International star Forever Young touched down from Japan early Tuesday morning at the newly revamped Belmont Park and completed quarantine by Thursday. He made his first main track appearance around 10:40 A.M., gearing up for the prestigious Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, a $1 million race scheduled for Friday, September 18.
Following an extensive three-year renovation transforming Belmont Park into a premier sports and entertainment venue, The New York Racing Association (NYRA) will officially usher in this exciting new chapter with a live race day highlighted by the Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 18. FOX will broadcast the event nationwide from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Eastern during their Belmont Park: Return to Racing special, introducing the upgraded facility to a broad audience.
Forever Young, conditioned by Yoshito Yahagi for owner Susumu Fujita, arrived alongside his G2-winning stablemate Shin Emperor, who aims to compete in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on September 26, also at Belmont. Forever Young took a relaxed tour around the clubhouse turn before a light gallop on the backstretch under assistant trainer Yuki Araki.
Stable manager Hiroshi Ando expressed satisfaction with the five-year-old Real Steel colt’s post-travel condition. “He loves America and knows it,” Ando remarked. “Due to a 42-hour quarantine limiting exercise, today was a free day for him. We plan a breeze session on Tuesday with jockey Ryusei Sakai.”
Forever Young’s upcoming race at Belmont marks his New York debut in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a 10-furlong contest for three-year-olds and up that offers a direct “Win and You’re In” entry to October’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland. Ando added, “He handles long flights very well, and we are pleased with his arrival. Mr. Yahagi and I visited last month to inspect the track, and we were impressed by the new grandstand and excellent track conditions. It’s a positive setting for us.”
Previously, Forever Young has raced in the U.S. three times, including a third-place finish in the 2024 Kentucky Derby and the same placement in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar that year. Remarkably, last year, he claimed victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic by a half-length over rival Sierra Leone at Del Mar.
The reigning Japanese Horse of the Year and Eclipse Award-winning Champion Older Dirt Male, Forever Young successfully defended his crown in the Grade 1 Saudi Cup in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse and recently finished second to Magnitude in the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse.
Entry submissions for the Jockey Club Gold Cup are scheduled for Saturday, September 12. Potential contenders include the 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, who is currently managing a foot abscess; multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Nitrogen, last year’s Eclipse Award-winning Champion 3-Year-Old Filly; Grade 2 Godolphin Mile victor Banishing; dual Grade 2 winners Phileas Fogg and Willy D’s; multiple graded stakes-placed Yo Daddy; and Grade 3-placed Money Game.
To learn more about Belmont Park’s exciting transformation, visit NewBelmont.com.
This story was first published by Paulick Report on September 10, 2026, in their News section. You can add Paulick Report as a preferred source here.
Fan Take:
This exciting news highlights how global competition is increasingly shaping American racing, broadening the sport’s appeal and raising performance standards. Forever Young’s arrival and the grand reopening of Belmont symbolize a thrilling new era, promising memorable races and drawing international attention to U.S. tracks.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
