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Step 1
Pick your meet. Belmont Park has two racing seasons each year. There's a 59-day meet in the spring/summer and another 38-day meet in the fall. Both offer quality horse racing and each has its own list of stakes races and highlight days. One of the most important things to remember is that since the track is located in New York, weather can often be a factor. The spring/summer meet can be hot and humid at times, and the fall meet has historically seen its fair share of sloppy and muddy courses. Just be prepared for the weather and make sure you plan ahead.
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Step 2
Dress to impress. Not literally, but the track does ask that you dress according to your seating area. Belmont is a historic track and they like to honor the sport's history of traditional dress. As its Web site says, men and women who choose to honor the traditional are "always appreciated." For the box seats, men should wear suits or sports jackets (ties are optional); women should wear dresses or skirts. They absolutely should not wear shorts or jeans. On the garden terrace, business casual is the dress code. For the clubhouse, no abbreviated attire, such as tank tops, are allowed.
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Step 3
Eat breakfast at the track. One of the nice options that the track offers is the opportunity to have breakfast and watch the horses as they breeze through their morning workouts. This can be a fun activity and a way to see the horses and decide who might win a race later on. Included in the breakfast is a tram tour through the barn area where the horse stables are, which offers an alternative view of the track and something that you won't otherwise get a chance to see. Breakfast is from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and the first tour begins at 9 a.m. You will have to leave the track after breakfast and re-enter for the races at a later time.
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Step 4
Plan for the Belmont Stakes. Triple Crown's third leg is the biggest race of the year and one of the best days to plan a day at the track. There are events all day long, and and obviously the horses are among the sport's elite. The option of seeing a horse complete the Triple Crown gives you the opportunity to witness history. Belmont Stakes day is also the busiest day of the year. The parking lots, food lines and bathrooms will be crowded, so if this bothers you you might choose another day to attend.It's important to note that when a horse has a Triple Crown possibility, the track will be even more crowded, so plan accordingly and arrive early.
