NYRA confirms racing returns to Belmont Park on Sept. 18
The ending line — or the beginning gate, relying on the perspective — is in sight. dwell thoroughbred racing will resume on the reconstructed Belmont Park on Sept. 18, the New York Racing Association confirmed on Thursday in releasing its stakes schedule for the autumn meet in Elmont.
The opening day program would be the first races at Belmont Park since July 9, 2023, when it closed for an ongoing $575 million renovation challenge that features the development of a brand new grandstand. The Grade 1 $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup will spotlight the primary day of racing and might be broadcast by Fox.
The new grandstand is not going to but be at full capability with development anticipated to be accomplished and the ability absolutely operational in April 2027. New York State contributed $455 million to the challenge by way of a mortgage to NYRA.
“The new Belmont Park will provide the stage to showcase the best racing in North America,” Andrew Offerman, NYRA’s senior vp of racing and operations, mentioned in a press release. “With that in mind, we have arrived at a stakes schedule that reflects the importance of the fall racing season, emphasizes major weekends throughout the meet, and establishes a strong foundation in advance of the 2027 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. We look forward to Sept. 18 and the next chapter in NYRA’s history.”
The Breeders’ Cup might be run on the new Belmont Park on Oct. 29-30, 2027.
The third and last Belmont Stakes at bucolic Saratoga Race Course might be run on June 6 earlier than returning to its namesake dwelling subsequent 12 months.
NYRA’s fall meet at Belmont Park will run by means of Dec. 6.
Also coming quickly is an all-weather artificial monitor that’s anticipated to be open for coaching by the top of spring. It would be the fourth oval to go together with the 1 1/2-mile primary dust monitor and two internal turf programs.
“That’s going to be a big boon,” Michael Dubb, a member of the NYRA board of administrators since 2008, instructed Newsday in a current phone dialog. “Because the problem with horse racing is the horse population is going down and so many of the grass horses can’t run here in the winter. But grass horses tend to be able to run on synthetic.”
