Major Construction At New Belmont Park To Be Completed In 2026

ELMONT, NY — The future of Belmont Park is upon us, as Governor Hochul announced a project timeline for constructing a new thoroughbred racing facility on the Nassau/Queens border.

The New York Racing Association will oversee the project, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, the governor's office said.

The new Belmont Park will generate $1 billion in construction-related economy and create 3,700 construction jobs.

"The redevelopment of Belmont Park is a critical investment in one of New York’s most historic sporting venues," Hochul said. "The new facility will support year-round racing, thousands of new jobs for Long Islanders and provide an enhanced experience for customers attending the iconic Belmont Stakes for generations to come."

NYRA has developed a project plan that will allow for the Belmont Stakes to return to Belmont Park in June of 2026, ahead of the full opening in September.

Among the enhancements:

• Improvements to the on-site medical facility
• Installing a modern Blue Light security system
• Ensuring access to reliable Wi-Fi
• Replacing fencing throughout the backstretch

While the new Belmont Park will have the same 50,000-person capacity as the existing venue, the layout of seats, suites, and standing spaces has been adjusted to accommodate flexible seasonal attendance.