The Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets will once again welcome fans to its home in Elmont, N.Y., when the historic race resumes its normal spot as the third leg of the Triple Crown for its 2021 edition.

Because of the ongoing pandemic, some aspects of the afternoon will look a little different from years past. Don’t worry – we’re here to help!

Testing and Masks

While guests are no longer required to show a negative COVID-19 test, fans sitting in hospitality areas designated for fully vaccinated people will have to show proof of full vaccination, either with a mobile device or with a digital copy.

Click image to purchase shirt.

Are you a New Yorker? Consider getting an Excelsior Pass to streamline your experience! Just to review: for the Belmont, full vaccination means proof of final vaccination at least 14 days prior to the race. This means both doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

All unvaccinated guests will be required to wear masks unless they are actively eating or drinking, so be sure to plan ahead.

Ticketing

First and foremost: get your tickets before you go! There will be no walk-up ticketing this year, so hop on Ticketmaster and reserve your spot. Probably now is a good time. You’re already thinking about it, so why wait?

Also, all tickets must be presented on a mobile device when you arrive, so just add your ticket to your phone or tablet’s wallet and head to your assigned entry gate to activate it. Just remember, there is no re-entry allowed on Belmont Stakes day, plan accordingly. (Speaking of which, it’s a good idea to check out the Security page for the Belmont Stakes to see the list of permitted and banned items.)

If you have any questions, reach out to the team at the New York Racing Association – they can be reached at 844-NYRA-TIX or via email at boxoffice@nyrainc.com.

Once You’re In

Belmont is going to try to limit hand-to-hand transactions as much as possible, so some concessions and sales points will only accept credit/debit cards and mobile payment. That having been said, betting windows will be open, so a little cash can go a long way on Belmont day.

If you’re not comfortable with interacting with a mutuel teller, that’s OK! You can either use betting kiosks or download the NYRA Bets app and bet from your phone on the grounds. Pro tip: if you’re doing the latter, make sure that you download the app and get it set up a few days in advance, since it can take a while to process transactions.

Looking for more information? Check out this handy guide from the New York Racing Association.