Construction at Belmont Park in the Homestretch

As the days draw near for the Kentucky Derby (G1), the clock is ticking down for another day certain to provide an exciting jolt to the Thoroughbred racing industry. In a little less than five months, the doors to a new, ultra-modern version of Belmont Park will open Sept. 18 and bring New York racing into the 21st century and beyond. "In a few months, people will be seeing the newest and most modern racing facility in all of North America," said New York Racing Association CEO and president Dave O'Rourke during an April 28 tour of the grounds. In seeing the progress made during the nearly three years of construction, it is impossible to be anything but impressed with the grand scope of the project. For all of the beauty and historic charm of the "old" Belmont Park, it had become a dinosaur. It was a cavernous structure built in 1963-68 for a time when crowds of 25,000 were common. Soon, NYRA's lone downstate track will give fans a smaller facility tailored for year-round use and the needs of fans in an era of electronic and mobile wagering with far more comfort and improved viewing of the paddock and racetrack as well as greatly enhanced hospitality and dining options. Aside from the $455 million that NYRA is spending on the ultra-modern, glass-enclosed grandstand, another $100 million was allocated to rebuild the main track and two turf courses and add a fourth, innermost all-weather track. That also includes turning the oval's huge infield into space for hospitality during the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup and community usage. Seeing the turf and Tapeta courses in place and the grandstand structure standing tall only fuels the euphoria for the impending return of racing to beautiful Belmont Park. Work on the surfaces is ahead of the grandstand. On Sept. 18, only the first two of the five floors will be open to a crowd that likely will be limited to about 6-8,000 patrons until the grand opening of the entire facility on Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) day in early April 2027. When the track reopens fans will find a sparkling, patron-friendly facility with a variety of indoor and outdoor patio viewing spots for the track and paddock, be it in summer or winter. Fans can view horses walking past them in the tunnel leading to the track through floor-length glass panes on the first floor of the grandstand. The wider variety of hospitality and dining offerings include a fourth-floor suite area. Some of the total of 32 large and small Champion Suites are still available through NYRA with both offering access to a patio viewing area for the paddock and racetrack. The suites, which can handle 15-50 guests and offer high-end amenities, are about halfway toward being sold out, according to NYRA. Sales of yearly box seat membership, which include access to The Overlook, a climate-controlled lounge area, have been strong and are nearly sold out, NYRA is also offering mini-plans for reserved seating. There's a 12-day plan for the Triple Crown Loge Luxury Boxes on the third floor. A 20-day Chairback mini-plan in a reserved, open-air area above the apron offers packages starting at $50 a day and can include food and beverage credits. On the fifth floor, there will be a large "Sky Terrace" indoor dining room with an even larger outdoor patio for group events and even a community usage for weddings and banquets. In the infield, the metal structure for a six-story, 75-by-115-foot video board is in place, with the unit to be installed in June or July. The new, expanded paddock area includes an owners/trainers lounge adjacent to saddling stalls, and yes, the beloved Japanese white pine tree still stands majestically as a featured element in the paddock. "Expanding the size of the paddock and incorporating the iconic Belmont tree while also giving the ability to have it for year-round use is one of the key features in this area," said Glen Kozak, NYRA's executive vice president of operations and capital projects. "Having the building dual-sided for viewing the races as well as the paddock and walking ring are an incredible element to the new facility." The racing surfaces are much closer to completion, with three of the tracks and all of the rails and poles in place. The new Tapeta, all-weather surface has passed inspection by the manufacturer of the material and Dr. Mick Peterson, director of the Racetrack Safety Program. Training is tentatively expected to start on the all-weather surface by the end of May, according to Kozak. The two turf courses are set, leaving only the main track in need of surfacing, which should be completed in the next several weeks. The surfaces will also have an irrigation system second to none in the racing industry. A 15 million-gallon pond has been added to the infield, complete with six 125 horsepower pumps. That's double the number of pumps at Saratoga Race Course and more than any other racetrack in the country uses. Kozak said with the new equipment, watering the surfaces, which used to take five hours, can be completed in an hour. Walking the grounds, it's crystal clear that the construction of the new Belmont Park is now in the homestretch and in less than five months, the racing world will be introduced to a new, more modern era of racing in New York. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.