LIRR Race Track Service

LIRR Horse Race Track Service
Belmont Park Station Entrance to Trains south of Hempstead Turnpike 6/1949 - While hundreds of thousands of race fans passed through this gate since the park's opening in 1905, this is the ONLY image I've ever seen of it, so I gather it is quite rare! Uniformed railroad personnel in caps, white shirts, ties and one man with suspenders, are manning the gates while a patrolman stands at the left providing a police presence. The MU trains are at the bumper blocks, awaiting THEIR gates to open for their trips westward. (Ed Hermanns photo, Dave Keller data and archive)
LIRR #143 class B74a - Hicksville - Horse Express Pullman 1947			PRR B74b Horse Express Pullman		BLW DS4-4-1000 #450 - PRR horsecar westbound at Carnation Ave., Floral Park - View NE c.1955 (Huneke-Keller)
ALCO S2 #452 with freight - PRR 2 Door Horsecar eastbound at Covert Ave., New Hyde Park c.1952 (Winslow-Keller)			The horse car is to be dropped off at Westbury Yard for Roosevelt Raceway. (Jeff Winslow photo zoomed, Dave Keller archive)		G5s #38 with two horsecars - Mineola 5/22/1948 Archive: Mike Boland
Belmont Park
It was always interesting selling tickets on race days (as I often did in Jamaica and Penn Station) as you'd see all kinds of "characters." The joke among the ticket clerks was (borne out in practice) that a true racing fan would only buy a one way ticket so as to have the most cash available at the track to play the "big one!" Thus, many one way tickets to be sold to those going home…” Ticket/Info: Brad Phillips Form 86-D Not a common ticket as each portion is good in either direction and works as a round trip. Perhaps done for selling agent convenience (similar to the standard 1-BHY yellow paper round trip tickets). Brad Phillips More Race Track Tickets:Click
Emery map - Belmont Park pre-1957 Archive: Dave Keller			QY Cabin - View E c.1920 four tracks ran from here to "BM" Tower at Belmont Park Terminal. The freight or "third running track" to West Floral Park is at right. The cabin was opened in 1905 south of the tracks and on the east side of Madison Ave. and was manned only during racing season. It was removed in 1924 when a 4th Main Line track was installed, grade crossings eliminated and a new station and tower at Queens Village constructed. Control of the junction was transferred to "QU" (later "QUEENS") tower east of the newly-elevated Queens Village station. Info: Dave Keller Emery map - Queens Village to Belmont Park Junction MP13-14 Archive: Dave Keller		"Be a Double Winner" LIRR flyer to Belmont 8/26-10/12/1970 Archive: Brad Phillips
MP41 with 3 wood trailers c.1910 at Belmont Park Archive: Art Huneke
In this c. 1906 view looking east we see the original Belmont Park Race Track station with 4 steam-drawn trains and one electric MU train. Opened in 1905, this station was built south of Hempstead Turnpike and served until newer station facilities were constructed north of Hempstead Turnpike in 1957 at which time this whole area was torn out. Note in this image that there is no electrification in the low-level platform, steam train area and a track fence separates it from the electrified tracks at the high level platform at the far right. (Dave Keller data and archive)			Now we fast forward a few years to August 12, 1919. Looking in the same direction as the previous image we see some changes. First, electrification has been added to all tracks. We also see that the platform shelters that extended down the entire length of the platforms have been removed from the left three and only short, truncated platform shelters have been left standing. Notice that these three platforms are still low level while the two at the far right are high level. Those two still retain their full-length platform shelters. Especially note how overgrown the two platforms at the left have become since the previous, 1905 image! (Dave Keller data and archive)		Looking from the same bluff in June, 1949 we have a full house! An MU electric train is laid up at each track. No more overgrowth at any of these platforms! It appears that the three platforms at the left have had shorter covered segments added at the east end of the platforms. The other platforms, which had full-length covers, have had those covers truncated to slightly longer lengths, with shorter ones added at their east ends as well. (Ed Hermanns photo, Dave Keller data and archive)
