse to win, place or show on the 134th running of the
Belmont Stakes. Contestants must be at least 18 years old to enter this free
contest, and contestants must be in attendance at Belmont Park to win.
Winners of this free contest are a perfect 3-for-3 and have brought home an
average of $8,000.
BELMONT STAKES DAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
7 a.m.: WNBC (Channel 4) will conduct its one-hour "Saturday Today in New
York" program live from Belmont Park, focusing on the Belmont Stakes.
8:15 a.m.: Parking fields open.
8:30 a.m.: Admission gates open.
10 a.m.: NYRA signal goes out live, via satellite; DRF Handicapping Seminar.
10:30 a.m.: Official welcome from announcer Tom Durkin, who will also give
track, turf and weather conditions, along with scratches; Subway Performers
in the Backyard.
10:37 a.m. ESPN Thoroughbred Classics, "The Belmont Stakes."
11 a.m.: National Anthem with the All-Star Buglers (Sam Grossman, NYRA;
Mark O'Keeffe, Laurel; Mike Firios, The Meadowlands; and Richard Garrick,
Philadelphia Park); Updated scratches and changes; Mutuel windows open.
11:15 a.m.: Tony Corbiscello Big Band plays on the apron.
11:30 a.m.: Complete program changes are announced.
11:34 a.m.: "Talking Horses," with John Imbriale and Eric Donovan.
Noon: Complete program changes are announced.
12:30 p.m.: FIRST RACE POST.
1:42 p.m.: NTRA winners' circle check presentation of $250,000 to the Silver
Shield Foundation.
2 p.m.: ESPN begins its three-hour live telecast; WNBC will televise its
live Belmont Stakes Special, includes coverage of the fourth race, the WNBC
Stakes, at 2:12 p.m.
2:25 pm.: Clydesdales appear on track.
3 p.m.: Broadway star Linda Eder sings "God Bless America." Skydivers do
flag-waving jump into the infield.
3:26 p.m.: Race 6, the Grade 2, $250,000 True North Breeders Cup Handicap.
Starts the $1 million guaranteed Pick 6.
4:03 p.m.: Race 7, the Grade 3, $200,000-added Just A Game Breeders' Cup
Handicap.
4:40 p.m.: Race 8, the Grade 2, $200,00 Riva Ridge Breeders' Cup. Starts the
$500,000 guaranteed Pick 4.
4:56 p.m.: Tony Corbiscello Band plays traditional Belmont Stakes theme
song, "Sidewalks of New York."
5 p.m.: NBC begins its live television coverage.
5:17 p.m.: Race 9, the Grade 1, $400,000 Manhattan Handicap.
5:30 p.m.: Robert Evan sings "This Is The Moment."
5:58 p.m.: Belmont Stakes Call to Post, featuring the All-Star Buglers.
5:59 p.m.: Linda Eder sings the more recent Belmont theme song, "New York,
New York."
6:10 p.m.: THE 134th RUNNING OF THE GRADE 1, $1 MILLION BELMONT STAKES
(NBC).
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.: ESPN, Triple Crown Highlights.
7:10 p.m.: Grand Finale Fanfare, All-Star Buglers.
7:22 p.m.: Post time for race 12, final race of the day.
BELMONT STAKES FESTIVAL
These are the special events for the week preceeding the Belmont Stakes
MONDAY, June 3rd: Cocktail Party at Opal Restaurant and Lounge. The
Manhattan hot spot, with support from the National Thoroughbred Racing
Association (NTRA), will host a cocktail party to celebrate the 134th
running of the Belmont Stakes, with all proceeds being donated to the
Manhattan branch of Ronald McDonald House. Ronald McDonald House Charities
is a non-profit, 501(c) 3 subsidiary of McDonald's Corporation with more
than 200 local houses providing the comforts of home to families of
seriously ill children receiving treatment in nearby hospitals. The
festivities kick off at 7 p.m. with Belmont's finest jockeys serving as
honorary hosts of the event. Other New York sports celebrities are also
scheduled to appear. There will be raffles for Belmont Stakes tickets,
tickets to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships in Chicago and
NTRA merchandise. Admission is $10 with all the receipts going to Ronald
McDonald House. Opal is located at 251 E.52nd St. between 2nd & 3rd Avenues
on the East side of Manhattan.
