Overview
- The rebuilt Belmont Park opened to the public on Friday with a nine-race card and a sold‑out limited crowd of 6,000 for the weekend.
- The project cost between roughly $450 million and $555 million and was financed largely by a state loan to NYRA as part of a deal that closed Aqueduct and consolidated racing at Belmont.
- Only the first two floors of a new five‑story, 300,000‑square‑foot grandstand are open now with the remaining floors and final work due to finish in spring or early 2027.
- Track upgrades include a renovated dirt course, widened turf courses and a new one‑mile synthetic Tapeta oval meant to reduce breakdowns and allow winter racing.
- Officials hope the venue’s smaller, stadium‑style footprint and flexible infield will drive economic activity and host the Belmont Stakes in June 2027 and the Breeders’ Cup in fall 2027.