The New York Racing Association plans to build 15 efficiency apartments on the grounds of Belmont Park dedicated for use by assistant trainers in a bid to attract out-of-state outfits to New York when downstate racing shifts to one facility later this year.  The plan was part of NYRA’s capital budget presented and approved Friday during a 90-minute Franchise Oversight Board (FOB) meeting held in Schenectady. The hope is that the new housing will be built by the third quarter of 2026.   The project is part of NYRA’s ongoing quality of life project which included the construction/upgrading of 1,000 new dorm rooms on the backstretch at both Belmont and Saratoga. The recreation hall and track kitchen at Belmont are also being renovated.  One of the complaints that invariably comes from out-of-state trainers when discussing why they don’t come to New York is the cost of doing business in the state. That includes finding affordable and comfortable housing for their help. By building these efficiency apartments – presumably at reasonable rates in comparison to available units in nearby Long Island towns – that could remove one financial impediment to being stabled in New York.  “A big part of the strategy here is since we’re going to the synthetic track, this is the opportunity to bring in some new outfits,” NYRA president and CEO Dave O’Rourke said.  :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Details as far as eligibility, the process for applying for these apartments and price points, have yet to be finalized.  As part of the redevelopment project at Belmont Park, the new one-mile synthetic surface will be utilized first for off-the-turf races this fall when Belmont opens in mid-September and as the sole racing surface during the winter meet of 2027. It is possible, though not yet definite, the synthetic track could open as the sole racing surface in December 2026.  O’Rourke believes the opening of the synthetic track at Belmont should help increase field size during the winter meet. NYRA has typically had difficulty with field size in the winter as evidenced by the fact it had to card only seven races on Thursday.  “This is a seasonal sport, especially when you’re in the Northeast,” O’Rourke told the FOB. “We are pivoting to synthetic tracks, so this calculus will change completely after this year. The strategy really is to recruit horses coming out of Woodbine and other jurisdictions.”  Woodbine, in Canada, utilizes a synthetic track but does not operate a Thoroughred meet in the winter.  In providing an update on the project at Belmont Park, NYRA officials said the two turf courses have been laid down. The new synthetic surface also is down and NYRA officials hope to open it for training in mid-to-late February. It is also hoped there will be limited training available on the main track in late April. Main-track training is weather dependent in terms of when the track could be finished being laid down.  Another piece of the capital improvement plan is upgrading quarantine facilities on the Belmont Park backstretch. NYRA plans to convert Barn 5, which is currently regarded as a temporary quarantine facility, into a permanent one. Also, NYRA will be converting the area which is occupied by Barn 8 into a temporary quarantine facility for use during Stars and Stripes weekend, Breeders’ Cup, and other potential international events. NYRA will host the Breeders’ Cup in 2027, an event where international participation has substantially increased since the last time Belmont had the event in 2005.  “We want to establish these barns not only for the Breeders’ Cup time period but also for some of the outfits we’re hoping to get in for the synthetic season,” said Glen Kozak, NYRA executive vice president of capital projects/operations.  In other news from the meeting:  NYRA predicts $7 million loss in 2026 NYRA is forecasting a loss of $7 million in 2026. That is mainly due to the costs of opening Belmont Park this September. Renee Postel, NYRA’s chief financial officer, said there will be $13 million in new expenses without realizing any offsetting revenue until 2027 when money from the selling of suites, ticketing, and sponsorship deals start to kick in.  :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Postel said NYRA is projecting revenue from racing to be $13 million in 2027 and $16 million in 2028 “when we’re fully operational in the new building,” Postel said.  * O’Rourke said “there for sure will be a party” to mark the closing of Aqueduct on June 28.  “We’re not announcing yet because we’re still planning the exact themes of it,” O’Rourke said.  Though the final day of live racing at Aqueduct will be June 28, the building will be open for simulcasting during the Saratoga summer meet, which closes on Labor Day.  * James Towne announced his resignation from the Franchise Oversight Board. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? 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