Sexy beasts

Beluga whale, Mystic Aquarium

Our main story features wildlife within the five boroughs, but we couldn’t resist mentioning these awesome animal attractions beyond the city limits:

You can do more than play the ponies at Belmont Park. On Sundays, the racetrack hooks pre-gamblers with pony rides, face painting and a petting zoo. On Saturdays and Sundays, families can breakfast at the track, attend a starting-gate demo, watch horses warm up, and take a tram ride around the barn. (Just avoid the place on Saturday 7, when crowds descend for the Belmont Stakes.) 2150 Hempstead Tpke, Belmont, NY (516-488-6000, nyra.com). See website for travel info. Admission: $5, children under 12 free.

The exotic inhabitants of Long Island’s White Post Farms include antelope from India, zebras from Kenya, aoudads from Northern Africa and alpacas from the Andes. The farm also has plain old American lambs, goats and pigs. Kids can feed the livestock, go on pony rides and take in an animatronic singing-chicken show (um, yay?). 250 Old Country Rd, Melville, NY (631-351-9373, whitepostfarms.com). Travel: LIRR to Huntington Station, then take a taxi to the farm. Admission: $7; $3 with coupon from website.

The Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut is famous for its beluga whales. One glimpse of these ghostly, smiling creatures is worth the price of admission, but you’ll also want to check out the sea lions, rays (which kids can touch in a shallow pool) and African penguins. 55 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT (860-572-5955; mysticaquarium.org). See website for travel instructions. Admission: $23, children ages 3–17 $17, under 3 free.

For adventurous tykes, arrange a sleepover next to a 120,000-gallon shark tank at Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, Long Island. (Kids 12 and older can even go on a dive inside the tank.) Or set them snoozing next to sea horses, octopuses and tropical fish. 431 E Main St, Riverhead, NY (631-208-9200, atlantismarineworld.com). Travel: LIRR to Riverhead, then a short walk to the park. Admission: $19, seniors over 62 and children ages 3–11 $16, under 3 free.