NYRA Increasing Digital Capacity, Parking For Belmont Stakes After Last Year's Issues

NYRA President & CEO Chris Kay said that Belmont Park this year is "quadrupling its digital capacity, adding food options and expanding the LIRR loading area to allow for more cars" for this June's Belmont Stakes, according to Rick Karlin of the Albany TIMES UNION. NYRA officials on Wednesday were briefed on the planned changes, which were instituted "to avoid a rerun of the postrace fiasco" following last year's Belmont. The race "drew a huge crowd" due to California Chrome's run at the Triple Crown, but fans after the race "endured traffic jams in the parking lots, which lacked enough attendants." There also were "lengthy waits" for the LIRR. Other snags included a "lack of mobile phone and WiFi capacity, which hindered digital betting, and shortages of beer, hot dogs and bathroom facilities." Meanwhile, NYRA is planning to turn the Belmont "into what Kay called a multi-day 'racing festival' starting the Wednesday" before the race. That will include performances by "two well-known bands" (Albany TIMES UNION, 4/23).