Ever felt the thrill of a Triple Crown race? Belmont Park in Elmont New York is where legends are made. Right here stands a testament to horse racing history. Opened in 1905 Belmont Park quickly became one of the most famous racetracks in the United States. Its namesake race the Belmont Stakes is the final and oldest leg of the prestigious American Triple Crown.
The story of Belmont Park is one of change and resilience. The original structure was demolished in 1963. A new grandstand opened in 1968. It was the largest in Thoroughbred racing. This second version was also eventually demolished in 2023. A third Belmont Park is planned for 2026. This isn’t just a racetrack. It’s a living legend.
Many great champions have raced at Belmont Park. Secretariat’s record-breaking 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes remains unforgettable. His time of 2 minutes 24 seconds for the 1 1/2-mile race is still the American record. CBS announcer Chic Anderson famously called Secretariat a tremendous machine. But Belmont Park has also witnessed heart-wrenching upsets. Twenty-three horses that won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes failed to win the Belmont. Smarty Jones’s loss to Birdstone in 2004 before a record crowd of 120139 is a prime example.
The Belmont Stakes has been run at five different distances. It has also been held at different locations. Jerome Park and Morris Park hosted the race before Belmont Park. The race was even postponed in 1895 because of new laws banning bookmaking in New York. It was eventually rescheduled for November. The race was not run at all in 1911 and 1912 because of anti-gambling legislation in New York. For a while the Belmont Stakes was even run at Saratoga Race Course.
Belmont Park is more than just horse races. It hosted an International Aviation Meet in 1910. It was even the northern point of the first US air mail route. In recent years the site has undergone significant changes. The construction of UBS Arena for the New York Islanders hockey team changed the landscape dramatically. The demolition of the second Belmont Park is a sign of more dramatic changes to come.
The new Belmont Park is expected to offer year-round racing and training. It’s an exciting new chapter for this iconic venue. Remember the stories of Secretariat and Smarty Jones. Remember the history of aviation and innovation. The future of Belmont Park is bright and full of possibilities. It’s a place where the past present and future of horse racing collide. And that is a story worth experiencing.