Euro,
Belmont is a nice place but a pain in the ass to get to unless you live near there. For people up here, here is what a trip to Belmont means:
1) a 3 1/2 hour ride each way, more or less depending on the traffic.
2) Thruway and bridge tolls in the range of 25-30 bucks.
3) Gasoline money that equals about 50-60 bucks.
4) Because there aren't any hotels within walking distance down there(to say the least) don't count on having any brewskis if you have to drive unless you bring a designated driver.

Basically you are in the hole 75-90 bucks plus 7 hours on the road if you are gonna go there. Its just not feasible or logical to go there when they have the races right on tv in your living room.
WOuld I attend these big days down there if there wasn't any simulcasting and that was my only option to see those races? Of course I would, I'm a huge fan and love the sport.
But why bother when I can sit home and avoid all that? Just doesnt make any sense. I only go down when lansdon has a horse in a race and he is coming to town. I don't get to see him as often as I would like and when hes coming to town I go down.
Funniest thing is that when we leave the track he always beats be home, meaning him to Kentucky and me to Saratoga. He always charters a plane to go there. And last year when First samurai won the Champagne, there was a horrible rainstorm and he called me from his house while i was still an hour below Albany driving away in the rain. Pretty comical.