You could make the case that Belmont Park has delivered more unforgettable New York sports moments than even Madison Square Garden over the past few decades. Think about it: Victory Gallop robbing the Triple Crown from Real Quiet in 1998, Tiznow winning it for America in the 2001 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), American Pharoah ending a 37-year Triple Crown drought in 2015, and Justify adding to that history in 2018.
These weren't just wins. They were iconic moments in New York sports history. The kind of moments you talk about for years. As unforgettable as Belmont Park's history is, the future might be even more exciting.
Horse racing is evolving and so is the way fans experience it. The New York Racing Association is betting big on both.
"The old facility was built for a different era," NYRA president and CEO David O'Rourke recently told local New York City media.
Let's face it, gone are the days when 120,000 people crammed shoulder-to-shoulder just to catch a glimpse of the Belmont Stakes (G1) stretch run. Today's fan wants more than a great seat. They want a premium experience. Room to move, a killer view, a cold drink in hand, and a high-speed wi-fi connection so they can post it all on social media.
Enter the new Belmont Park.
The rebuild is set to trade in the concrete colossus for a modern, streamlined space. It's shrinking from a massive 1.25-million square feet to a more fan-focused 300,000 square feet. The plan includes 10,000 seats and, for the first time, access to the infield. That opens the door to a slew of possibilities.
Beyond the potential for 50,000 or more fans to comfortably spread out on big race days, it also pulls a page out of NYRA's popular summer racing location: Saratoga Race Course.
"We have consistently heard from fans, casual and loyal, that (open green space) is an element that allows Saratoga to stand apart. We are looking forward to taking some of those lessons and applying them at the new Belmont Park," Pat McKenna, vice president of communications for NYRA, said previously.
It's not just New York getting a facelift either. All three Triple Crown homes are getting major upgrades.
Churchill Downs has invested heavily in renovations, especially in its paddock and infield. And just weeks after the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1), bulldozers fired up at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore to begin a full-scale transformation of the storied track. For the first time in generations, all three Triple Crown venues are being rebuilt for the future. Collectively, they're delivering a message: Horse racing still matters, and the sport is determined to show up looking its best.
NYRA's investment in the future of Belmont Park is already making waves.
Thanks to the $455 million redevelopment project, the Breeders' Cup is coming back to New York. For the first time in more than 20 years, the Breeders' Cup World Championships will return to Belmont Park in the fall of 2027.
"The return of the Breeders' Cup to New York has been years in the making," Drew Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders' Cup, said in a press release. "The reimagined Belmont Park will provide an exceptional stage for the world's greatest racehorses and participants as we welcome contenders and fans from around the globe."
The championship weekend has only made four previous stops at Belmont Park—1990, 1995, 2001, and 2005. When it returns in 2027, it'll be the fifth time at the venue and the first on Belmont's brand-new stage.
It's a massive win not just for NYRA, but for New York racing fans hungry for another marquee event.
The Belmont Stakes has always been the ultimate stamina test. It's the longest, toughest leg of the Triple Crown requiring guts and heart to win it. The new Belmont Park is being built on those same principles: endurance, strength, and long-term vision.
With Belmont under construction for the past two years, the Belmont Stakes has taken a scenic detour to NYRA's summer home, Saratoga Race Course. Although an official announcement has not been made, at this point it appears likely the signature race will return to the Spa in 2026, with a Belmont Park homecoming in 2027. At this point, it's expected that racing will return to the new Belmont in the fall of 2026.
With UBS Arena, home of the NHL's New York Islanders, right next door, and a direct Long Island Rail Road connection to Manhattan, Belmont isn't just reimagining itself as a racetrack. It's stepping into the spotlight as a full-blown New York sports destination, right up there with Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium.
