Jennifer Pottheiser Photo

Belmont main track to re-open for training on Tuesday, April 11

by Pat McKenna

Following the substantial completion of vehicular and pedestrian tunnels providing access to the Belmont Park infield, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that the main track will fully re-open for daily training on Tuesday, April 11 at 6 a.m.

The 40-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet will open on Thursday, May 4 and continue through Sunday, July 9. Highlighted by the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival from June 8-10, the 2023 spring/summer meet will feature 54 stakes worth $15.5 million in total purses.

As part of a broad campaign to modernize Belmont Park, NYRA embarked on a series of major capital improvement projects this fall and winter. The completion of the infield tunnels will allow for the reconstruction of the three existing racing surfaces as well as the installation of a one-mile synthetic track, which will serve as the fourth racing surface to complement the main track and two turf courses.

In December, NYRA completed a renovation of the Belmont pony track with a Tapeta Footings surface. With the coming renovations to the two turf courses, work is soon to be complete on a new irrigation pond located on the west end of the infield.

The construction of the synthetic track and renovation of the inner turf course will begin following the conclusion of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet in July with work expected to be complete in the spring of 2024. As previously announced, the 2023 Belmont Park fall meet will be held at Aqueduct Racetrack to allow for this major capital improvement project.

Beginning Tuesday, the main track will be open seven days a week from 6 - 10 a.m. with a renovation break at 8:15 a.m.

For additional information, visit NYRA.com.