Place your bets on the revamped Belmont Park.
Once Long Island’s premier racing venue, Belmont has now become Nassau County’s standout attraction, boasting a cutting-edge design, an additional track enabling winter races, upscale dining and facilities, and vast infield areas that can be transformed for concerts and other events beyond horse racing.
NYRA’s CEO, David O’Rourke, told The Post before the eagerly awaited “Return to Racing” festivities on Friday, “We believe we’ve significantly enhanced the everyday experience for fans.”
Belmont underwent a full, three-year reconstruction to replace its former grandstand with a sleek, $455 million structure that’s notably more compact—down from 1.25 million to 300,000 square feet—focusing on open-air environments that invite fans to explore on foot.
However, the transformation is still underway, with only two of the grandstand’s five floors currently open: the ground level provides comfy general seating, bars, and casual food options, while the upper floor features sit-down eateries, clubs, and a NYRA Bets wagering area.
Luxury suites and a balcony event space offering panoramic views of the NYC skyline, suitable for occasions like weddings, are looming additions.
Other sections, such as the expanded, accessible infield, scenic trackside zones, and an underground passage linking the grounds to a distant parking lot, are scheduled to open shortly.
The full grand opening is slated for early 2027, just ahead of the highly anticipated return of the Belmont Stakes in June, which has been held in Saratoga since 2024.
Part of the facelift was a $100 million upgrade to the Belmont Stakes’ iconic 1.5-mile dirt track and the two turf courses, plus the introduction of a 1-mile Tapeta synthetic oval.
This synthetic track will support winter races, replacing the now-closed Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens. The new grandstand also incorporates a better, climate-controlled indoor space for guests during colder races like the Breeders’ Cup in October 2027.
Roger Cettina, senior VP at AECOM Tishman and project lead, noted, “The old Belmont lacked heated areas—October days could be quite cold.” The new, brighter grandstand seats 10,000, with surrounding grounds accommodating 50,000 or more during the Belmont Stakes, matching the capacity since the nearby UBS Arena opened about five years ago. Previously, it held about 90,000.
For the Friday reopening, capacity will be 6,000, temporarily dropping to 4,000 after September 24.
Cettina explained that racetracks the size of large football stadiums aren’t typical anymore, primarily due to the rise of online betting. “Back then, the track was the only place to wager,” said Cettina, also a celebrated horseplayer inducted into the National Horseplayers Championship Hall of Fame in 2017.
The redesigned Belmont replaced its old distant general seating along the home stretch with cozy, closer views—like the Big Red’s watering hole named after Secretariat, furnished in royal blue chairs reflecting the jockey’s colors.
This area even features a stage for Friday’s performance by country star Dierks Bentley, with more open, park-like general admission sections still under development.
Belmont’s paddock, now twice as spacious and easily accessible, promotes fan mobility rather than fixed seating and includes a nearby playground with plans for pony rides.
“We wanted to maintain close interaction between fans and horses,” O’Rourke said, highlighting a European-inspired approach where hospitality focuses around the paddock, which could also serve as an intimate concert venue.
Positioned behind the grandstand and track but clearly visible from inside, the welcoming paddock includes a built-in TV studio and offers dual sightlines—a feature lacking in the old Belmont.
“You’re rarely more than 30 feet from a view of either side of the track,” O’Rourke added. Horses move from the paddock to the track through a glass-enclosed opening in the grandstand, allowing fans to watch up close.
On the culinary front, the venue benefits from the expertise of Food Network star and local boy Marc Forgione, who recalled once pooling spare change with friends to place bets through an adult. “We won a trifecta—I didn’t even know what that was back then,” he laughed.
Forgione now crafts specialty dishes at the new Turf Club and other restaurants, featuring chili lobster on Texas toast, chicken cooked under a brick, and fine cuts paired with bone marrow gremolata.
Traditional fare like turkey clubs and penne alla vodka are also available.
O’Rourke described the reopening as a “personal triple crown” for the entire campus, which also includes the UBS Arena and a broad shopping district.
He emphasized that Belmont’s progression is ongoing. “We’re excited to welcome fans back to the track.”
Fan Take: This revitalization of Belmont Park marks a thrilling new chapter for horse racing, blending modern amenities with the sport’s rich heritage to create a fan-focused experience. By combining innovative racing surfaces, enhanced viewing areas, and versatile event spaces, it promises to attract new audiences and breathe fresh life into the future of racing.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
