ELMONT, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — About 11,000 people will be watching the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes in Elmont on Saturday.
There will be sections for vaccinated and unvaccinated spectators for the horse race.
"In terms of Triple Crown here we could see potentially 90,000 people, but there will be 11,000 based on guidelines issued by the state over the last month for fans. And we welcome them and we're happy to have that many back to kickstart racing again," said Jeffrey Cannizzo with the New York Racing Association, Inc.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said the event proves things are getting back to normal.
"Some people still think that Belmont's in Queens and I want to remind them no, it's actually within the confines of Nassau County and it's happening at a place that's becoming better known thanks to the UBS Belmont Arena," Curran said. "So this is really the hotspot, it's in Nassau County and it's really the seat of true economic development here. We're much more than pizza and bagels, we've got a lot going on here."
For the first time in a long time the Garden City Hotel is sold out. In fact, there is a waiting list.
Folks who comes to Nassau County for the big event are expected to help boost the economy by going to restaurants and shops throughout the area.
A pop-up vaccination clinic will be open at the Clubhouse Entrance of Belmont Park from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Northwell Health is partnering with the state to provide doses of the Johnson & Johnson shot.
Racing fans who get vaccinated at the site will receive complimentary general admission passes to the 2022 Belmont Stakes.
The MTA will be running extra trains to Belmont Park this weekend.
LIRR President Phil Eng said it's the best way for race fans to get there and back.
"We're be running 11 trains with the first train arriving at Belmont Park at 10:12 a.m. before the first post time at 11:35 a.m. We'll have extra trains on hand if needed," Eng said. "Immediately following the Stakes race we'll start running trains from the park to Jamaica, Brooklyn and Penn Station for folks to go back home. These will run on a load and go basis, meaning they'll be constant and we'll keep running trains until the park closes and everyone has exited."
Eng encourages riders to get their tickets before boarding the trains.