Belmont re-opens with world-class racing, much fanfare

ELMONT, N.Y. − Mark Tomasino and Ricky Estupinian recalled coming to the old Belmont Park with their kids and hanging out in the backyard.

Now retired police officers, Tomasino, 65, and Estupinian 63, were here on their own Friday, wearing fedoras, smoking cigars, making a few bets and eating the complimentary food that came with admission as the new Belmont Park opened for racing. Under bright sunny skies and temperatures that made this September afternoon feel like July or August, racing was back on Long Island for the first time in 38 months.

“We used to bring our kids here and hang out in the park and tell them to pick the horses, but we love it here, it’s nice to be back,” said Tomasino, who lives in nearby Westbury. “We missed the traditional look, the ivy and the old style, but it definitely needed an upgrade. It looks fantastic. It’s very convenient and easy to get around. The concessions are excellent - especially today - we’re very happy that Belmont’s back.”

Meanwhile, outside the paddock, Sharon McCullough and her friend Jon Rheinhardt came up from South Jersey to experience opening day. Longtime racing fans, McCullough Rheinhardt had been to Saratoga, went to all three Triple Crown races a few years ago and even visited Aqueduct before it closed.

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Friday, they were sitting at a high-top table in a viewing area outside the paddock from where they could watch the horses get saddled before watching the race itself on the big video aboard akin to what one may see at a stadium.

“Huge fan of racing, I was so excited to come for their opening day,” McCullough, 59, and a resident of Haddonfield, N.J.

McCullough was a fan of the new facility and complimented NYRA for its massive investment.

“The best thing about NYRA is they’re willing to spend the money into it,” she said. “The one thing I thought about NYRA is they’ve got an understanding of their full breadth of who comes; it’s not just the big race days, it’s every day.”

Rheinhardt’s lone complaint was the lack of shade as the hot sun beat down on this late September afternoon.

Overall, complaints seemed at a minimum on opening day even though the new building is far from a finished product. With only the first two floors opens - floors 3 and 4 will come online early next year - attendance was capped at 6,000. They were treated to Japanese superstar Forever Young winning the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup by 3 1/4 lengths as well as a brief concert at the far end of the grandstand by country star Dirks Bentley.

Total handle on the nine-race card was $13,997,422.

The day kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning attended by Gov. Kathy Hochul who only 18 hours earlier was in Buffalo, N.Y. to help open up Highmark Stadium, the new home of NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

“Truly a historic 24 hours for New York, two world-class sporting venues on the opposite ends of the state opening their doors 18 hours apart,” Hochul said. “Today, all eyes of the racing world are on this place, everybody’s paying attention to what we’re unveiling here today. When the starting bells ring and the horses thunder out of the gate a whole new era of racing officially begins.”

It was Hochul who approved a $455 million loan for NYRA to build a smaller grandstand - this building is a third of the previous one. It’s a modern facility with glass and a white aluminum façade, replacing the brick and ivy that stood since 1968. It includes amenities for the everyday customer - such as Silks, Trackside Lounge, Big Red’s and Homestretch Market on the first floor.

The second floor includes more upscale areas including The Overlook, a restaurant/bar that allows fans access to both the track and the paddock without even going outside. The second floor also includes The Turf Club Loung and Turf Club Restaurant.

When the track is finished, there will be five new acres of green space beyond the west end of the grandstand and the infield will open to fans next spring.

“At its core the new Belmont Park honors the thrill of the race day blending worldclass hospitality with an unmatched fan experience for long time passionate enthusiasts and for first time casual fans alike,” NYRA chairman Marc Holliday said. “On a personal note, overseeing the creation of this iconic venue has really been one of the great joys of my career. Thirty-five years I’ve been doing New York real estate and I’ve worked on many special projects, but this one really forever will hold a special place in my heart.”

Friday’s crowd included four representatives of the NHL’s New York Islanders - led by 2025-26 rookie of the year Matthew Schaefer who gave the riders’ up call for the Gold Cup. He was joined by teammates Tony D’Angelo and Kyle MacLean and Islanders alumnus Johnny Boychuk.

“I’ve never done racing, first time, it’s pretty cool to be here to see the layout,” Schaefer said. “I’ve got people here that are teaching me about it.”

Trainer Shug McGaughey won the first two races on the card, taking the opener with Lisa Joe, who, under Antonio Fresu, split horses to win the 1 1/4-mile turf race by a head. McGaughey, 75, has abstained for years from getting in winner’s circle photos.

Not Friday.

“That was fun. You heard me say many times Belmont’s my favorite place,” McGaughey said. “I waited three years and to come back and win like this was pretty special. I told them I don’t get in the photos but I’m going to get in this one. First race at Belmont Park; if it had been the second I’d have been standing right here [outside the winner’s circle].”

Actually, McGaughey was standing in the winner’s circle after the second race too as Davidson, a 2-year-old filly, won a seven-furlong maiden race.

Manny Franco was aboard Davidson, who appeared to be getting leg weary in a stretch on the main track that is now 125-feet longer than the previous one.

“My filly was getting tired a little but definitely the stretch was really long,” said Franco, who won three races on Friday’s nine-race card as did Ricardo Santana Jr.

McGaughey, a proponent of the old Belmont Park because of his familiarity with the facility, said he was impressed with the new plant.

“It’s a lot more modern than old Belmont, what to do and where to go I haven’t figured all that out yet,” he said. “I think it’s going to be great when everything gets settled in. I was familiar with the old Belmont, now I got to get familiar with this one. … I knew every nook and cranny of the old one; I don’t know where anything is here but I’ll learn.”

Dave O’Rourke, NYRA’s president and CEO, overall was happy with the day, though he sees some things that need to be refined.

“I think people are having a really good time, first day of [operations] I’m seeing a lot of little things - where do we have people stationed what lines are moving which ones are not,” O’Rourke said. “First time we have had people through the building. We get to do this tomorrow, we get to do it again Sunday. We’ll keep doing it until we get it perfect.”

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