New Belmont Park Puts Day One in the Books

And they're off!! A magical day saw Belmont Park open its doors for the first time in three years as a sold-out crowd of 6,000 wined, dined, and wagered its way through a memorable Sept. 18 afternoon. There were no major problems as the crowd discovered a new way of life for downstate racing inside a building designed for smaller crowds but offering far more opportunities for hospitality and enjoying a day at the races than inside the previous historic but oversized building. "Today marked the beginning of an exciting new era for Belmont Park" said New York Racing Association president and CEO Dave O'Rourke. "We thank all the fans who returned to Belmont today to witness history, and we can't wait for all that is to come at the new Belmont Park." The nine races, topped by the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1), registered an all-sources handle of $13,997,423 on a day that saw Japanese sensation Forever Young (JPN) ace his Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) prep by winning the Gold Cup, and Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey win the first two races. Trainers Chad Brown and Tom Morley also had two wins and Manny Franco and Ricardo Santana Jr. topped the jockey colony with three wins apiece. Fans were also treated to a lively concert by country music star Dierks Bentley. Charities were a big winner as proceeds from ticket sales will be dedicated to the NYRA Foundation, NYRA's charitable arm. The day formally started at about 10:15 a.m. ET with the ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and included considerable back-slapping by a bevy of local leaders. "This is truly a historic 24 hours for New York. Two world-class sporting venues on opposite ends of the state opened their doors 18 hours apart," Hochul said referring to the Sept. 17 opening of the new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. "Today all eyes of the racing world are on this place. Everybody is paying attention to what we're unveiling today. When the starting bell rings and the horses thunder out of the gate, a whole new era of racing begins. "The future is unfolding here but we are building on a great legacy." NYRA chairman Marc Holliday thanked Hochul for her support and a $455 million loan from the state that financed the project and called the day a "beautiful, beautiful morning to mark a historic milestone: the opening of the finest, most breathtaking sports and entertainment destination in New York... and no, I am not talking about Bills stadium. "I am talking about this extraordinary state-of-the-art masterpiece where clean lines and sweeping ribbons symbolize victory," he added. "That's what this new facility is about. Today marks the dawn of an exciting, new era for NYRA and a deeply proud moment for every New Yorker. Standing behind me isn't just a building. It's a monument to what happens when vision, partnership, and determination unite to push boundaries and build something that really moves the heart."