Belmont Park

This article is about the horse racing track in New York. For other uses, see Belmont Park (disambiguation).

Belmont Park
Location2150 Hempstead Turnpike
Elmont, New York, U.S.
Coordinates40°42′54″N 73°43′22″W / 40.71500°N 73.72278°W / 40.71500; -73.72278
Owned byState of New York
Operated byNew York Racing Association
Date openedMay 4, 1905 (119 years ago) (1905-05-04)
May 20, 1968 (56 years ago) (1968-05-20) (renovation)
Capacity100,000
Screened on
Course typeFlat/Thoroughbred
1.5 miles (2.4 km)
Notable races
Official website

Belmont Park is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown. It was opened on May 4, 1905, and is one of the best well known racetracks in the United States. The original structure was demolished in 1963, and a second facility opened in 1968. The second structure was demolished in 2023, and a third version of Belmont Park is expected to open in 2026.

Operated by the New York Racing Association (NYRA), Belmont Park is typically open for racing from late April through mid-July (known as the Spring meet), and again from mid-September through late October (the Fall meet).[1] The race park's main dirt track has earned the nickname, "the Big Sandy", given its prominent overall dimensions (1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km)) and the deep, sometimes tiring surface.[2] Belmont is also sometimes known as "The Championship Track" because almost every major champion in racing history since the early 20th century has competed on the racecourse – including all of the Triple Crown winners.

Belmont hosted its largest crowd at the 2004 Belmont Stakes, when 120,139 spectators saw Smarty Jones upset by Birdstone in his Triple Crown bid.[3]

  1. ^ "2017 NYRA Media Guide" (PDF). New York Racing Association. 2017. p. 18. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  2. ^ Hoppert, Melissa (June 5, 2014). "Belmont Park, Site of Failed Triple Crowns, Requires an Army of Caretakers". The New York Times. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  3. ^ "2009 NYRA Media Guide" (PDF). New York Racing Association. 2009. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 8, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2011.