NEW YORK — Horse racing has made its return to Belmont Park after a three-year hiatus for a $550 million overhaul that modernized the iconic venue. On Friday, a crowd estimated at 6,000 fans witnessed the first race since July 9, 2023, as a field of 10 horses took off shortly after 1:30 p.m. Lisa Joy, a filly ridden by jockey Antonio Fresu, claimed victory in this historic comeback race.
Fresu expressed his excitement, calling it an incredible experience to be part of Belmont Park’s grand reopening. He praised the impressive track conditions, the revamped grandstand, and the overall upgraded facilities. The revamped Belmont now showcases a sleek, futuristic white design, replacing the old brick grandstand that had stood since 1968 until it was recently torn down.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony held in the expanded paddock area, declared this transformation marks a new era for racing in the state. She highlighted that New York now uniquely boasts two premier racing venues, with Belmont Park located on the Queens-Long Island border and the historic Saratoga Race Course upstate.
Currently, the first two levels of the redesigned grandstand are open to the public, with construction continuing on the upper three floors, scheduled to open by spring just in time for the Wood Memorial, a major Kentucky Derby prep race held in early April. The Belmont Stakes will return to its traditional home on June 5 after three years running at Saratoga, and the Breeders’ Cup is slated to come back next fall, marking the first time since 2005 that the championship weekend will take place in New York.
Dora Delgado, executive vice president of the Breeders’ Cup, compared the new facility to the famed Ascot Racecourse in England and the former Arlington Park near Chicago, calling it a state-of-the-art achievement for New York racing. Legendary trainer Shug McGaughey, whose horses won the first two races on Friday, noted the venue’s modern feel and described it as a stunning improvement over the previous Belmont.
Fresu also remarked that the turf course ranks among the best he has ever raced on, underscoring the track’s quality as a highlight of the renovation.
Fan Take: This reopening is a game-changer for horse racing fans, signaling a bright future for one of America’s most treasured tracks. The cutting-edge facilities and return of marquee events like the Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup promise to reinvigorate the sport’s appeal and elevate its status on the global stage.
Source: www.espn.com