Two freshly-painted lead cars of MU electric trains are laying up at the low level platforms at Belmont Park in this c. 1937 view. (Dave Keller data and archive) This is a c.1937 close-up of the "double-doubleheader" at the Belmont Park station. Note the unusual supports for the third rail safety boards. (Dave Keller data and archive)			An unusual sight that was temporarily popular during the 1939-40 NY World's Fair service was a train pulled by a double A-B set of DD1 electric locomotives. Here a special "double-doubleheader" is pulling a special race train into the Belmont Park station c. 1937. The lead locomotive is flying white flags. The bluff in the left background is the location of the photographers of the 1905, 1919 and 1949 images of the station facilities posted on this page. (Dave Keller data and archive) The old Belmont Park racetrack station was south of Hempstead Turnpike Archive: Art Huneke		An MU electric train is heading eastbound into the Belmont Park station facilities. The tracks curved to the left and opened up into the terminal area south of Hempstead Turnpike. This 1950 view is looking south from the Hempstead Turnpike overpass. (W. J. Edwards photo, Dave Keller data and archive) MU train Belmont Park view N from Hempstead Tpke 1950 (Edwards-Keller)
In 1957, the LIRR constructed a new terminal and track layout adjacent to the park and north of Hempstead Turnpike. All the old 1905 facilities were torn down and the tracks were all removed. This view from May, 1971, shows the "new" station facility with covered crosswalk connecting the various platforms. An MU double deck car in charcoal gray and orange colors is at the head end of the train in the center while all the other cars are in the new MTA "platinum mist" color scheme. Note that the "new" platforms were all low level. This created a problem when M1 trains began service to the park. Temporary short stepped platforms were constructed and lined up along the low levels, and cars would need to be spotted carefully to allow passengers to detrain or to climb aboard. (Dave Keller data and archive)			MU double deck car and train is laying up at the newer Belmont Park station. North of Hempstead Turnpike 9/1971 Not a lot of activity going on. There might be a rain delay in today's race... unless the horses are mudders... sounds like we're going to re-enact an old Abbott and Costello comedy routine... Costello: "What has your mudder got to do with horses?" Abbott: "My mudder IS a horse..." Costello: "You oughta be ashamed of yourself, putting your mudder in a horse race... " Ah, good times, good times! But, I digress. (Dave Keller data and archive)		MU Doubledecker - Belmont Park - 1976 Archive: Dave Keller The "new" Belmont Park racetrack station was north of Hempstead Tpke.
Belmont Park transfer ticket Form C-175 1959 Archive: Brad Phillips Belmont Park transfer ticket Form C-175 - 1958 Source: eBay	Belmont Park transfer ticket Form c-175S 6/14/1969 Archive: Brad Phillips		Belmont Park-1975 Photo/Archive: Jason Baxter Belmont Park aerial Islanders Arena planned location 7/25/2018 Photo: Kevin P. Coughlin		LIRR timetable Belmont Stakes 6/07/2014 Archive: NRHS-LIST
Belmont Park transfer ticket Form BPT-2 7/13/1986 - Archive: Brad Phillips	LIRR Timetable 2015 Belmont Stakes front Archive: Kevin Wong		LIRR Timetable 2015 Belmont Stakes Archive: Kevin Wong
	LIRR timetable 150th Belmont Stakes 6/06/2018 - Archive: NRHS-LIST		Belmont Woes Newsday - 6/10/2018 at 8elmont Park site of 150th Belmont Stakes - Triple Crown won by 'Justify'		Belmont Park 9/2020 Newsday Steve Pfost
