Getting around Belmont weekend

[blackthroatedwind]

By the way, for anyone interested, the Queens Village walk is easy. It's about a mile. You walk down Hempstead towards the Cross Island, walk over the Cross Island, and you take a right at the first big intersection ( I can't remember the street but it's about a half mile from Belmont and it's obviously a " big " intersection ). You will see the railroad overpass about a quarter mile ahead and the station is on that street.....opposite side of the overpass to get back to NY. I think the trains leave around 31 minutes after the hour.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I think the Q2 will be just as easy as the LIRR from QV, plus I walk along the Q2 route to get to QV anyway, so I can let a bus or two go.

Probably is.

The F Train/N6 connection works because, first of all, I know it, and secondly because I avoid the Jamaica Station area and the traffic the bus deals with there. It takes 10-15 minutes on the bus from 179th to Belmont.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

By the way, for anyone interested, the Queens Village walk is easy. It's about a mile. You walk down Hempstead towards the Cross Island, walk over the Cross Island, and you take a right at the first big intersection ( I can't remember the street but it's about a half mile from Belmont and it's obviously a " big " intersection ). You will see the railroad overpass about a quarter mile ahead and the station is on that street.....opposite side of the overpass to get back to NY. I think the trains leave around 31 minutes after the hour.

Springfield Blvd

[philcski]

And the "super-secret" Belmont Day avoid-the-crowds-on-the-LIRR:

Walk ALL the way around the track to the backstretch and the once-a-year overflow parking, then follow Belmont Park Rd to Spruce Ave, and you'll end up at Bellerose Station which will have empty trains all day

About the same distance walk as Queens Village.

[slotdirt]

I was there for the 2004 Belmont, and of all the Triple Crown races I've gone to with my own vehicle, it was by far the easiest in terms of traffic to leave after the race. The key is to park out in the hinterland where one has to take a bus to get to the track.

[slotdirt]

You know, I'd rather just get there early, spend the $10 to get in the track, then scope out a spot by the rail very early and not give it up with your life. That's way easier than paying the heft sums you'll have to pay on eBay to watch the race.

[-BT-]

Hypothetically if i was looking for a hotel near belmont what area should i be looking in?
Not a big fan of the city so i’m basically looking for a place to park and take a cab to the track, and i noticed a BB that claims its 1 mile from belmont at a reasonable price.

Thanks for all your help

-bt-

[FGFan]

I'm staying at JFK, Hilton, supposedly 7 miles from Belmont.
Plan on cabbing it to Belmont. Is there an easier way. I have a ride back to the hotel friday.
What about on Saturday, are there cabs available when it's over?

Was planning on just wandering with general admission, any other suggestions?

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

1. Business as usual

2. No, but there are buses I guess to Woodside. However, there are two trains from Woodside with the first just after noon. Google LIRR and follow the directions for the Belmont schedule.....

3. Preferable, but obviously more expensive. It could run you as much as $50 but probably not more.

4. Easy and lots of trains. Getting back will be a clusterphuck. If you know how to walk to Queens Villiage I recommend this.

What time do you get in to LaGuardia? In theory, you could take a bus back to Manhattan, about 10 bucks, and take the railroad from Penn Station. Will save you a few bucks but may not be worth the trouble.

Thanks all for the responses. We get in Fri mid-morning. We'll go into the city and take it from there.

[alysheba4]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

1. Business as usual

2. No, but there are buses I guess to Woodside. However, there are two trains from Woodside with the first just after noon. Google LIRR and follow the directions for the Belmont schedule.....

3. Preferable, but obviously more expensive. It could run you as much as $50 but probably not more.

4. Easy and lots of trains. Getting back will be a clusterphuck. If you know how to walk to Queens Villiage I recommend this.

What time do you get in to LaGuardia? In theory, you could take a bus back to Manhattan, about 10 bucks, and take the railroad from Penn Station. Will save you a few bucks but may not be worth the trouble.

.......... i hear ya on #4, was unreal getting back to the city for the 04 running

[dellinger63]

we parked in one of those lots last time and won't do it again....... Friday was fine Saturday wasn't as it's one big funnel. Gen Admission is way to go. See you's in the paddock. Not sure if this year's Belmont can beat last year's but we'll see and I can't wait.

