Belmont Stakes Festival at Belmont Park is a horse racing meeting run on the flat so has no obstacles. Different races at the meeting are of varying lengths and have different numbers of runners and riders entered. Like most racing in the USA, horses race around a circular track either on dirt or turf.
The feature race of the meeting is the Belmont Stakes which is an American Grade I stakes race for 3-year-old thoroughbreds run on a dirt track over a distance of 2400 metres. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds (57 kg); fillies carry 121 pounds (55 kg). The race, nicknamed "The Test of the Champion" and "The Run for the Carnations", is the traditional third and final leg of the Triple Crown after the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racecourse. A stunning 40-pound blanket of white carnations drapes the winner of Belmont Stakes in the Winner’s Circle and is one of the most memorable sights.
Elegant attire has long been a tradition at Belmont Park and racegoers love to dress up for a special day at the races. Attendees 12 years and older should adhere to the dress code.
If you have reserved seats (tickets), you can arrive any time that you wish after the gates open. Parking is first-come, first-served, and the first post is in the early afternoon most days.
Breakfast at Saratoga is a great way for racegoers to enjoy the track before the races begin. In a typical year, breakfast at the track is a really unique opportunity to watch the horses on their morning workouts, while enjoying a delicious breakfast trackside.
There are toilet facilities located throughout the racecourse in all enclosures.