In response to the shutdown of the New York City Off-Track Betting parlors
and account wagering service, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) is expanding its free bus service
to Aqueduct from select New York City OTB parlor locations in
Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and The Bronx with new routes
beginning Wednesday.
In Manhattan, a bus will now pick up passengers at 143
W. 72nd Street (between Amsterdam and Columbus) at 10:50 a.m. (EST). Beginning
Wednesday in Queens, the first of two additional bus routes will leave from
62-17 Roosevelt Avenue at 11:15 a.m. and continue to O’Neill’s Restaurant,
located at 64-21 53rd Drive, for an 11:30 pick-up. The second new route will
depart from 160-38 Northern Boulevard at 11:15 a.m., with an additional stop at
245-19 Jamaica Avenue at 11:30 a.m.
Beginning Wednesday, a new Bronx bus will
pick up passengers at 4325 Boston Road at 11 a.m., with additional pick-up
stops at 801 E. 241st Street (Barnes Avenue) at 11:15 a.m. and 170 W. 233rd
Street (between Bailey and Broadway) at 11:30 a.m.
Also, additional buses will
be added to existing NYRA bus routes in Brooklyn and Manhattan beginning
Saturday. In addition to free Post Parade programs, passengers on the buses will
also receive vouchers good for one free hot dog and one free coffee or soda
redeemable at Aqueduct concessions. At the conclusion of the racing day, 15
minutes after the final post at Aqueduct, the buses will leave from the
Clubhouse entrance and drop patrons off at the same pick-up points.
Click
here
for the bus schedule.
NYRA also announced that in addition to the full-card simulcasting that will be offered at Belmont
Park’s Belmont Cafe starting on Sunday, Aqueduct will be open for dark day simulcasting on
Mondays and Tuesdays, beginning December 13. Free parking and admission will
be offered at Aqueduct on Mondays and Tuesdays, with the second floor of the
Clubhouse open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
As announced Thursday, NYRA will
offer full-card simulcasting at Belmont Park’s Belmont Cafe beginning on Sunday.
Parking at Belmont, admission to the heated cafe area, and racing programs will
be free. Once inside, customers will be able to use self-service machines or bet
with tellers. The Belmont Cafe kitchen will offer a variety of refreshments for
purchase. The Cafe will be open for simulcasting seven days per week from 11
a.m. until 7 p.m.