After a number of years of discuss and expectations, Belmont Park is lastly trying like a racetrack as soon as once more.
The grandstand that offered tens of millions of followers unforgettable reminiscences could also be gone, however a go to to the famed 120-year-old facility reveals the form of progress that makes the look forward to the half-billion-dollar reconstruction challenge to be accomplished within the fall of 2026 extra palatable.
Months in the past, Belmont Park appeared like a mile-and-a-half sandbox, however now the outlines of 4 programs—one grime, two turf, and one all-weather—are in place. The rails and markers for the programs are largely in place. The limestone bases are set. The brand new one-mile Tapeta course is nearly prepared and could possibly be obtainable for coaching by the top of the second quarter or the beginning of the third quarter of this yr. By July, there needs to be extra perception as to when coaching on the opposite programs can start.
A brand new chute for 1 1/4-mile races has been constructed, and the stretch shall be about 120 toes longer with the end line on the middle of the grandstand.
“Now it seems like a racetrack,” New York Racing Affiliation CEO and president Dave O’Rourke mentioned throughout a Feb. 5 tour of the ability. “Now we have been speaking about this internally for 5 to 6 years, so to see it come collectively on the pace (NYRA senior vice chairman of operations and capital tasks Glen Kozak) and his group has orchestrated is superb.”Join BloodHorse Each day
Photograph: Christine Kozak/NYRALaying down the brand new Tapeta course at Belmont Park
NYRA has spared no expense because it strives to make Belmont Park North America’s premier racing facility. The challenge, at a price of about $550 million, is probably the most complete, formidable, and maybe most costly racing challenge America has ever seen, giving the game a glittering new palace on the border of New York Metropolis at a time when the way forward for a number of the largest racetracks is in limbo.
“It is a state-of-the-art challenge,” O’Rourke mentioned. “It is the biggest coaching middle on the East Coast and that is the place the funding needs to be, within the horses.”
Reflective of how NYRA has not minimize corners is the $100 million it’s spending on a separate challenge for its racing surfaces. That determine is along with the $455 million mortgage it obtained from New York State to construct a smaller and extra trendy grandstand and reshape the grounds.
“The issues that now we have achieved the final seven or eight years by way of enterprise, be it NYRA Bets, tv, or any of the opposite issues now we have achieved to diversify our enterprise, you’re looking on the returns on this new racetrack,” O’Rourke mentioned. “Our definition of return on funding for this racetrack is to have one of the best services for horses within the nation. That is our return on funding and we imagine that may translate itself to the product on the racetrack.”
Whereas 100,000 tons of fabric have been introduced in for the surfaces, probably the most noteworthy change with them is the introduction of a drainage and watering system new to NYRA and the business.Â
The programs will now have a sequence of drains about 16 toes aside to deal with rainfall and 200 dry wells which might be 20 toes tall and 10 toes in circumference. That system shall be particularly useful to upkeep and care of the 2 turf programs as with the reopening of Belmont Park and the closing of Aqueduct Racetrack, the Elmont, N.Y., facility shall be NYRA’s lone downstate facility.
“You want the tracks to empty however you want the grass to develop and knit,” O’Rourke mentioned. “All this drainage permits us to make use of a 50-50 mixture of prime soil and sand. With out the drainage you may put extra sand in to assist it drain and that may create an issue with stability and roots rising.”
The turf programs may also profit from a brand new 15 million-gallon irrigation pond within the infield.Â
“What’s in all probability one of many largest enhancements is that not solely is all the things from the bottom up new,” Kozak mentioned, “however there is a consistency of the supplies used. All the profiles beneath the surfaces are constant.”
Photograph: Christine Kozak/NYRAConstruction at Belmont Park
To assist the innermost Tapeta course, Kozak designed using a mat that may stop rocks within the base from stepping into the floor, particularly in areas the place beginning gates are positioned.
“It is a substantial expense so as to add the mats,” Kozak mentioned. “But it surely’s value it. The issue with an artificial course is that you just can not display screen it for the rocks like you may with a mud monitor.”
The demolished 56-year-old grandstand not dots the realm panorama however work on the brand new construction is underway. Its basis has been set and its partitions are 80-85% full. The define of a staircase and elevator shaft could be seen.
On a typical day, the ability will match 9,000-10,000 followers, a advantageous measurement for racing in 2025. However on particular days like Belmont Stakes Day or when the Breeders’ Cup lastly returns to the Large Apple, at the very least 50,000 patrons could be accommodated by non permanent area within the infield and 4 acres of land adjoining to the grandstand.
Suites on the new facility will go sale in March.
As for the massive query, when will Belmont Park reopen for racing, O’Rourke mentioned the ability is on track for a grand reopening in September of 2026.Â
That schedule means the 2026 Belmont Stakes (G1) will possible be held at Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park wouldn’t be a viable candidate for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup.
However in 2027, it might be exhausting to think about a greater place for the Breeders’ Cup than Belmont Park, the place the world can see America’s most trendy racetrack and a facility that embodies the adage “all the things previous is new once more.”
