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LIRR Horse Race Track
Service
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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)
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LIRR #143 class B74a -
Hicksville - Horse Express Pullman 1947
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PRR B74b Horse Express Pullman
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BLW DS4-4-1000 #450
- PRR horsecar westbound at
Carnation Ave., Floral Park - View NE c.1955 (Huneke-Keller)
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ALCO S2 #452 with
freight - PRR 2 Door Horsecar eastbound at Covert Ave., New Hyde
Park c.1952 (Winslow-Keller)
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The horse car is to
be dropped off at Westbury Yard for Roosevelt Raceway. (Jeff Winslow
photo zoomed, Dave Keller archive)
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G5s #38 with two horsecars - Mineola 5/22/1948
Archive: Mike Boland
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Belmont
Park
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 It
was always interesting selling tickets on race days (as I often did in
Jamaica and Penn. Sta.) 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
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Emery map - Belmont Park pre-1957 Archive: Dave Keller
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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
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"Be a Double
Winner" LIRR flyer to Belmont 8/26-10/12/1970
Archive: Brad Phillips
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MP41 with 3 wood
trailers c.1910 at Belmont Park Archive: Art Huneke
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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
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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)
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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)
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MU Doubledecker -
Belmont Park - 1976
Archive: Dave Keller
The "new" Belmont
Park racetrack station was north of Hempstead Tpke.
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Belmont Park transfer ticket
C-175
1959-64 Archive: Brad Phillips
Belmont Park transfer
ticket 7/13/1986 Archive: Brad Phillips
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Belmont Park transfer ticket
6/14/69 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 |
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LIRR Timetable 2015 Belmont Stakes front
Archive: Kevin Wong |
LIRR Timetable 2015 Belmont Stakes
Archive: Kevin Wong |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Belmont
Park - NRHS Excursion 10/13/1963
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NRHS Excursion
10/13/1963 Belmont Park Overview Photo/Archive:
Brad Phillips
Belmont Park Station
Platforms 10/13/1963
Photo/Archive: Brad
Phillips
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NRHS Excursion
10/13/1963 Belmont Park Photo/Archive:
Brad Phillips
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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
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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)
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LIRR token Belmont Park "MTA"
Archive: Dave Keller |
LIRR Dashing Dan "Racing
Sportsman" logo c. 1966
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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 |
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Tickets One Way and Round
Trip Belmont- Jamaica Zone 3 Archive: Kevin Fehn
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Tickets One Way and Round Trip Belmont- City Zone 1 Archive: Kevin Fehn
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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.
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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
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Belmont Park LIRR Station |
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New Belmont Station Study
- Newsday 4/04/2019 Archive: Dave Morrison
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Belmont Park new LIRR Station Proposal Newsday 7/08/2019 |
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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
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Elmont Station construction Summer 2021
Info: MTA/LIRR |
Elmont Station construction page 2
Summer 2021 Info: MTA/LIRR |
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Roosevelt
Raceway
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Another popular
race track on Long Island is Roosevelt Raceway. It was 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.
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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 Archive: Dave Keller
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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)
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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
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Roosevelt Raceway - 1957 |
Roosevelt Raceway 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
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Jamaica
Racetrack
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Metropolitan Jockey Club - sample ticket pre-1955 Archive: Brad
Phillips
Ticket - Locust Manor to
Jamaica
Archive: Brad Phillips
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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
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MU train at NY - View East -
1944
Jamaica Race Track station Locust Manor
view SE 1946
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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)
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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
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Union
Course
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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
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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)
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Union Race Course - Beer's Atlas 1873 Archive: Art Huneke
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Aqueduct
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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
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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)
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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
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Ticket - Aqueduct (Race Track) - Brooklyn (Flatbush Ave.) c.1949
Good only for special race track trains on date stamped on back.
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