By the way, love the Bel logo this year using Rag's silks.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

we parked in one of those lots last time and won't do it again....... Friday was fine Saturday wasn't as it's one big funnel. Gen Admission is way to go. See you's in the paddock. Not sure if this year's Belmont can beat last year's but we'll see and I can't wait.

By the way, love the Bel logo this year using Rag's silks.

I'm pretty sure it'll beat last year's.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I'm pretty sure it'll beat last year's.

Not if Tale of Ekati wins

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Not if Tale of Ekati wins

1. He won't.
2. Even if he did, it'd be a hell of a time. The '04 Belmont still the most dramatic sporting event I've ever been to, even though Birdstone won.

[slotdirt]

I'm going to go with 1989 Princeton-Georgetown, but 2004 Belmont is pretty close.

[declansharbor]

1. He won't.
2. Even if he did, it'd be a hell of a time. The '04 Belmont still the most dramatic sporting event I've ever been to, even though Birdstone won.[/QUOTE]

Even though my heart sank into my groin area, I agree 100%.

With the final football game at the Vet (Phi/TB) coming in second. Both events ending in typical Philly fashion.

[declansharbor]

Originally Posted by Cardus

You were one of the 30,000 to 35,000 Philly fans that day, right?

Yes. Most of my family was in attendance. I think Elmont is still recovering from us.

[NoLuvForPletch]

Originally Posted by declansharbor

1. He won't.
2. Even if he did, it'd be a hell of a time. The '04 Belmont still the most dramatic sporting event I've ever been to, even though Birdstone won.[/QUOTE]

Even though my heart sank into my groin area, I agree 100%.

With the final football game at the Vet (Phi/TB) coming in second. Both events ending in typical Philly fashion.

was it dramatic because he lost? i think it may have been one of the most anticlimactic events ever, with sj getting caught late the way he did, but i'm not sure i'd agree it was one of the most dramatic...

now the gtown-princeton game was both exciting and anticlimactic, therefore very dramatic, but i was not at that game.

the most exciting sporting event i've actually been at, taking all factors into consideration (how big of a fan i am of the horse/team, if i own the horse, if i bet on the horse/team, etc...) was probably the nyj/miami monday night game in 2000, when the jets scored 30 points in the 4th quarter to tie the dolphins and won it in overtime...now i say it was the most dramatic/exciting because even though i am a new yorker, i am a cowboys fan...but this game was something i will never, ever forget, and i had no real interest other than being there...

[declansharbor]

Originally Posted by NoLuvForPletch

was it dramatic because he lost? i think it may have been one of the most anticlimactic events ever, with sj getting caught late the way he did, but i'm not sure i'd agree it was one of the most dramatic...

now the gtown-princeton game was both exciting and anticlimactic, therefore very dramatic, but i was not at that game.

the most exciting sporting event i've actually been at, taking all factors into consideration (how big of a fan i am of the horse/team, if i own the horse, if i bet on the horse/team, etc...) was probably the nyj/miami monday night game in 2000, when the jets scored 30 points in the 4th quarter to tie the dolphins and won it in overtime...now i say it was the most dramatic/exciting because even though i am a new yorker, i am a cowboys fan...but this game was something i will never, ever forget, and i had no real interest other than being there...

I found it to be dramatic for a few reasons. I was a relative newbie to the sport. Ive never witnessed a TC winner, let alone see one live. Smarty was a locally based horse who defeated all of his opponents to date with ease. He was thrown into a senseless speed duel that made the other ones wilt away and finish up the track. He was oh so close to the TC, and had a whole region so emotionally attached, the likes of which we will never again see around here. The whole experience culminated into that one stretch run. It made me a life long fan.

[theiman]

Havent been in a cab in NYC in years.
In the old days if you crossed over the city line from Queens to Nassau or Da Bronx to Westchester or NYC to NJ you had to pay double the fare. Dont know if that is still part of the fares.

If anyone takes a cab from airport or Manhattan it might save you bucks to be dropped off on the Queens side of Cross Island Parkway and Hempstead Avenue. Just walk the one block across the Highway to the track.

LIRR is safest way to get to Belmont, get there early and plan for delays getting out.