NYRA plans to add tunnel to Belmont Park infield
A New York agency charged with overseeing the operations and finances of the New York Racing Association gave approval Wednesday to a project that will lead to the construction of a tunnel to the infield at Belmont Park and perhaps to the installation of an artificial surface at the track.
The New York Racing Franchise Oversight Board on Wednesday technically approved the construction of a backstretch retaining wall at Belmont, but that project is a precursor to the construction of the tunnel, according to NYRA officials who participated in the meeting via teleconference.
According to the officials, the tunnel would lead from a planned parking lot on Belmont’s backstretch to the track’s expansive infield, at approximately the location of the three-quarters pole. The tunnel would provide an access point for construction vehicles to facilitate work on the existing dirt and turf racing surfaces, as well as the potential installation of the artificial surface and other unspecified development, according to NYRA chief executive David O’Rourke.
“It’s, in essence, building a bridge to get to that 45 acres of land, including what could be community space,” O’Rourke said.
The project to build the tunnel would need approval by the oversight board as well, if and when NYRA submits the plan to the board.
Belmont’s property has gone through extensive redevelopment over the past two years due to the recent construction on the grounds of a hockey arena, which will begin to draw tens of thousands of additional people to the property next year. The arena has taken away a significant amount of space from racing fans in what is known as Belmont’s “backyard.”
The disclosure of the project indicates that NYRA is exploring additional uses for the infield at a time when the long-term future of its Aqueduct racetrack in Queens remains in limbo. The state owns all three of NYRA’s properties, and some state officials have advocated for Aqueduct to be closed, with racing in the winter, spring, and early summer concentrated at Belmont, a plan that would likely require an artificial surface at the track.
Very few racetracks utilize their infields on a full-time basis, with some exceptions, notably Santa Anita and Del Mar in California. Belmont has the largest racing surface in the country, by circumference, with a 1 1/2-mile dirt track surrounding two turf courses. Correspondingly, it also has the largest infield of any track in the country.
“Unlocking the infield is important to the future of Belmont Park on a variety of levels,” said Patrick McKenna, a spokesman for NYRA, after the meeting. “With the significant decline in backyard space, the infield could provide fan access at some point on big days. There is also a myriad of possible uses for the surrounding communities.”
NYRA officials said during the meeting that any projects for the infield area would be discussed at a later date. Construction on the tunnel is not expected to begin until 2022.
The Franchise Oversight Board also approved a project to construct a new building for the Racetrack Chaplaincy at Belmont, which is currently operating out of two trailers, and for a new health clinic at the track. Both projects are designed to serve backstretch workers and are being funded from a mix of private donations, most notably from Michael Dubb, a horse owner and NYRA director who has funded a variety of programs for backstretch workers.
NYRA officials also provided updates on capital-improvement projects under way at Saratoga in advance of the upcoming meet that begins July 15. Glen Kozak, NYRA’s senior vice president of operations and capital projects, said that the Whitney Pavilion, a permanent structure for events for backstretch workers, will be open as planned, and that Saratoga anticipates taking reservations this year for a 16-space tailgating area around the first turn of the main track, with each drive-up space providing a picnic table for as many as six fans.
– additional reporting by David Grening