After several years of talk and expectations, Belmont Park finally looks like a race track.
The grandstand, which delivered millions of fans unforgettable memories, may have disappeared, but a visit to the eminent 120-year facility shows the type of progress that has the waiting for the reconstruction project for half billion in autumn in autumn 2026 more tasty.
Months ago the Belmont Park looked like one and a half sandpit, but now the outlines of four courses are dirt, two lawn and an all-weather forecast. The rails and markers for the courses are mostly present. The limestone bases are set. The fresh wallpaper course with a mileau is practical and can be available for training by the end of the second quarter or at the beginning of the third quarter of this year. By July, more insights into the training in the other courses should give.
A fresh slide was built for 1 ¼ miles and the route will be about 120 feet longer, with the finish line in the middle of the stands.
“Now it feels like a race track,” said the CEO and President of Fresh York Racing Association and President Dave O'Rourke during a tour of February 5. “We have been talking internally for five to six years, making it together at speed (Nyra Senior Vice President of Operations and Capital Projects Glen Kozak) and his team orchestrated.”
Nyra has not blocked any costs because it endeavors to make the leading race site of Belmont Park in North America. The project at a price of around 550 million US some of the largest race tracks are in the balance.
“This is a state -of -the -art project,” said O'Rourke. “It is the largest training center on the east coast, and here the investment should be in the horses.”
Reflecting how Nyra did not cut corners are the 100 million US dollars that they spend on a separate project for its racing areas. In addition to the loan of 455 million US dollars received from the state of Fresh York, this number is to build a smaller and more current stands and formulate the terrain.
“The things we have done in the past seven or eight years in terms of business, be it nyra bets, television or the other things we have done to diversify our business, they look at the returns in this Fresh racetrack. Said O'Rourke. “Our definition of the investment return for this racetrack is to have the best facilities for horses in the country. This is our return on capital and we believe that this will be translated to the product on the racetrack. “
While 100,000 tons of material have been introduced for the surfaces, the most remarkable change is the introduction of a drainage and water supply system that is fresh in Nyra and the industry.
The courses will now have a number of drains that are about 16 feet away from each other to treat precipitation, and 200 arid wells, which are 20 feet high and 10 feet. This system is particularly advantageous for maintaining and maintaining the two lawn prices as in the reopening of the Belmont Park and closing the aqueduct, the facility in Elmont, NY, the only facility of the Nyra facility will be.
“You need the traces to drain, but you need the grass to grow and knit,” said O'Rourke. “All of this drainage enables us to operate a 50-50 mix of upper floor and sand. Without the drainage, you could operate more sand to get the drain, and this can cause a problem with stability and roots. “
The lawn prices will also benefit from a fresh 15 million-gallon irrigation pond in the Infield.
“What is probably one of the greatest improvements is that not only everything is fresh,” said Glenn Kozak, “but there is a consistency of the materials used.” All profiles under the surfaces are consistent. “
In order to aid the innermost wall of the wall, Kozak designed the operate of a mat that prevents stones in the base from getting into the surface, especially in areas where starting gates are positioned.
“It is an crucial cost to add the mats,” said Kozak. “But it's worth it. The problem with a synthetic course is that you cannot check it with a dirt track for the rocks as possible. “
The demolished 56-year-old grandstand no longer evaluates the landscape, but is underway in the fresh structure. The foundation was determined and its walls are 80-85% completed. The outline of a staircase and a elevator shaft can be seen.
On a typical day, the facility fits 9,000-10,000 fans, a good size for the race in 2025. On special days such as the day of Belmont Stakes or when the Breededers' Cup finally returns to the Substantial Apple, at least 50,000 customers can be accommodated by fleeting Space in the infield and four acres of land next to the stands.
The suites in the fresh facility will be sold in March.
As for the large question, Belmont Park will be reopened for the race, O'Rourke said that the facility in September 2026 was on the goal for a great reopening.
This schedule means that the 2026 Belmont Stakes will probably take place on the Saratoga racetrack and that Belmont Park would not be a sustainable candidate for the 2026 Breeders' Cup.
But in 2027 it would be arduous to imagine a better place for the Breeders' Cup than on the Belmont Park, where the world can see the most current racetrack of America, and a facility that embodies the saying “Everything is fresh again” .
