The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that tickets for the 2022 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will go on sale to the public on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com.
Highlighted by the 154th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes – the oldest and most challenging leg of horse racing's vaunted Triple Crown – the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will begin on Thursday, June 9, and conclude Saturday, June 11.
Capacity for the June 11 Belmont Stakes will be 50,000 fans.
The construction of UBS Arena, which opened its doors to the public in November, has significantly altered and reduced the size of the Belmont Park backyard. As a result of this change to the property, fewer general admission tickets will be available for the 2022 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival than in previous years.
The capacity of Belmont Park is expected to expand in future years following the completion of a significant capital improvement project that will provide spectator access to the infield. In January, NYRA received the required New York State approvals to construct vehicular and pedestrian tunnels to unlock the Belmont Park infield for a variety of uses, including to accommodate fans during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
“The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival is a celebration of the best of thoroughbred racing, and we look forward to the return of fans in large numbers following last year's considerable restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. “As the Belmont Park property continues to transition and evolve, NYRA is committed to providing our loyal fans with the best possible experience now and in the future. The updated capacity will accomplish this goal while ensuring that fans are treated to an incredibly exciting three days of world class racing and entertainment.”
The three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, launched in its current format in 2015, features a unique blend of world-class racing and entertainment complemented by a wide variety of differentiated hospitality options. The 2022 edition of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will feature the very best in thoroughbred racing including 17 stakes races over the three days of action and eight Grade 1 races on Belmont Stakes Day, June 11.
NYRA will be offering advance pre-sale opportunities to NYRA Bets members, returning ticket buyers and others beginning on Tuesday, February 8. All groups eligible for the pre-sale will be notified directly via email.
The Belmont Stakes is an American tradition inaugurated in 1867 at Jerome Park Racetrack and moved in 1905 to its familiar home at beautiful Belmont Park. As the third leg of racing's Triple Crown, the 1 ½-mile “Test of the Champion,” as the Belmont Stakes is known, has showcased many of history's greatest thoroughbreds over 151 editions.
