Two-year construction project under way as fall meet begins

ELMONT, N.Y. – Backhoe loaders, excavators, and dump trucks will be as much a part of the fabric of New York racing this fall at Belmont Park as the Ortiz brothers and Chad Brown.

As Belmont prepares to open its fall meeting Friday, horsemen and fans will share the property with construction crews as work on a new 18,000-seat arena for the New York Islanders has begun. It is a massive project that, despite being two months behind schedule, is slated to be completed in October 2021 in time for the start of that NHL season.

The arena is being built in the parking lot behind the far west portion of the grandstand. There is a 12-foot high fence that separates the construction site from the backyard area, which will still have ample space for fans. Approximately 20 trees have been removed from where the arena will be built and the playground is no longer there. Some of those trees are expected to be repurposed around the grounds after the arena is completed.

In the north lot, behind the five-eighths pole, work is being done on an electrical substation that will be used to power the arena.

The impact construction has on the race meet won’t be fully known until racing starts.

The New York Racing Association has already announced that first post on weekdays will be 3 p.m. with eight-race cards, while first post on weekends will be 1 p.m. with 11-race programs. NYRA also announced that racing at Belmont will run through Oct. 6 with the final 14 cards of the 37-day fall meet being run at Aqueduct starting Oct. 11.

However, NYRA president and CEO Dave O’Rourke told horsemen at an Aug. 27 meeting that if the construction does not create a big disruption, it is possible racing could continue at Belmont longer, perhaps through the scheduled Oct. 27 conclusion of the meet.

“If the logistics and the construction interruption allow for us to stay there, it’s definitely something we would contemplate,” O’Rourke said.

So far, training has not been impacted by the construction. The main track has remained open from 6 to 10 a.m. and trainer Christophe Clement said it’s been “business as usual” for him.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said “no problem whatsoever,” when asked if the construction is impeding training.

By running at Belmont through Oct. 6, it allows NYRA to run 15 of its 18 graded stakes here, including six Grade 1’s. The Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold tops the Sept. 28 card, which also includes the Grade 1 Vosburgh, Grade 2 Beldame, and Grade 3 Pilgrim. The Jockey Club and Vosburgh are Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In races for their respective divisions. There will be seven such races offered at this meet starting with Saturday’s $1 million Jockey Club Derby for 3-year-olds.

The Joe Hirsch and Champagne – both Grade 1 stakes worth $500,000 – top the Oct. 5 card, which also includes the Grade 2 Hill Prince, Grade 3 Matron, and listed Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational. On that day, only The Champagne is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

On Oct. 6, Belmont hosts the Grade 1 Flower Bowl, Grade 1 Frizette, and Grade 3 Futurity, all which offer fees-paid berths to their respective Breeders’ Cup divisions.

For now, three graded stakes – the Sands Point, Knickerbocker, and Athenia – as well as the Empire Showcase Day program with eight stakes restricted to New York breds – would be run at Aqueduct.

To accommodate the sparse ontrack crowds at Belmont, parts of the facility will be closed during the meet. The third floor – including the food court known as the Heritage Club – will be closed.

The first floor of the grandstand and the first and second floors of the clubhouse will be open during live racing. The Belmont Room and the Top of the Stretch picnic/barbeque area will be open on live racing days as well.

Chad Brown has won or shared the trainers’ title each of the last seven fall meets and figures a runaway winner at this year’s meet based on the way he dominated Saratoga.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has won or shared the riding title each of the last five Belmont fall meets. He will miss the first five days of the meet due to a suspension stemming from the Belmont spring/summer meet.