Belmont Park, the Long Island racetrack that closed for reconstruction in 2023, reopened on Sept. 18. A $555 million project added a new five-story grandstand and four tracks, making year-round racing possible for the first time since the track opened. All 6,000 tickets for opening day sold out, and a shuttle runs between the LIRR's Elmont-UBS Arena station and the racetrack.

Belmont Park in Elmont, Nassau County, Long Island, which closed in 2023 for reconstruction, reopened on Sept. 18 after three years. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony that day. The total construction cost was $555 million, of which $455 million was covered by a state loan approved in the state's fiscal year 2024 budget.

Five-Story Grandstand, Four Tracks

At the heart of the new racetrack is a five-story grandstand and clubhouse of about 300,000 square feet. It was designed by the sports-facility architecture firm Populous together with the New York Racing Association (NYRA). Pedestrian tunnels now lead to the lawn inside the track, increasing the green space available to spectators to nearly five times what it was before.

Four tracks were newly built. Two turf tracks and a one-mile Tapeta synthetic track were added to the existing 1.5-mile dirt track. Thanks to the synthetic track, which is not affected by the seasons, Belmont Park can host year-round racing for the first time in the racetrack's history.

6,000 Seats Sold Out on Opening Day; Floors 3–5 to Open in 2027

All 6,000 tickets for the Sept. 18 reopening day were sold. Interior work on the third through fifth floors of the grandstand will be completed over the coming months, and the floors are scheduled to open fully in the first quarter of 2027. At that point, capacity will rise to about 10,000, and the track will be able to hold up to 50,000 for major events such as the Belmont Stakes. Food and beverage venues including Big Red, Homestretch Market, Silks and Trackside Lounge opened with the reopening.

The Belmont Stakes, which was held at Saratoga Race Course for three years starting in 2023, returns to Belmont Park in 2027. The 2027 Breeders' Cup World Championships will also be held at Belmont Park. It will be the first time the Breeders' Cup has been held in New York State since 2005.

Shuttle From LIRR Elmont-UBS Arena Station

The closest stop to the racetrack is the Elmont-UBS Arena station on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Main Line. The racetrack is within walking distance of the station, and during racing hours NYRA continues to run a shuttle bus from the station platform to the inside of the racetrack. The LIRR added 17 trains to the station on reopening day, Sept. 18. Normally, 90 trains stop at the station on weekdays and 159 a day on weekends.

The state expects the new Belmont Park to generate $155 million a year in economic impact and $10 million in state and local tax revenue. Construction created 3,700 union jobs. For New York State's horse racing industry as a whole, about $3 billion in annual economic impact and roughly 20,000 jobs are at stake.