Belmont Park reopens and they're off to the races
It had been three years, two months and nine days since the last race at Belmont Park.
So when horse racing finally returned Friday following a three-year redevelopment of the venue, with New York State committing $455 million to the project and the New York Racing Association an additional $100 million, excitement was palpable.
The sold-out crowd for Friday’s nine-race program was limited to 6,000 because of ongoing construction. But those 6,000, who included everyone from fans who grew up watching races at the old Belmont Park to those seeing their very first race, created a jubilant atmosphere as the modernized, state-of-the-art facility was in action for the first time.
“It's the opening of Belmont,” said Dan Sluszka, 74, of North Babylon. “I've been here. I've been coming to the track since the '80s. I want to see the new track. I had to get here the first day.”
Filipp Kumanovskiy, 29, of Niagara Falls, Canada, is fairly new to horse racing. He figured Friday would be the perfect introduction, especially with Japanese horse Forever Young competing in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a $1 million Grade 1 race that provides a Breeders’ Cup Classic berth for the winner.
“This is actually my first time at a racetrack,” he said. “I thought that Belmont Park's reopening would be a pretty cool experience to see. I've gotten interested in horse racing within the last year, and then, I guess, wanted to see some races in person. And there being a G1 race today, one with a foreign horse entering, would be a pretty unique and interesting experience. I thought it would probably be like a really good time to come down today.”
The festivities began Friday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that Gov. Kathy Hochul took part in.
The first race, a 1 1/4-mile race on the inner turf, began at 1:33 p.m. Jockey Antonio Fresu and horse Lisa Joy, from Great Britain, emerged victorious.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be part of this historical track and historical reopening of the Belmont Park,” Fresu said. “They seem to be doing a tremendous job. The track is fantastic. The grandstand looks fantastic, all the facilities. So I’m really, really happy to be part of it.”
He said the track is “top-class” and said the surface feels “amazing” and is one of the best turf courses he’s ridden.
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
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