Taking my 10 year old to the Belmont

[MaTH716]

Alot depends if there's a TC at stake. If there is, strap in, it's going to be a long tough day for a 10 year old.

I would suggest driving. This way you're not at the mercy of the train schedule and the crazy lines that come with it. I remember taking my son when he was 8 to the Wood at Aqueduct, unfortunately we never made it that far. The times between races is going to be long and unfortunately your son might hit the wall. So having your car there gives you an immediate exit strategy. If you get there early parking won't be an issue, just park near an exit. There will be shuttle buses taking people to the track.

Shade shouldn't be an issue. Anything that you want your son to experience such as watching a race from the rail, going to the paddock any kind of autographs/pictures get done very early in the card. Once the stakes start and the crowd comes in you're probably going to want to stay in your seats.

Not sure what the cooler policy is, but the lines can get long at times for food, drink, bathroom and ATM's. If you can bring food and drink in for him, that's probably the suggested route. Also, bring stuff for him to do in between races, especially if you're confined to your seats. 30-45 minutes is a long time in between races for a 40 year old, let alone a 10 year old.

Buy him a pair of cheap binoculars, Belmont is just gigantic and he's gonna have a tough time seeing horses on the backstretch.

If I think of anything else, I'll post it.

Best of luck, hope you guys have a great time.