The home of the Belmont Stakes has been dark for two years while NYRA rebuilt the grandstand from the ground up, and this is the first weekend New Yorkers get to see it. Opening day brings globetrotting champion Forever Young to the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup plus Dierks Bentley, and the racing keeps going with stakes, live music and cheap general admission. If you've never been to the track, a $10 afternoon at a brand-new Belmont is the easiest introduction there is.
What to expect
Expect a full card of live thoroughbred racing on the rebuilt Belmont oval, new grandstand and hospitality spaces, betting windows and screens, and live music and entertainment between races. The meet's headline stakes on opening day air nationally on FOX.
Good to know
- Opening-day tickets sold out in advance and none are sold at the gate; the following racing days of reopening weekend still offer general admission.
- The Long Island Rail Road serves Belmont Park and the nearby Elmont station, and NYRA lists bus and parking options too.
- Belmont Park sits in Nassau County just across the Queens border, an easy trip from Jamaica.
- Grandstand reserved seating costs more than general admission and includes a food and beverage credit on select days.
- Wagering is optional — plenty of visitors come just for the races, music and people-watching.
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Common questions
When does Belmont Park reopen?
NYRA's Return to Racing reopens Belmont Park with a three-day opening weekend, and the fall meet then runs into December.
Can I still get tickets for opening day?
NYRA says opening-day tickets are sold out and won't be sold at the gates, but general admission is available for the next two racing days of the weekend.
How do I get to Belmont Park from NYC?
Take the Long Island Rail Road to Belmont Park or Elmont; NYRA's visitor page also lists bus and parking options.
