A banner day at the new Belmont Park

Following a three-year project to transform the home of the Belmont Stakes into a world-class sports and entertainment destination, a new Belmont Park opened its doors Friday to welcome the return of racing to Long Island.

Friday’s unveiling of the new Belmont Park commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony where New York State Governor Kathy Hochul joined NYRA officials and guests prior to the first race to unveil the modernized venue.

“It’s an extraordinary time for racing fans from around the globe as we welcome them back to Belmont Park for the first time in three years,” Governor Hochul said. “Here on Long Island, the new Belmont Park is a state-of-the-art, world-class facility with brand new fan amenities and huge expansions in accessible green space. And the improvements go far beyond the grandstand, with four brand new racing surfaces that will host not just the return of the Belmont Stakes and the 2027 Breeders’ Cup, but year-round racing for the first time in the history of this iconic track.”

“Today marked the beginning of an exciting new era for Belmont Park” said NYRA President & CEO David O’Rourke. “We thank all the fans who returned to Belmont today to witness history, and we can't wait for all that is to come at the new Belmont Park."

An enthusiastic and capacity crowd of 6,000 was on hand as the first race at the new Belmont Park was conducted at 1:30 p.m. The 1 1/4-mile maiden special weight event for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on the inner turf was won by Andrew Rosen’s British homebred Lisa Joy for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and jockey Antonio Fresu.

McGaughey, a stalwart member of the New York racing community and winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes in 1989 with Easy Goer, expressed his happiness to be back racing on Long Island.

“I think it’s a beautiful place,” he said. “It’s different than what I expected. We just need to get the kinks out and get the people in it and it’ll be really special. I think it’s going to be great when everything gets settled in. I’m really excited about it and I think the track is great. I like the turf, but I’ve been training on the main track [too] and it’s been great.”

The mount aboard Life of Joy was Fresu’s first ever at Belmont Park, and the world-traveling rider praised the venue’s new amenities and track conditions.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be part of this historical track and historic reopening of Belmont Park,” Fresu said. “It seems to be doing a tremendous job – the track is fantastic; the grandstand looks fantastic and all the facilities. I’m really happy to be part of it. This is top class.”

McGaughey secured the early double when sending out Bradley Thoroughbreds, Mike Carter, Cambron Equine and Jeff Walsh’s Davidson to break his maiden at second asking under Manny Franco in Race 2. Trainer Tom Morley also won two races on the card with A Bourbon for Toby in Race 4 and Conman in Race 6, both engineered by Ricardo Santana, Jr. as part of three wins for him on the day.

Proceeds from today’s tickets sales will be dedicated to the NYRA Foundation, a philanthropic effort designed to raise funding and awareness for the work of non-profits, service providers, thoroughbred aftercare groups and charitable organizations connected to horse racing in New York State.

Prior to the full completion of floors 3-5, which is expected in Q1 of 2027, Belmont Park will operate with a capacity of 6,000 during Opening Weekend (September 18-20) and 4,000 beginning September 24.

As part of the Return to Racing celebration, multi-Platinum entertainer Dierks Bentley performed live from the West End of the Grandstand and was featured on the special Belmont Park Returns telecast on FOX.

Shortly after the performance, stakes action was christened over the newly-renovated main track as a field of four assembled in Race 5, the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, won by international star Forever Young under regular pilot Ryusei Sakai. Trained by Yoshito Yahagi for owner Susumu Fujita, the 5-year-old son of Real Steel earned his fifth Grade/Group 1 conquest and increased his bankroll to more than $32.3 million. 

“I’d like to say thanks to Belmont Park to support us and we are really glad to have won the Opening Day Jockey Club Gold Cup,” Yahagi said. “That’s a special memory, our day. This achievement is great for us.”

The day concluded with Race 9, a seven-furlong widener turf allowance won by Maria Callas, who provided Franco with his third win on the day and five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown his second victory after capturing Race 7 with Card Man.

Friday’s nine-race card generated total wagering of $13,997,422.99.

Live racing resumes Saturday with a 10-race card, featuring the $175,000 Floral Park in Race 9. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races presents daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.