Dubb Gives Builder's Thumbs Up to New Belmont Park

Michael Dubb is widely considered one of the country's top builders. The founder and CEO of Beechwood Homes, Dubb's company has built more than 10,000 luxury homes in 80 communities. His company built Meadowbrook Pointe, which consists of 720 homes on the Long Island, N.Y., site of the old Roosevelt Raceway harness track. Beechwood also played a lead role in the Residences at the Adelphi Hotel, a complex of about 80 high-end condominiums in downtown Saratoga Springs. N.Y. He was a driving force behind the construction of Anna House at Belmont Park and Faith's House at Saratoga Race Course to provide child care for backstretch workers. Dubb also introduced then New York Islanders owner Charles Wang to Belmont Park, which paved the way for the UBS Arena to be built on the racetrack's grounds as well as a shopping area and tiered garage to be constructed across the street in Belmont's parking lot on the other side of Hempstead Turnpike. So when Dubb raves about the new half-billion-dollar Belmont Park, his words carry immense weight. "The building is beautiful," Dubb said about the facility, which will open for racing Sept. 18 for the first time since 2023. "I think it's right-sized for the times we live in. The old building was essentially the Empire State Building laying on its side. The new building will be user-friendly in that there will be what you would put into a modern arena or stadium with suites and hospitality. There are a lot of different areas for the different types of people who go to the track. It gives people areas to socialize or hang out. It's modern, it's clean." The hospitality areas that will be open on the building's first two floors this weekend (floors 3-5 will open at a later date) include Big Red's (honoring Secretariat), Homestretch Market, Silks, and the Trackside Lounge on the first floor, along with premium dining at the Turf Club Restaurant and Lounge, The Overlook, and The Stretch View on the second floor There will also be grab-and-go areas for drinks and snacks. One feature Dubb especially liked about the building is that the grandstand was constructed to afford grand views of both the paddock and racing surfaces from the glass-enclosed structure. "The building is not that deep. It was designed so that you could easily go from the front of the building to the back very easily. There's a big, spacious, magnificent paddock that can be seen from the length of the building," said Dubb, a highly active owner on the New York circuit and seven-time leading owner at Saratoga as well as a member of the New York Racing Association's board of directors. On Friday, racing will return to Belmont Park with a card highlighted by Japan-based star Forever Young (JPN) in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In stakes for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Forever Young earned champion older dirt male honors last season after winning the Breeders' Cup Classic. As for the racing, gone will be "Big Sandy" as Belmont's main track was resurfaced to match the composition of Saratoga. There will be a new, mile-long all-weather surface oval and both turf courses were widened. A modern drainage system that surpasses anything else in the industry was installed. Dubb celebrates the effort. "We have created something that will be second to none, perhaps anywhere in the world, in that we now have two sweeping turf courses that have been rebuilt with a state-of-the-art drainage system which means fewer races will come off the turf," Dubb said. "By adding the Tapeta track, I can't think of another track that has two turf courses, a Tapeta track, and a big, beautiful dirt course. There's a two-part story. There's a new, beautiful building but the work (NYRA senior vice president of operations and capital projects) Glen Kozak has handcrafted with the courses deserves a lot of credit. When people set foot in the building they will see how beautiful everything is." Getting people to Belmont is a fait accompli as far as Friday goes. All 6,000 tickets have been sold, and going forward, attendance will be limited to 4,000 until more floors are opened. The grand opening of the entire facility is scheduled for on or around Wood Memorial Stakes day in April 2027. The previous Belmont Park was reconstructed in 1963-68 and the massive grandstand was ideal for weekend crowds of 25,000 or more at the time. But in an era dominated by mobile and online wagering, the new building will ultimately fit about 10,000 on a daily basis, with a reconfigured backyard area and the availability of additional temporary seating for big days such as the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup World Championships (scheduled for Belmont in 2027). One question in need of an answer is the kind of attendance and handle Belmont Park can generate in its new role as a year-round facility with Aqueduct Racetrack closed. Dubb thinks the hockey crowd could help. "It has always been my hope there will be synergy between the racetrack and the Islanders. I think it would be great to see people come to Belmont and be able to bet on a double of a race and the Islanders game," Dubb said. "These are things we need to do. We need to be creative. WATCH: Some of the Sights of the New Belmont Park "Besides building a new facility, which I think will attract a lot of horse people, we need to re-create our wagering so we can entice people to participate in our sport. Whatever we are doing now, we have to do better to get people who just bet on sports to bet on our sport," Dubb added. "It's an exciting time because NYRA has to look forward and also be creative to get people to come to the track after the first few weeks. "We are not going to emulate Saratoga, but we want families to come out to the backyard and feel at home and create memories that will create longtime fans. I think everything NYRA put into this is going to work."