Belmont Park is a horce racing facility in Elmont, just the New York City. It was opened in 1905 and is chiefly known for the Belmont Stakes – one of the three races that make up the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing.
Belmont Park is considered one of the most prestigious race tracks in the United States; on the same level as Saratoga, Keenland, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, and Santa Anita.
The whole racing, training and barn complex is 430 acres in size, spreading out over the Hempstead Plains in Nassau County. In 1665, a race meet took place just a few miles from this spot, supervised by colonial governor Richard Nicolls.
Notable races that take place at Belmont Park
- Acorn Stakes
- Beldame Stakes
- Belmont Derby
- Belmont Oaks
- Belmont Stakes
- Champagne Stakes
- Frizette Stakes
- Jockey Club Gold Cup
- Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational
- Man O’ War Stakes
- Manhattan Handicap
- Metropolitan Handicap
- Mother Goose Stakes
- Ogden Phipps Handicap
- Suburban Handicap
- Vosburgh Stakes
- Vosburgh Stakes
When is the racing season at Belmont Park?
Belmont Park has two annual racing seasons: the Spring meet and the Fall meet. The first races at Belmont Park are typically held in late April, and the season running from late April through mid-July is called the Spring meet. The Fall meet runs from mid-September through late-October.
The exact end of the Belmont Spring meet and start of the Fall meet largely corresponds with the start and end of the Saratoga meet, which falls between the two. Just like Belmont Park, the Saratoga Race Course is located in New York State.
“Big Sandy” – the main track at Belmont Park
The main track at Belmont Park is an unusually long dirt track with a circumference of 1 1/2 miles. Its size combined with its deep (and sometimes quite difficult) surface has given rise to the nickname “Big Sandy”. With its big, wide, sweeping turns and long homestretch, it has recieved a lot of praise for its beauty. It is also known as The Championship Track, since nearly every major U.S. Throughbred champion has raced here.
Widener Turf Course
The Widener Turf Course is found inside the Main Track and spanns 1 5 ⁄ 16 miles plus 27 feet. It is named after the Widener family.
Inner Turf Course
The Inner Turf Course is encircled by the Widener Turf Course. The circumference is
1 3⁄16 miles plus 103 feet.
Training track
The training track is 1 mile in circumference and abuts the eastern part of the Main Track (“Big Sandy”).
The backyard
The backyard of Belmont Park is the place to go if you want to see the horses get saddled in preparation for a race. This is also the spot where the famous picnic tales place on Belmont Stakes Day in June.
The white pine
The white tree that have been seen on Belmont Park´s logo since the 1960s is a stylized version of a real white pine that grows in the centre of the paddock at Belmont Park. This pine is actually older than the park; it has been there since the 1820s.
Who operates Belmont Park?
Belmont Park is operated by the non-profit organisation New York Racing Association. (This association also operates the Aqueduct and Saratoga race courses.)
The New York Racing Association, then called the Greater New York Association, was formed in 1955 to assume the assets of the individual associations that operated the Belmont, Aqueduct, Saratoga and Jamaica race courses.
Short facts about Belmont Park
| Coordinates | 40°42′54″N 73°43′22″W |
| Address | 2150 Hempstead Turnpike Elmont, New York, USA |
| Owner | State of New York |
| Operator | New York Racing Association |