Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Contact: Ashley Herriman
aherriman@nyrainc.com
DERBY, OAKS SIMULCASTS AVAILABLE AT BELMONT AND AQUEDUCT
ELMONT, N.Y. – Live Triple Crown action returns to New York on June 11 with the 143rd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes. In the meantime, Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack are the best places to catch all the simulcast action from Churchill Downs on May 6 & 7, in addition to quality live racing in New York.
On Friday, May 6, Belmont and Aqueduct 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, which will open for wagering at 10 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday.
First race post at Churchill Downs on Oaks and Derby days is 10:30 a.m. and parking lots at Aqueduct and Belmont Park, featuring free general parking, will open beginning at 9:45 a.m., with admission gates opening at 10 a.m. on both days.
On Friday, Oaks Day, voucher sellers and self-service windows will open at 10 a.m., with live tellers available beginning at 11:15 and remaining open in all areas until the after the Oaks (approximate post 5:45 p.m.), after which clerks will be available only on the third floor at Aqueduct and the Belmont Café at Belmont.
On Saturday, Derby Day, staffed windows will open at 10 a.m. along with voucher sellers and self-service machines. Windows will remain open in all areas until after the Derby (approximate post 6:24 p.m.), after which clerks will be available only on the third floor at Aqueduct and the Belmont Café at Belmont.
All of Belmont’s regular food offerings will be available on both Oaks and Derby days, with the brand new Heritage Club Bar on the third floor remaining open late on Derby day. At Aqueduct, Champs Bar and the Hello Deli on the first floor and Café Espresso and the Manhattan Terrace on the third floor will be open both days.
LIRR direct service to Belmont Park will operate as scheduled on Friday, with a complete schedule available at http://www.mta.info/lirr. On Friday and Saturday, the final LIRR train will depart Belmont Park at 7:15 rather than the regularly scheduled 6:27 departure time to allow fans to watch the Oaks and Derby. A single shuttle runs from Belmont Park to the Queens Village LIRR station 30 minutes after the completion of the full simulcast program at Belmont on all live racing days.
Fans who wish to get to Belmont early on Derby and Oaks days may take the LIRR to Queens Village to connect with a special shuttle which will depart from the corner of Jamaica Avenue and Springfield Blvd. at 10:20 a.m.
At Aqueduct, a courtesy shuttle from the North Conduit subway stop will run from 8 a.m. until 30 minutes after the final simulcast race. Fans planning to drive to Aqueduct should be advised that the Rockaway Blvd. entrance is now closed due to construction. From the East, take the Belt Parkway to exit 19 and follow the signs toward Lefferts Blvd. and Aqueduct Racetrack. From the West, follow the Belt to exit 18-B for Lefferts Blvd. and enter the track at the entrance off Conduit Ave. to the right.
In addition to all of the simulcast action from Churchill Downs, Belmont offers great live racing on both Friday and Saturday, which marks the return of graded grass racing to New York with a pair Grade 3, $100,000 turf contests, the Beaugay, for fillies and mares, and the Fort Marcy.
Fans who want to earn rebates on their wagers can get paid to play with NYRA Rewards, the wagering program that offers cash back just for betting on the races, whether it’s on NYRA races or simulcast events! Members can earn points through on-track self-service wagering terminals, phone wagering with Telebet, with NYRA Rewards Internet Wagering and on 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 www.nyrarewards.com, call 1-800-THE-NYRA, or stop by a customer service booth on-track.
The 56-day Belmont Park spring/summer Meet runs April 29 through July 17, with live racing Wednesday through Sunday. On most days, gates open at 11:30 a.m. and first post is at 1 p.m. General parking is free, except on Belmont Stakes Day, Saturday, June 11. There is no live racing on Mondays or Tuesdays, with the exception of Memorial Day, Monday, May 30 and Monday, July 4. Belmont Park will be dark on Sunday, June 12. Visit www.NYRA.com for more information.
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