NYRA confirmed live thoroughbred racing will resume at the reconstructed Belmont Park on Sept. 18, with the Grade 1 $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup headlining opening day. The fall meet runs through Dec. 6, while major construction continues toward full operat
When Belmont Park closes its gates, it does not just pause racing—it locks in a different kind of countdown.
NYRA confirmed that live thoroughbred racing will resume at the reconstructed Belmont Park on Sept.. 18, launching the fall meet at Elmont.. The opening day program will be the first races at Belmont Park since July 9. 2023. when the track closed for an ongoing $575 million renovation project that includes the construction of a new grandstand.
That opening day will be framed by a marquee event: the Grade 1 $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup. The race is scheduled to be broadcast by Fox.
The renovation remains a work in progress, and the first races are arriving before the new grandstand reaches full capacity. Construction is expected to be completed and the facility fully operational in April 2027. New York State contributed $455 million to the project via a loan to NYRA.
NYRA also points beyond the fall meet. The Breeders’ Cup will be run at the new Belmont Park on Oct. 29-30, 2027. Off to the calendar as well, the third and final Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course will be run on June 6, before returning to its namesake home next year.
In a statement. Andrew Offerman. NYRA’s senior vice president of racing and operations. said: “The new Belmont Park will provide the stage to showcase the best racing in North America. ” adding. “With that in mind. we have arrived at a stakes schedule that reflects the importance of the fall racing season. emphasizes major weekends throughout the meet. and establishes a strong foundation in advance of the 2027 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.. We look forward to Sept.. 18 and the next chapter in NYRA’s history.”
The fall meet will run through Dec. 6.
Racing plans are also tied to track changes. Also coming soon is an all-weather synthetic track expected to be open for training by the end of spring. It would become the fourth oval at Belmont Park, joining the 1 1/2-mile main dirt track and two inner turf courses.
One NYRA board member. Michael Dubb. who has been on the board since 2008. described why the timing matters: “That’s going to be a big boon. ” he said. explaining that the horse population is going down and many grass horses can’t run in the winter. while grass horses “tend to be able to run on synthetic.”
NYRA Belmont Park Sept. 18 Jockey Club Gold Cup fall meet Elmont reconstruction $575 million renovation New York State loan new grandstand Breeders’ Cup 2027 synthetic track