Security preparations for the Belmont Stakes

Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to descend on downtown Saratoga Springs and the Saratoga Race Course this weekend, according to local law enforcement. Spectrum News 1 They have been preparing for the influx of people for months.

The Belmont on Broadway festivities kick off downtown Wednesday with a free concert from 6 to 10 p.m. Sections of Broadway will be closed to traffic at various locations between 5 a.m. and early morning on Thursday, June 6 – detours will be posted. You are asked not to bring coolers, backpacks, large bags, strollers, pets, glass bottles of alcohol, or weapons of any kind.

For the remainder of the nearly week-long festival, Saratoga Springs Police partnered with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies for personnel and resource support. There will be an increased police presence downtown and on the track to prevent and respond to any potential issues. Authorities say anyone arriving in the city should prepare for traffic jams and delays.

“Residents here in Saratoga are quite familiar with the hustle and bustle of trail season and know many alternative routes to get around town quickly, but for visitors, we urge you to be patient – ​​especially on the Belmont on Broadway. day,” Saratoga Springs Police Chief Tyler McIntosh said.

Chief McIntosh said his department partnered with the FBI’s Crisis Management Unit prior to this week to review different scenarios to identify how they would respond to a large-scale incident, should something happen.

For those unfamiliar with the area or want more information on the week’s events, you can check out Discover Saratoga.