Belmont Park Racetrack: History And Racing Track Facts

Get the latest news, facts, and history on Belmont Park Race Track

Where Is Belmont Park?

Best known for hosting the third jewel of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, Belmont Park racetrack is located in Elmont, New York. This course has showcased some of the top talent the horse racing world has ever produced and the venue lives up to the hype of the races it plays host to.

With beautiful scenery and architecture and a storied history, Belmont Park is a can’t-miss attraction for all fans of horse racing.

What Races Are Run At Belmont Park?

The Belmont Park racecourse is most commonly known for hosting the third and final leg of the Triple Crown. “The Championship Track” has seen as many as 12 Triple Crown victors celebrating the feat in the Belmont Park Sportsbook’s circle since it opened in May 1905.

Belmont Park hosts several other competitive races. It is owned and operated by the NYRA, which owns the three major racetracks in New York, and is expected to meet the highest standards of thoroughbred horse racing. The NYRA regulates all horse betting and ticket sales for Belmont Park, along with Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Racecourse. In 2016, Belmont Park became fully reaccredited by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance, which proves the racetrack’s high-quality standards.

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Belmont Park Schedule

2022 Key Spring/Summer Meet Stakes Races
DateRaceGradeDistanceEligible Horses
June 4Pennine RidgeII1 1/8 Miles3-Year-Olds
June 9Wonder AgainII1 1/8 Miles (Turf)3-Year-Old Fillies
June 10Bed O’RosesII7 Furlongs4 Years Old And Up Fillies & Mares
June 10Belmont Gold CupII2 Miles (Turf)4-Year-Olds And Up
June 10IntercontinentalIII6 Furlongs (Turf)4 Years Old And Up Fillies & Mares
June 10New YorkI1 1/4 Miles (Turf) 4 Years Old And Up Fillies And Mares
June 10True NorthII6 1/2 Furlongs4 Years Old And Up
June 11AcornI1 Mile3-Year-Old Fillies
June 11Belmont StakesI1 1/2 Miles3-Year-Olds
June 11Brooklyn InvitationalII1 1/2 Miles4 Years Old And Up
June 11Hill n’ DaleI1 Mile3 Years Old And Up
June 11JaipurI6 Furlongs (Turf)3 Years Old And Up
June 11Longines Just A GameII1 Mile (Turf)

4 Years Old And Up Fillies And Mares

June 11Ogden PhippsI1 1/16 Miles4 Years Old And Up Fillies And Mares
June 11Resorts World CasinoI1 1/4 Miles (Turf)4 Years Old And Up
June 11Woody StephensI7 Furlongs3-Year-Olds
June 18PokerIII1 Mile (Turf)4 Years Old And Up
June 25Mother GooseII1 1/16 Miles3-Year-Old Fillies
July 2DwyerIII1 Mile3-Year-Olds
July 2John A. NerudII7 Furlongs4 Years Old And Up
July 9Belmont OaksI1 1/4 Miles (Turf)3-Year-Old Fillies
July 9Sportsbook BelmontI1 1/4 Miles (Turf)3-Year-Olds
July 9Suburban II1 1/4 Miles4 Years Old And Up
July 9Victory RideIII6 1/2 Furlongs3-Year-Old Fillies

How Old Is Belmont Park?

Named after the track financer August Belmont Sr., the property is known for having a rich history in the horse racing community. Many historical wins and record race times have been chronicled on the 430-acre racing, training and barn complex – notably, the world record for 1½ miles on dirt set by Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont Stakes. Secretariat earned the first Triple Crown win in 25 years, and a statue of the horse was erected in the center of the Belmont paddock.

The new $30.7-million grandstand – a part of the renovations in the 1960s – is the largest in thoroughbred horse racing to this day. They managed to salvage two iconic features from the old Belmont Park clubhouse: four stone pillars on Hempstead Turnpike and the iron railings bordering the walking ring.

How Long Is Belmont Park Racetrack?

Belmont Park racetrack is 1½ miles long (or 12 furlongs), making it the longest course out of the three participating Triple Crown events. 

In the late 1800s/early 1900s, the Belmont racetrack hosted the Belmont Stakes under shorter racing lengths including 1 1/8 miles, 1 1/4 miles and even 1 3/8 miles.

More About Belmont Park

The Belmont Stakes were not always run at Belmont Park. The first official Belmont Stakes was held in 1868 at Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx and was then moved to Morris Park Racecourse in 1890. Aside from the two-year hiatus from 1911 to 1912 due to gambling legislation in the state, and the four-year renovation from 1963 to 1967, the race has been held at Belmont Park every year since 1905.

Each year, their spring and summer racing season runs for roughly 54 days beginning in April, finishing with the Belmont Stakes in early June. They also have the Belmont Fall Championship for about 38 days in the fall season, ending in October.

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