Belmont Park reopened to racing fans Thursday after a three-year, $555 million reconstruction that replaced the grandstand, rebuilt four racing surfaces and expanded public green space at the Long Island track.
The project was supported by a $455 million state loan approved in New York's fiscal 2024 budget. State and racing officials said construction created 3,700 union jobs and more than $1 billion in economic activity.
The reopening drew a sold-out crowd of 6,000 spectators. The New York Racing Association plans to finish the upper floors of the new grandstand over the coming months, with the full interior expected to open in the first quarter of 2027.
Gov. Kathy Hochul joined racing and labor officials for the ribbon-cutting. She said the rebuilt track will restore major events to Belmont while allowing year-round racing for the first time in the facility's history.
New grandstand and four tracks reshape the site
The centerpiece is a five-story grandstand and clubhouse of about 300,000 square feet. Populous designed the building with the New York Racing Association, while AECOM Tishman worked on the construction.
The first phase includes new bars and restaurants, including Big Red's, Homestretch Market, Silks and the Trackside Lounge. Premium dining and hospitality areas include the Turf Club Restaurant and Lounge, The Overlook and The Stretch View.
Grandstand capacity is expected to rise to about 10,000 after the third through fifth floors are fitted out. When fully configured for the Belmont Stakes and other major events, the site is expected to hold at least 50,000 spectators, matching the capacity of Saratoga Race Course.
Pedestrian tunnels will connect the grandstand to the infield. NYRA said the redesigned site will provide nearly five times as much green space for fans and the surrounding community as the former configuration.
Four new racing surfaces include the traditional 1½-mile dirt track, two turf courses and a one-mile Tapeta synthetic oval. NYRA said the combination will support racing and training throughout the year.
Populous principal Meg McWilliam said the design was intended to bring spectators closer to racing while making Belmont Park useful beyond major race days.
Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup return in 2027
The Belmont Stakes is scheduled to return to its historic home in 2027 after three years at Saratoga Race Course during construction. Belmont Park will also host the 2027 Breeders' Cup World Championships, bringing that event back to New York for the first time since 2005.
State officials project that racing at the rebuilt track will generate $155 million in annual economic output and $10 million in additional state and local tax revenue each year. Those figures are projections, not revenue already collected from the reopened facility.
New York's horse-racing industry generates an estimated $3 billion in economic activity annually and supports about 20,000 jobs, according to the state. NYRA separately puts the industry's employment at 19,000 jobs.
The 2026 Saratoga season drew more than 1 million spectators for the 11th consecutive year, and wagering topped $900 million for the second time, state officials said. The state described the new Belmont Park as the first major new racing venue built in the United States in more than four decades.
Assemblymember Carrie Woerner said Saratoga benefited from hosting the Belmont Stakes during construction but welcomed the race's return to Long Island. Local officials and business groups said the renovated facility could increase tourism and spending at restaurants and other businesses near Elmont and Floral Park.
Backstretch housing and services receive upgrades
The broader redevelopment also includes work in the barn and backstretch areas where horses are housed and racing employees live and work. NYRA has completed two dormitories since 2023 and expects a third to be finished this fall.
Other backstretch improvements include upgrades to the on-site medical clinic, Recreation Hall and Track Kitchen. NYRA also installed a Blue Light security system, expanded reliable Wi-Fi access and added flood-mitigation measures.
New York State Gaming Commission Chair Brian O'Dwyer said the project includes improvements intended to support equine safety and quality of life for backstretch workers. Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists, located across the street, is also conducting work aimed at improving detection of thoroughbred injuries, according to the state.
The racing association is a nonprofit corporation franchised by New York to conduct thoroughbred racing at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. Full use of Belmont's new grandstand is expected after the remaining interior work is completed in early 2027.
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