It can be argued that Belmont Park has provided a much more memorable New York sports moment than Madison Square Garden over the past decades. Think about it: Tiznaud wins it for America in 1998, ending the 37-year-old triple crown drought from Real Quiet, and adds history in 2018 when Tiznaud wins it for America in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic, ending the 37-year-old triple crown drought in 2015, and adding history in 2018.
These were more than just victory. They were iconic moments in New York’s sports history. The moment you’ll talk for years. The future could be as unforgettable as Belmont Park’s history.
Horse racing is evolving, and the way fans experience it is evolving. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has a big bet on both.
“The old facility was built at a different era,” NYRA president and CEO David O’Rourke recently told the local New York City media.
Let’s face it, there’s no longer a time when 120,000 people crammed shoulder-to-shoulder to shoulder for a glimpse of Belmont’s stakes stretch run. Today’s fans want more than just a great seat. They want a premium experience. It allows you to have a moving room, killer view, cold drinks in your hands and a high-speed Wi-Fi connection to post everything to social media.
Enter the new Belmont Park.
This reconstruction coming in 2026 is set to replace modern streamlined spaces with concrete colossus. It has been reduced from the massive 125 million square feet to a more fan-centric 300,000. The plan includes 10,000 seats and includes access to the infield for the first time. It opens the door to many possibilities.
Beyond the possibility of over 50,000 fans spreading comfortably on big race days, we draw the page from the NYRA’s popular summer race venue, the Saratoga Race course.
“I’ve heard consistently from casual and loyal fans (open green space) that Saratoga is a separate element. I’m looking forward to taking some of these lessons and applying them at New Belmont Park.”
Belmont is under construction for the past two years, and Belmont stakes have taken a scenic detour to Neela’s summer home.
If Belmont is a crown jewel, then Saratoga is a summer treasure chest. This place will live and breathe the race. Last year, Spa produced more than $83.8 million in handles and more than $1 million in paid attendees in nearly 40 days of races. Saratoga has more than a horse bet. Crowds, concerts and family events add to the experience and fans can’t get enough.
Saratoga accepted the Belmont Stakes last year by opening her calendar with open arms. this year? moreover. The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival is expanding to five days from Wednesday to Sunday, with Saratoga holding the four-day racing festival on July 4th ahead of the traditional summer meat kickoff on July 10th.
New York isn’t the only one who has won a facelift. All three triple crown homes have gotten major upgrades.
Churchill Downs has invested heavily in renovations, particularly in paddocks and infields. And a few weeks after Preakness in 2025, the bulldozer fired at Pimlico in Baltimore, beginning a full-scale conversion of the storied truck.
For the first time in generations, all three Triple Crown venues have been rebuilt for the future. Collectively, they are delivering the message: horse racing is still important and the sport is determined to look like its best.
NYRA’s investment in the future of Belmont Park is already causing waves.
The Breeders’ Cup is returning to New York thanks to a $455 million redevelopment project. For the first time in more than 20 years, the Breeders’ Cup World Championship will return to Belmont Park in the fall of 2027.
“The Breeders’ Cup return to New York has taken years,” Drew Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Ltd., said in a press release. “Reimagined Belmont Park offers an extraordinary stage for the world’s largest racehorse and participants, welcoming competitors and fans around the world.”
The championship weekend only took place at Belmont Park’s four previous stops (1990, 1995, 2001, 2005). When we returned to 2027, it was our fifth time at the venue and the first on Belmont’s brand new stage.
Hungry for another marquee event is a big win for racing fans in New York, not just for NYRA.
The Belmont Stakes have always been the ultimate stamina test. It is the longest and toughest leg of the triple crown, which requires courage and heart to win it.
The new Belmont Park is built on the same principles of endurance, strength and long-term vision.
With its NHL’s New York Islander home to UBS Arena, next door and a direct Long Island Railroad link to Manhattan, Belmont doesn’t just rethink itself as a racetrack. It strolls into the spotlight as a full-fledged New York sports destination along with Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium.