	LIRR Timetable 6/11/2022 Belmont Stakes front		LIRR Timetable 6/11/2022 Belmont Stakes		LI 7288 leads a deadhead move off the Garden Mitchell Secondary, headed for Belmont Park. During the Belmont Stakes a train is stored east of the Parking Lot crossing, in preparation for the rush out of the park after the race concludes. Note the even-numbered car facing west, as this train came out the east leg of the Belmont Wye. (6/11/2022) Thomas Farmer
1-There will be NO service to/from ELMONT-UBS ARENA Station in either direction - which will be CLOSED. 2-There will be NO shuttle buses operating between Queens Village Station to and from Belmont Park. 3-Zone 4 tickets ARE valid to and from Belmont Park Station - special BP tickets are no longer required. Info: Mike McEnaney
LIRR timetable Belmont Stakes using the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat (1973) logo 6/10/2023	Elmont M7 (left) and M9 eastbound approx. MP13.7 11/01/2022 Photo/Archive: Timothy Hosey				Elmont #401 eastbound (approx. MP13.7) 11/01/2022 Photo/Archive: Timothy Hosey
Belmont Park - NRHS Excursion 10/13/1963
NRHS Excursion 10/13/1963 Belmont Park Overview Photo/Archive: Brad Phillips Belmont Park Station Platforms 10/13/1963 Photo/Archive: Brad Phillips			NRHS Excursion 10/13/1963 Belmont Park Photo/Archive: Brad Phillips		NRHS Excursion 10/13/1963 West Leg of Belmont Park Wye Photo/Archive: Brad Phillips The view of the cars on the west leg of the Belmont Park wye was just south of the junction with the Main Line east of QUEENS Tower Info: Dave Keller Belmont Park Station End of Track View east 10/13/1963 Photo/Archive: Brad Phillips
When the LIRR stopped selling actual tickets for fares into and out of Belmont Park, metal tokens were used in their stead. There were two styles used. The earlier style, depicted above, showed Dashing Dan on the one side with the park name on the other. This style was later replaced by the MTA's "M" logo. When I sold them back in the summer of 1972, both styles were concurrently in use. A ticket window was specially designated at Penn Station and I spent my entire 8-hour day just selling tokens to Belmont Park. Riders purchased tickets to Jamaica from various locations, and then tokens-only were collected on the non-stop run from Jamaica into the park. (Dave Keller data and archive)			LIRR token Belmont Park "MTA" Archive: Dave Keller		LIRR Dashing Dan "Racing Sportsman" logo c. 1966
Trains left for Belmont from Brooklyn (change at Jamaica), Penn Station, and Jamaica Station. The train fare was issued and the token along with the ticket. The purpose of the two version tokens was placement in the token machines for entry to the Belmont Park Grandstand. A promo gift from the LIRR for buying the ticket as the grandstand entry fee was $1 to anyone who did NOT have a token. As an Ass't Conductor, and later promoted to Conductor (1996-2000), and worked the Belmont Park trains, we had the old High Spot Platforms which were wooden structures with stairs and the 8 car train had to line up exactly for the Engineer to a certain sign and then the Conductor knew that they were platformed perfectly allowing him/her to open the doors (now it is all high level platforms) in those years, the tickets were given to us for collecting transportation and the tokens were for grandstand entrance only. Therefore, there was a change when I purchased a round trip ticket to Belmont Park in Brooklyn the Agent/Clerk gave me a token for the grandstand and said that it was for that purpose only, as the tickets to be given up for the train there and back. At Belmont Park, at the top of the escalator, the ticket booths were to the east and the token turnstiles were there also (so that the LIRR could easily retrieve the tokens for later usage). Info: Robert Myers
	Tickets One Way and Round Trip Belmont- Jamaica Zone 3 Archive: Kevin Fehn			Tickets One Way and Round Trip Belmont- City Zone 1 Archive: Kevin Fehn	NYRA - Belmont Fall Meeting Special Promotional Admission 50¢ Grandstand Only Ticket Valid 8/26/74 thru 10/12/1974 Note: Belmont Stakes held June 8, 1974. "Little Current" won.
