LIRR off to Belmont Park with fare savings

Racing fans can save money when they board the Belmont Special for the spring racing season, the Long Island Rail Road said.

The commuter rail service on Wednesday unveiled a special ticket package for horse racing fans heading to Belmont Park, starting April 27 and running through July 15.

The package gives customers using special Belmont Park trains that connect at Jamaica a $1 discount off the regular $3 grandstand admission to the park.

The discount is offered through a partnership with the New York Racing Association, which is subsidizing the cost of operating the Belmont service.

To get the discount, customers should use the gray, blue and green Touch Screen ticket machines or make their purchases at LIRR station ticket offices. When using the machines, press the "Deals & Getaways" button on the first screen; then select "Belmont Park."

Payment can be made with cash, ATM/debit or credit cards (blue machines don't accept cash).

A new Belmont Special timetable is in effect from Friday until May 13; another new timetable takes effect May 14. Belmont customers can get the schedules at mta.info/lirr.

SEE PHOTOSLIRR trains and commuters through the years

Post time is 12:50 p.m. on all racing days, except Saturday, June 9, the day of the Belmont Stakes Triple Crown event, when post time is 11:35 a.m.

On Fridays, June 29, July 6 and July 13, post time is 3 p.m.

Belmont Park admission gates open at 11:15 a.m. daily. There is no racing on Mondays and Tuesdays, with the exception of Monday, May 28. There also is no racing on May 30, June 10 and July 11.

The LIRR also said Wednesday it will provide extra train service for the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 9.

The LIRR ticket office at its Belmont station is closed, and there are no ticket machines at Belmont, the LIRR said.

Weekly and monthly ticket holders can use their tickets for travel to Jamaica and need only purchase a $10 round-trip package ticket at an LIRR station before boarding the Belmont Special to cover the fare between Belmont Park and Jamaica.

Round-trip tickets are not sold onboard trains. A one-way ticket from Jamaica to Belmont, purchased at an LIRR station to use in conjunction with a monthly or weekly ticket, is $6.

One-way tickets for travel between Jamaica and Belmont, sold on trains to use in conjunction with a monthly or weekly ticket, are $11.

LIRR fares to Belmont Park

From New York, Brooklyn and Woodside:

Purchased at station: one way, $7; round-trip, $13

Purchased on board: one way, $13; round-trip not sold on train

From Jamaica

Purchased at station: one way, $6; round-trip is $10

Purchased on board: one way, $11; round-trip not sold on train

Round-trip fares from Long Island with transfer at Jamaica

Zone 3: $10 (Rosedale, St. Albans, Queens Village, Hollis)

Zone 4: $12 (Far Rockaway, Lynbrook, Hempstead, Mineola)

Zone 7: $14 (Long Beach, Massapequa, Hicksville, Oyster Bay)

Zone 9: $17 (Babylon, Deer Park, Huntington, Northport)

Zone 10: $22 (Bay Shore, Sayville, Ronkonkoma, Patchogue, Port Jefferson)

LIRR tickets are good for 14 days from date of sale; refundable within 30 days from date of sale and are subject to a $10 refund-processing fee per transaction.

Customers can call 511, the New York State Travel Information Line (say: Long Island Rail Road) for more information, or visit mta.info/lirr/. Hearing-impaired customers can use their preferred relay service provider for the free 711 relay to reach LIRR at 511.