Belmont Park reopened for live thoroughbred racing on September 18, 2026, after a three-year, $555 million reconstruction that replaced the Long Island racetrack’s aging grandstand, rebuilt all four racing surfaces, and repositioned the Elmont facility as a year-round sports and entertainment destination.
Key Takeaways
- Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island, reopened on September 18, 2026, after a three-year, $555 million reconstruction funded primarily by a $455 million state loan from the FY24 state budget.
- The new five-story grandstand spans approximately 300,000 square feet, designed by global sports architecture firm Populous, replacing a 1.25-million-square-foot predecessor built in 1968.
- Opening day drew a sold-out crowd of 6,000 spectators and generated approximately $14 million in total wagering across a nine-race card.
- The rebuilt facility includes four new racing surfaces, including an all-weather synthetic track that enables year-round racing at Belmont Park for the first time in its history.
- Belmont Park will host the 2027 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, bringing the event back to New York for the first time since 2005, and the Belmont Stakes will return from Saratoga Race Course in 2027.
- State officials project the reopened track will generate $155 million in annual economic output and $10 million in new state and local tax revenue each year.
A $555 Million Reconstruction Backed By State Investment
The reconstruction project centered on two major components: a $455 million new grandstand and $100 million in track renovations. Funding came primarily through a $455 million state loan secured by Governor Kathy Hochul in the FY24 Enacted State Budget. The New York Racing Association, the nonprofit corporation franchised by the state to operate thoroughbred racing at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, oversaw the project in partnership with Populous, the global architecture firm that served as lead designer, and AECOM-Tishman, the construction project manager.
The old Belmont Park grandstand, which had stood since 1968 and spanned approximately 1.25 million square feet, was demolished in April 2024. Groundbreaking for the new structure followed in September 2024, with roughly 300 construction workers on site daily and a support staff of 100 throughout the build. State and racing officials said the project created 3,700 union construction jobs and more than $1 billion in construction-related economic activity.
A Smaller Footprint With Expanded Public Access
The new five-story grandstand spans approximately 300,000 square feet, a dramatic reduction in building size that serves a deliberate purpose. By shrinking the structure’s footprint, Belmont Park gained expanded green space, a larger paddock, and a public infield open to spectators for the first time in the racetrack’s history. The building’s facade features 869 glass panels and 3,568 aluminum panels, with 620 televisions installed throughout the interior. Three LED video boards are positioned across the facility, including a main infield screen standing 65 feet high.
Governor Hochul, who joined NYRA officials and labor representatives for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, described the redesigned grandstand as a facility built around openness and natural light. The first two floors of the grandstand were accessible on opening day, with bars and restaurants on the ground floor available through general admission and the second-floor Turf Club Lounge and Restaurant, featuring menus curated by chef Marc Forgione, requiring advance reservations. NYRA plans to complete the upper floors of the grandstand over the coming months, with the full interior expected to open in the first quarter of 2027.
Four Racing Surfaces Enable Year-Round Competition
Beyond the grandstand, the reconstruction included a complete overhaul of Belmont Park’s racing surfaces. NYRA renovated the existing main dirt track and two turf courses and added a new all-weather synthetic Tapeta surface. The synthetic track is designed primarily for winter racing between December and March, making Belmont Park capable of hosting year-round competition for the first time in its history. The addition carries broader implications for New York racing: Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, which had hosted NYRA’s winter meets for decades, closed permanently on June 28, 2026, after more than 130 years of operation. The new Belmont Park is now the full-year replacement.
NYRA’s 2026 fall meet at Belmont Park runs through December 6. After opening day’s capacity of 6,000, the facility will temporarily operate at 4,000 spectators beginning September 24 while finishing work continues on the upper levels.
Opening Day Delivered A Sold-Out Card And International Competition
The September 18 reopening, billed as Belmont Park’s “Return to Racing,” featured a nine-race card that drew a sold-out crowd and generated approximately $14 million in total wagering. Lisa Joy, a British-bred filly owned by Andrew Rosen and trained by Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, won the day’s first race, a 1¼-mile maiden event under jockey Antonio Fresu. The featured race, the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup carrying a $1 million purse, drew international attention when Forever Young, trained by Yoshito Yahagi and owned by Susumu Fujita, won under jockey Ryusei Sakai. Country music artist Dierks Bentley performed live as part of the reopening celebration.
Economic Projections And Marquee Events Anchor Belmont Park’s Future
State officials project the rebuilt Belmont Park will generate $155 million in annual economic output and produce $10 million in new state and local tax revenue per year. Those figures represent forward-looking estimates tied to year-round operations, expanded event hosting, and increased wagering activity at the modernized facility. The projections align with the broader economic pattern of professional sports venues generating sustained business activity across New York, where tourism, hospitality, and local retail spending tend to increase around major sporting destinations.
Two marquee events further anchor the economic case. The Belmont Stakes, the final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, will return to its Long Island home in 2027 after spending three years at Saratoga Race Course during construction. NYRA expects the event to draw up to 50,000 spectators to the expanded grounds. Additionally, Belmont Park will host the 2027 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, bringing the annual year-end mega-event back to New York for the first time since 2005. The combination of year-round racing, a modernized grandstand, and a calendar anchored by two of the sport’s highest-profile events positions Belmont Park as a facility designed to draw national and international visitors well beyond traditional race day audiences.
A 200-year-old Japanese White Pine tree, long a defining feature of the paddock and the inspiration for Belmont Park’s logo, was surveyed and protected throughout demolition and construction. NYRA also preserved the racetrack’s historic collection of racing artwork and murals during the rebuild.
FAQs
When Did Belmont Park Reopen After Reconstruction?
Belmont Park reopened for live racing on September 18, 2026, after closing in July 2023 for a three-year, $555 million reconstruction project. The facility is located in Elmont, Nassau County, on Long Island.
How Much Did The Belmont Park Renovation Cost?
The total project cost was $555 million, split between a $455 million new grandstand funded by a state loan and $100 million in track renovations. The state loan was secured by Governor Hochul in the FY24 state budget.
When Will The Full Grandstand Be Open To The Public?
Only the first two floors were open on opening day. NYRA plans to complete the remaining upper floors, including luxury boxes and additional hospitality spaces, by the first quarter of 2027.
When Is The Belmont Stakes Returning To Belmont Park?
The Belmont Stakes will return to Belmont Park in 2027 after being held at Saratoga Race Course for three consecutive years during the reconstruction period.
Will Belmont Park Host The Breeders’ Cup?
Belmont Park will host the 2027 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The annual event has not been held in New York since 2005.
