Low Belmont attendance riles up Elmont activists

by Matt Hampton

Low attendance numbers at Belmont Park’s fall championship season have steeled the resolve of local legislators and activists bound and determined to see the racetrack turned into a major destination.

Recent numbers, released last week by NYRA, suggest that attendance at the Belmont Racetrack’s fall championship series, which ran from September through Oct. 25. In total, 114,519 people attended the races, compared to 147,515 for the same championship series last year. Dan Silver, a NYRA spokesman, was quick to add that the race period was four days fewer this year than last.

The daily average at the track still dropped 13 percent, however, from 3,987 in 2008 to 3,470 this year.

For some, this would be a sign that the racetrack might be in trouble. Locally, however, Elmont residents have an indomitable spirit, and have framed the dropping attendance as an opportunity to turn the track into something more.

“I think it supports our argument that we need to have something else there,” said Sandra Smith, chairperson of the Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development. “I think it’s a strong indication as to why we need to have the [video lottery terminals] and the hotels in that area.”

Local assemblyman Tom Alfano, who has spent much of his time recently trying to get the state to recognize the value of Belmont Park, agreed.

“The drop in the attendance is a clear signal that something needs to be done with Belmont immediately. We can no longer sit idly by while politicians in Albany fiddle while Elmont burns in this important economic development issue. It’s ironic that some say we can only do Aqueduct,” Alfano said. “This is New York. We have two baseball teams. We have two hockey teams. We have competing companies everywhere in all communities. Somehow competition is no good?”

Alfano admitted he is frustrated with the state’s seeming reluctance to help develop both the Aqueduct Racetrack, over the border in Queens, and Belmont Park. Earlier this year during budget negotiations, the legislators pulled a bill that would have allowed video lottery terminals at the park, saying they wanted to focus on the Aqueduct.

“Belmont is not the problem. They need the tools to make it happen,” Alfano said. “They need the train station open. They need to develop the south lot. They need the hotel. They need to develop now.”

Smith said the Coalition For Sustainable Development has been hard at work for the last few months, pressing forward with plans to start a website that would allow area business owners and residents to work together to pitch the community to potential developers. A recent $15,000 grant from the Long Island Community Foundation made the website possible.

“We received the grant money, put out an RFP, and we’re waiting to get back responses to see who would be able to help the cause,” she said. As for a launch date for the site, Smith said it would have to be sometime before June 2010, as per the stipulations of the grant.

Ultimately, Alfano said, while the community is doing its best, Albany dragging its feet hurts the cause immensely, especially in the face of the downward attendance numbers.

“I find it really pathetic that at a time when the state is looking to [follow through on] some of the most devastating cuts to health care and education that will have profound impacts on people, that we ignore a revenue generating issue that can create jobs and help lower taxes,” he said. “Where is the leadership on this issue? Where is the outrage?”