I've experienced my share of characters purchasing tokens to Belmont. Yes . . many diehards only purchased one way fares. Many had to find alternate transportation home when they lost their shirts at the track. Other specifically asked for both way tokens . . they said: "I need to be able to get home when I've lost all my money!" Dave Keller
Belmont Park LIRR Station
New Belmont Station Study - Newsday 4/04/2019 Archive: Dave Morrison				Belmont Park new LIRR Station Proposal Newsday 7/08/2019
Rendering of the proposed "Elmont" LIRR station Photo courtesy of the Office of Gov. Cuomo		Belmont Station aerial NEWSDAY 1/22/2020 Archive: Dave Morrison
		Elmont Station construction Summer 2021 Info: MTA/LIRR		Elmont Station construction page 2 Summer 2021 Info: MTA/LIRR
Roosevelt Raceway
MEADOWBROOK- ROOSEVELT RACEWAY: LOW, CINDER PLATFORM REOPENED AS A CENTER-ISLAND STATION PLATFORM: 19__? IN USE FOR RACEWAY TRAINS. STOP DISCONTINUED: 1961 Research: Dave Keller
The track opened in 1940, but the US Government blocked off rail service through Mitchel Field at the start of WWII, so no train service to the old Meadowbrook and Salisbury Plains stations. No mention of service to Roosevelt Raceway either. After the war ended and restrictions were lifted, the old Mitchel Field center island station with run-around track became the "new" Meadowbrook/Roosevelt Raceway station and the former Meadowbrook station at the east end of the Mitchel field station platform with single track and south side of track platform was torn up. Passenger service to the track ended in 1962. Dave Keller
This is the lay-up track east of the Meadowbrook/Roosevelt Raceway station, looking west in 1953. It is east of the station, which is visible in the distance. I believe this was the site of the earlier Meadowbrook station pre c. 1939. (W. J. Edwards photo, Dave Keller data and archive) Emery map Meadowbrook-Roosevelt Raceway 6/1958 Serviced by the LIRR with trains operating along the Hempstead branch, then continuing on the Central branch after leaving Garden City station. Trains made the station stop at Meadowbrook/Roosevelt Raceway and buses took racing aficionados to the track. Info/Archive: Dave Keller			This is the low-level platform at Meadowbrook/Roosevelt Raceway looking west in 1953. Around 1939, this station stop replaced the earlier Meadowbrook station which was further east. This station stop was discontinued in 1961. (W. J. Edwards photo, Dave Keller data and archive) Meadowbrook Station - Roosevelt Raceway Sign 10/21/61 (Faxon-Keller)		In this 1956 view looking southeast, we see a race track-bound MU electric train after it's just passed "GARDEN" cabin and Franklin Ave. The tracks curving to the right continue on to Country Life Press and Hempstead. In the right background is a freight train on the southeast leg of the wye at what was once known as Hempstead Crossing. (Dave Keller data and archive) Ticket - Penn Station to Meadowbrook round trip Archive: Brad Phillips
Roosevelt Raceway, Westbury ½ mile harness racing Opened: 9/02/1940 Closed: 7/15/1988 Roosevelt Raceway - 1957			Roosevelt Raceway newly constructed grandstand (1957-2002) Archive: Richard Conrad Ticket Form SX-133S - Penn to Roosevelt Raceway via Mineola Archive: Brad Phillips		Ticket Form SX-133 - Jamaica to Roosevelt Raceway Archive: Brad Phillips Ticket Form 1BHS - Penn Station to Meadowbrook Archive: Brad Phillips
Jamaica Racetrack
Metropolitan Jockey Club - sample ticket pre-1955 Archive: Brad Phillips Ticket - Locust Manor to Jamaica Archive: Brad Phillips			Jamaica Race Course was an horse racing facility operated by the Metropolitan Jockey Club in Jamaica, New York. The 1 mile (1.6 km) track opened on 4/27/1903. In 1955, the Greater New York Association took over management of Jamaica Race Course along with Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course and renovations to Aqueduct in South Ozone Park. Ticket - NY City Penn Station to Locust Manor Archive: Brad Phillips		MU train at NY - View East - 1944 Jamaica Race Track station Locust Manor view SE 1946