TUESDAY, June 4th: Belmont Stakes Charitable Golf Tournament at Piping Rock,
Locust Valley, N.Y. - The fifth annual event is sold out. Registration and
lunch is at noon. Tee time is 1 p.m. and a cocktail buffet and awards
ceremony will follow. Proceeds will benefit the Grayson-Jockey Club Research
Foundation; Disabled Jockeys' Fund; Belmont Child Care Association; and New
York Special Olympics.
WEDNESDAY, June 5th: Post Position Draw, 11 a.m., Garden Terrace, fourth
floor clubhouse (Fox Sports Net). The world famous Budweiser Clydesdales
will be on display in the Backyard, through Sunday, June 16.
THURSDAY, June 6th: The Belmont Ball -- Tickets are $350 for this annual
event, with proceeds benefiting the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.
FRIDAY, June 7th: Broadway at Belmont - Cast members from some of Broadway's
best shows come to Belmont Park to perform for fans between races.; WFAN's
"Mike and the Mad Dog" - In what has become a Belmont Stakes tradition, WFAN
(660 AM) radio's Mike Francesa and Chris Russo will do their afternoon
sports talk show live near the finish line at Belmont Park; Belmont Festival
at Garden City: The Budweiser Clydesdales, who will be exhibited on track
from June 5th - 16th, will lead the parade down Seventh and Franklin,
followed by marching bands, floats and more. Festivities start at 7 p.m.
Coming to the Belmont? Here are detailed directions for getting there from just about anywhere.
By Car From Manhattan: Queens Midtown Tunnel to Long Island Expressway,
East to Cross Island Parkway, South to Exit 26D.
From Brooklyn: Belt Parkway, East to Cross Island Parkway, North to Exit
26D, or Brooklyn - Queens Expressway to Long Island Expressway, East to
Cross Island Parkway, South to Exit 26D.
From Queens: Grand Central Parkway, East to Cross Island Parkway, South to
Exit 26D or Belt Parkway, East to Cross Island Parkway, North to Exit 26D.
From Staten Island: Verrazano Bridge to Belt Parkway, East to Cross Island
Parkway, North to Exit 26D.
From Long Island: Northern State Parkway or Long Island Expressway, West to
Cross Island Parkway, South to Exit 26D or Southern State Parkway, West to
Cross Island Parkway, North to Exit 26D.
From New Jersey: (North) George Washington Bridge to Cross Bronx Expressway
to Throgs Neck Bridge to Cross Island Parkway, South to Exit 26D. (South)
Any interstate bridge to Staten Island Expressway to Verrazano Bridge to
Belt Parkway, East to Cross Island Parkway, North to Exit 26D.
From Connecticut & Westchester: Any route to Throgs Neck Bridge to Cross
Island Parkway, South to Exit 26D.
By Subway: Take the F Train to 169th Street or 179th Street then take the
N6 or the Q2 bus to Belmont or take the E Train to Jamaica Center (Parsons
Blvd.) and then take the Q10 bus to Belmont.
By Bus: N6 (MSBA Line) - Operates along Hempstead Tpke between Hempstead,
West Hempstead, Franklin Square, Elmont, Hollis and Jamaica. Q110 (Jamaica
Bus Company) - Service provided every 20 minutes, available at Parson Blvd.
and Hillside Ave (E & F subway line stops). Q2 (NYC Transit) - Originates
at Jamaica Bus Terminal (165th Street and 89th Ave).
Triple Crown quick links:
Belmont Contenders - full info about all the current probable starters for the Belmont.
Enter to win a copy of "Three Strides Before the Wire", a new book about Charismatic and Chris Antley.