Sad State Of Belmont Park

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Mike_412

You could have been more concise by stating that you're a SoCal fan with an inferiority complex and called it a day.

I don't have an inferiority complex. Santa Anita can still draw a crowd. We're better than NYRA at this

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

You guys realize this is all basically a crock of BS, right?

But guys like Dilane jump on it like a fly to...well...you know...

So are you saying Belmont was filled with people that day?

[ReplayRandall]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Santa Anita can still draw a crowd.

How can they draw a crowd, when last meet, they couldn't draw a CARD for Thursdays??....

[Afleet]

Originally Posted by notoday

Went to Belmont 9-24 and it was sad. Still 130pm post arrived 1230pm and no one was there . The huge grandstand had no access to the upper floors which were closed Walked to the clubhouse no escalator had to use elevator very few people but for the day 2 employees manned the reserved seat $5.00 per seat even though not one person arrived . The paddock which is usually bustling had fewer than 15 patrons per race. The backyard picnic area was a ghost town No music no food and no human tellers only machines. The main grandstand area only had 2 or 3 human tellers except for an additional 2 tellers at $50 minimum windows . I have been going for over 30 years and I am at a loss
WHY WAS NO ONE THERE ANY SUGGESTIONS

next time take pictures and post them

[Dahoss9698]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

I don't have an inferiority complex. Santa Anita can still draw a crowd. We're better than NYRA at this

One of your better posts. It's great because your third sentence proves your first one to be totally untrue.

Don't ever change....please.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

So are you saying Belmont was filled with people that day?

I was there Saturday. Even though the grandstand was closed and the clubhouse was not particularly crowded, that can be deceptive unless you go out back on a nice day. The backyard had plenty of people. But no one would argue that Belmont gets good crowds. It's a gigantic facility with massively too much capacity except for 1 day a year. Personally, I can't comprehend it, but it is what it is.

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

So are you saying Belmont was filled with people that day?

It was a close to 90-degree day with the Giants playing at 1...why would you go to Belmont when you could bet from home and watch the game with a beer in hand too?

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by castaway01

It was a close to 90-degree day with the Giants playing at 1...why would you go to Belmont when you could bet from home and watch the game with a beer in hand too?

You could (and many have) say that about every major city in the US on a Sunday.

[MonmouthParkJoe]

Many of you hit the nail on the head, Sundays in the fall are really impacted by football, especially when the Giants are on at 1pm (Let go Jets!) I have always thought there was a Saratoga hangover that happens over the first couple weeks of racing in the fall. Some just need a break.

As for the closing of areas, if the attendance is as sparse as you say it is, why would you open the entire facility and incur the overheard and staffing costs?

That being said, this Saturday is turf classic day. The following Saturday is JCGC day. Both days should be great.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by ReplayRandall

How can they draw a crowd, when last meet, they couldn't draw a CARD for Thursdays??....

If you want to trash California racing, that is a totally fair place to start.

(I joked about us being the trendsetter-- Belmont ran a shortened week earlier this month. )

[n.c]

crowds should be back.. Giants and Jets both mathematically out of the playoff pic, week 4 nfl season.

[aaron]

I generally go to Belmont a few times a week. The reason it is basically an empty facility goes back to decisions made years ago.I agree, being located in a large metropolitan area it should draw more, but it is not going to happen. Horseracing is an off-track game. Most people who live more than an hour away are not going to attend. Admission,decent parking and programs are an expense, that most patrons do not want to pay. Also,the off track program sent into our computers and homes makes it very easy to not attend. In my opinion racing has made its off track program, far superior to its on track product.

[thespaah]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

Don’t you have to pay through the nose to cross a bridge to get to Belmont? I bet that doesn’t help.....between traffic, tolls etc....playing from Home has to be preferred

yes...I used to live in northern NJ..
For ez pass holders these are the prices.
For the George Washington Bridge which gets you across the Hudson into Manhattan( Cross Bronx Expressway) the peak time toll is $9.
This collected one way.
Now, to get to Long Island where Belmont is located, one must also cross the East River. The toll to use those crossings is $5.76 . This collected EACH way.
now, for those poor slobs who have disdained the ez pass ,,it gets better.( worse)..The GWB is FOURTEEN bucks...The MTA bridges colect $8.50 EACH WAY!
so with the ez pass discount. one still is in the hole TWENTY bucks...This is before they pay to park, gas, program and or Form....
Suffice to say, if one lives in NJ, Upstate NY or CT, they are out Thirty dollars before they sit down to start handicapping the races.
if I lived up there, I'd be betting from home. I would go on very rare occasions.
And I used to LIVE at Belmont. Especially during the fall Champ Meet.

[thespaah]

Originally Posted by n.c

crowds should be back.. Giants and Jets both mathematically out of the playoff pic, week 4 nfl season.

Please do not get me started on the Giants.
Coach Deer in the Headlights HAS GOT TO GO.....

[cj]

Originally Posted by thespaah

Please do not get me started on the Giants.
Coach Deer in the Headlights HAS GOT TO GO.....

Any kid that has played Madden for a few years (and is good at it) is a better coach than that guy.