TurfPublicists: WATCH AND WAGER ON KENTUCKY DERBY, OAKS AT BEAUTIFUL BELMONT PARK

Friday, April 23, 2010

Contact: Ashley Herriman

WATCH AND WAGER ON KENTUCKY DERBY, OAKS AT BEAUTIFUL BELMONT PARK

ELMONT, N.Y. – Belmont Park hosts the final leg of the Triple Crown on June 5, and it’s also the perfect place to catch all of the simulcast action from Churchill Downs during the first weekend in May, in addition to quality live racing in New York.

Belmont Park kicks off its spring stakes program Friday, April 30, with the 81^st running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Westchester and stakes action continues Saturday, May 1, with a pair of Grade 3, $100,000 turf races, the Beaugay, for fillies and mares, and the Fort Marcy.

On both days, fans can watch and wager on the full Churchill Downs cards for the Kentucky Oaks (Friday) and the Kentucky Derby (Saturday). On Friday, Belmont Park will offer wagering on the 12-race Kentucky Oaks Day card at Churchill Downs, as well as advance wagering on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Also available is wagering on the Oaks/Derby Double and the Oaks/Woodford Reserve Turf Classic/Derby Pick 3. These wagers are also available through Telebet.

First race post at Churchill Downs on Oaks and Derby Days is 10:30 a.m. and parking lots, featuring free general parking, will open at Belmont beginning at 9:45 a.m., with admission gates opening at 10 a.m. Self-service wagering will begin at 10:15 a.m. on both days, while select teller windows will open at 11:15 a.m. on Kentucky Derby Day, Saturday, May 1, only. Post time for the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, April 30, is 5:45 p.m. Post time for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1, is 6:24 p.m.

Fans who want to earn rebates on their wagers can sign up for NYRA Rewards, the wagering program that offers cash back just for wagering on the races, whether it’s on NYRA races or simulcast events like the Derby and Oaks! Members can earn points through on-track self-service wagering terminals, phone wagering with Telebet, with NYRA Rewards Internet Wagering, and using mobile devices such as Blackberrys or iPhones. Enrollment is free and available only to customers 18 years and older. To sign up or for more information, visit nyra.com, call 1-800-THE-NYRA, or stop by a customer service booth on-track.

Beginning on Friday, April 30, NYRA will again provide free shuttle bus service between Belmont Park and the Queens Village station of the Long Island Rail Road on live racing days, with the exception of Friday, June 4 and Belmont Stakes Day, Saturday, June 5, when passengers can board the Long Island Rail Road’s “Belmont Special” train at Penn Station, Woodside and Jamaica.

The NYRA shuttles will depart the corner of Jamaica Avenue and Springfield Blvd. at 12:30 p.m., with an additional departure at 1:30 p.m. on Kentucky Derby Day, Saturday, May 1 and Preakness Day, Saturday, May 15. Return service to Queens Village will depart Belmont Park’s Grandstand Center Gate at 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and 4:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. on weekends and holidays. On Derby and Preakness Days, return service will be provided at 5:15 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

The 59-day Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet runs April 30 through July 18, with live racing Wednesday through Sunday. On most days, gates open at 11 a.m. and first post is at 1 p.m. General parking is free, except on Belmont Stakes Day, Saturday, June 5. There is no live racing on Mondays or Tuesdays, with the exception of Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 and Monday, July 5. Belmont Park will be dark on Sunday, June 6. Visit www.NYRA.com for more information.

-30-