Five questions to answer at a renovated Belmont Park

By Tom Collins

Worry not! There is no more ‘Belmont At The Big A’ as New York’s fresh and renovated premier venue is set to host racing this Friday for the first time since July 9, 2023, live on Sky Sports Racing.

A $455million reimagining has resulted in a spectacular and modern racetrack that can function throughout winter months, attract and cater for big crowds, and importantly host the Breeders’ Cup, which we will see in 2027.

But with change comes uncertainty, especially for punters who have spent the last 60 years honing in on strategies to play at Belmont Park. Here are five talking points ahead of the new meet.

1. Is the main track as physically taxing as before the renovation?

The dirt track at Belmont Park is affectionately known as ‘Big Sandy’ due to its mile-and-a-half circumference, which makes it the longest of its kind in North America. A lot of that distance is covered on the sweeping turns, which puts extra emphasis on stamina and shifts focus to horses who can maintain speed for a sustained period of time.

As part of the renovation, the old surface was completely dug up and a fresh limestone base, clay pad, and dirt topping replaced it. Forward-going types are expected to dominate, but the fact the finishing line has been moved 125ft further along the homestraight will help the grinders.

2. How will the new Tapeta track ride?

This is the million dollar question for those looking forward to a new kind of racing in New York! We won’t get to witness the Tapeta track much until the Winter Meet begins in earnest in December, but it is there as a back-up option if rain hinders any turf contests throughout the autumn fixture. 

Much like the Tapeta venues at Gulfstream Park, Woodbine, Turfway Park and Presque Isle Downs, it is expected to favour speed runners. Form should generally translate well to turf and vice versa.

3. Will we see more European success on the newly-laid turf course?

With $17.7million available across 72 stakes races, 32 of which have Graded status, you can expect to see raiders from far and wide. The last couple of years has seen an increase in European challengers in North American turf events. It used to just be Aidan O’Brien and Charlie Appleby represented, but the likes of George Boughey, Donnacha O’Brien, Joseph O’Brien and Hugo Palmer have all struck gold in the US this campaign.

Expect to see some familiar names entered over the next few weeks, starting with the possible declarations of Esna (Brian Meehan) and Sunlit Uplands (Stuart Williams) in the Flower Bowl, and Al Aasy (William Haggas), El Cordobes (Charlie Appleby), Pride Of Arras (Ralph Beckett) and Fort George (Ed Walker) in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, both run on September 26.

4. Can Mark Casse become a New York powerhouse?

New York racing has been dominated by Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher, Miguel Clement and Linda Rice over the last few years and those names are expected to remain at the top of the trainer’s standings. However, with the new Tapeta track comes a new face in Mark Casse, who isn’t adverse to success in the state but may now head here with an increased team.

Casse is reportedly going to target the New York-bred division, which offers big prize-money in the revised programme. Expect to see an increase in winners.

5. And will Forever Young lay down a marker on the opening day?

Japan’s superstar currently sits on top of the Breeders’ Cup Classic ante-post market and will warm up for his October target in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on the first day of Belmont’s autumn meet.

Currently available at an attractive 4-5, Forever Young will likely sit on the shoulder of surefire front-runner Phileas Fogg and show his class in the latter part of the race. There is no better way to kickstart the reopening of Belmont Park than with a global superstar.