There were two distinctly different station platforms at Locust Manor when the tracks were at grade. West of the Baisley Blvd./Locust Ave. crossing was the low-level station platform, along with depot building and contiguous wooden shelter shed for the Locust Manor station stop. East of the crossing was the high-level wooden platform erected for race trains servicing Jamaica Racetrack. In this c. 1936 wintry view looking northeast, we see the old station building and shelter shed in the foreground, the crossing of Baisley Blvd./Locust Ave. beyond and in the distance, an MU electric train stopped at the covered, high-level, Jamaica Racetrack platform. This was all removed in 1959 as a result of the grade elimination project at Locust Manor. (Dave Keller archive and data) Looking west from Farmers Blvd., Locust Manor, towards the distant Jamaica Racetrack station, a race train is on the "westbound layup track" awaiting a return trip after the race on May 1, 1957 (Dave Keller archive)			Looking west from the newly-elevated tracks of the grade elimination project at Locust Manor in 1958, we see the grandstand of the old Jamaica Racetrack at the far left. In the center of the image can be seen the old, high-level, wooden platform to service race trains and the double tracks of the old right of way that is soon to be eliminated. In 1947, the high level, covered platform was lengthened to accommodate two 10-car race trains. It appears the platform shelter was removed sometime during the eleven-year period prior to this photo. The station stop was discontinued on January 28, 1959 when the new elevated tracks and Locust Manor station (in the distance) were placed in service. (W. J. Edwards photo, Dave Keller data and archive) Jamaica Racetrack c.1958 (Raudenbush-Boland) Sign is “FARE ONE DOLLAR”		Emery Map Locust Manor pre-1937 Archive: Dave Keller Emery Map Locust Manor post 1937 Archive: Dave Keller Emery Map Locust Manor pre-1959 Archive: Dave Keller
Both Jamaica Racetrack station and Locust Manor station were placed out of service on 1/28/1959 with the grade elimination project. The last race held at the track was on 8/2/1959 and the track was razed a year later, the site becoming the location of the Rochdale Village housing project. Research: Dave Keller
Union Course
Union Course was a nationally famous racetrack, opened in 1821, situated in the area now bounded by 78th Street, 82nd Street, Jamaica Avenue and Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn. It was located north of the Atlantic branch tracks and station stop. Union Course station also appeared on early timetables as "Race Course." Emery map Union Course - 78th St. to 87th St. pre-1942 Archive: Dave Keller			It was a very popular race track and the LIRR provided service opening a station along Atlantic Avenue either in 1836 or 1837 and named for the race track. Also known as "Race Track", the station stop was one of the very earliest on the system. The LIRR made this stop part of their rapid transit service, effective April 28, 1905. The platforms were widened in 1911. In 1925, a wooden bridge was built over the tracks eliminating the grade crossing of Rockaway Avenue. Stairs from both westbound and eastbound station platforms led up to this bridge, which was used as a pedestrian crossover. This view of the Union Course station facilities is viewed eastward from that pedestrian crossover on October 26, 1939, five days before the stop was placed out of service on November 1, 1939 per general order #1204. It, along with all the other Atlantic branch rapid transit station stops, was razed shortly thereafter for the Atlantic Avenue Improvement Project of 1939-40 when the tracks were placed under the Avenue and rapid transit service ceased. (Dave Keller data and archive)		Union Race Course - Beer's Atlas 1873 Archive: Art Huneke
Aqueduct
Emery Map Aqueduct pre-1940 station with low level platforms, for racetrack service only and a regular, low-level platform station stop at N. Conduit Blvd. Archive: Dave Keller Pitkin Avenue bridge - View E Aqueduct LIRR valuation photo 3/11/1954			Emery Map Aqueduct post-1940 shows the new, high level platform station extending from N. Conduit Blvd. all the way north to the racetrack so that both stops could be consolidated into one station structure. Archive: Dave Keller MP54s Aqueduct Race trains laid up at Howard Beach 6/1955 (Rugen-Huneke)		It's race day in 1949 and an MU electric train heading northbound (railroad westbound) is making the station stop at Aqueduct. Note the color scheme of the last car: Tuscan Red with bright aluminum-painted roof. View is northeast. (W. J. Edwards photo, Dave Keller archive and data) Ticket - NY Penn Station-Aqueduct c. 1950 Archive: Brad Phillips
			Ticket - Aqueduct (Race Track) - Brooklyn (Flatbush Ave.) c.1949 Good only for special race track trains on date stamped on back.