Racing Fans Anticipate Possible Triple Crown At Belmont Park
ELMONT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- American Pharoah has a shot at the Triple Crown next month at the Belmont Stakes on Long Island, and things will be a little different for fans at Belmont Park next year.
As TV 10/55 Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose reported, American Pharoah won the Preakness Stakes in the mud in Baltimore this past Saturday. He is now poised to complete the Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6.
There were no races scheduled at Belmont Park in Elmont on Monday. But some fans still came looking for tickets to the big race.
"I want to come see American Pharoah do it. I want to see American Pharoah become the twelfth horse to win the Triple Crown," said Christina Smith of Bellmore, Nassau County.
It has been 37 years since the Last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed, did it in 1978. There have been many close calls since, but American Pharoah's growing rock star status is certain to sell out the racetrack.
"Tickets are going fast," said John Durso Jr. of the New York Racing Association. "As of right now, all of our reserved seats here at Belmont Park – more than 27,000 of those seats are completely sold out.
As of Monday, there were still 40,000 general admission tickets available. But there is limited seating on a first come, first serve basis, so anyone looking for a ticket will have to come early.
This year, the track decided to limit the crowd to 90,000 to avoid the chaos of last year's Belmont Stakes, when many of the more than 102,000 fans were stuck for hours trying to board overcrowded Long Island Rail Road trains.
As CBS2 first reported last month, the railroad has now lengthened the platforms to allow in longer trains. Joe Fiore said his family will be along for the ride in hopes of witnessing history.
"I've been here on Long Island about 10 years, and I've passed it many times," said Fiore, of Bellmore. "So I think it's time we finally came down, and this is the perfect opportunity."
Fans will see tight security at Belmont, including metal detectors and bans on items.
"No umbrellas, no drones, and no selfie sticks," Durso said. "It's all about the safety and enjoyment of our guests."
The remaining general admission tickets are going for $15 through Ticketmaster. Following the Belmont Stakes, there will be a live concert by the Goo Goo Dolls – part of an effort to thin the big crowd slowly.