New York rebuilt Belmont Park for $555m; year-round racing is coming

New York has reopened Belmont Park after a $555 million, three-year reconstruction that turned the historic Long Island racetrack into a modern sports and entertainment destination. The new five-story grandstand is about one-fifth the size of the old structure, freeing up space for green areas and public access to the infield, while four brand new racing surfaces will allow year-round racing at Belmont for the first time. Governor Kathy Hochul cut the ribbon on September 18, 2026, welcoming fans back to a venue that will host the return of the Belmont Stakes and the 2027 Breeders' Cup, according to the governor's office and local media coverage.A smaller grandstand with a bigger experienceThe most visible change at Belmont Park is the grandstand. The original building, which opened in the mid-20th century, had grown dated and inefficient, with vast interior spaces that were expensive to maintain and often underused.