How to Visit the Stables at the Belmont Stakes

Belmont Park in Elmont, New York hosts one of the premiere events in all of horse racing: the Belmont Stakes. As part of the prestigious Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes annually draws the best horses and jockeys in the world, as well as racing enthusiasts of all stripes. You may want to make the event even more exciting with a visit to the stables and barn. Luckily, the Belmont Stakes offers guided tours, allowing you to visit the stables with a minimum of fuss.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Contact Belmont Park and ask about the "Breakfast at Belmont" program. This is a morning tour, which includes a meal during the horses' morning workout and a guided tram visit of the barn and paddock areas. Unless you're a jockey or a trainer, it is the easiest and most direct way to visit the stables during the Stakes. Belmont Park can be reached at [phone].
2. Call early. The Belmont Stakes is arguably the biggest event of the racing year and perks such as stable visits fill up quickly. The earlier you can secure a spot on the tour, the better.
3. Secure a local hotel room by visiting the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau website (see Resources below). Hotels in the Belmont area fill up even more quickly than the tram tours, but staying there will let you get to the stables fairly easily.
4. Take a train to Belmont Park from New York City or Jamaica. The MTA Long Island Rail Road offers transportation to the park on the days of the races, and scheduling information can be found on their website (see Resources below).
5. Arrive as soon as possible in the morning. Breakfast at Belmont starts at 7:00 a.m. and the tram tours start at 9:00 a.m. You can skip the breakfast portion, but if you want to visit the stables, plan on arriving no earlier than 8:45 a.m.
6. Dress appropriately. Though standards have relaxed since the earliest days at the Belmont Stakes, "elegant attire" is still preferred and those touring the stables are expected to adhere to basic standards of decorum (usually a suit or a sport coat for men and nice dresses for women).

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to visit the stables in Belmont and are having a difficult time during the Stakes themselves, consider making an effort at another time of the year. Belmont Park is rich in racing history and the Breakfast at Belmont program runs weekends throughout the racing season.
• Keep an eye on the weather. The tour of the stables can be canceled due to rain or inclement weather and you will have a very hard time arranging a visit otherwise.
• Note that the Belmont at Breakfast program does not include tickets to the Belmont Stakes itself. You must purchase those separately.