ELMONT, NY – As the field of 12 sprang from the gate on a sun-splashed late-summer afternoon, the sold-out crowd of 6,000 let out an enthusiastic cheer. They were here not just for a day at the races, but to witness racing history, the opening day of the new Belmont Park, a project that had been more than three years in the making and cost in excess of $500 million.Not everyone had the winner of the first race and the majority may have gone home with less gambling money than they came with, but it's doubtful that anyone left disappointed.“I am blown away,” said NBC political analyst and racing fan Steve Kornacki. “They spared no expense. It's beautiful. The courses look amazing. This place is world class. I hope it brings people out. That is the question. They built the best facility in the country.”The opening race turned into story in and of itself. The winner was Lisa Joy (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who is trained by Shug McGaughey, who has been a NYRA stalwart as long as anyone on the circuit. McGaughey even swept the double, winning the second race with Davidson (American Pharoah). The winning rider in the first race was Antonio Fresu, who was making his debut as a New York regular after several productive years in California.Belmont grandstand | Sarah Andrew“Belmont is my favorite place,” McGaughey said after the opener. “I've waited three years and to come back and to win the first race here is pretty special. I don't normally get into the winner's circle but I had to get into this one. Why? It's the first race at the new Belmont Park. If it had been the second, I don't think I would have been in the photo. I think this is a beautiful place. It's different than what I expected. Once they get all the kinks out, I think it's going to be very special. It's a lot more modern than the old building. I'm excited about it and I think the tracks are great.”Fresu never hesitated to have his picture taken.“It's amazing,” he said. “It's a historical reopening of Belmont Park and they seem to be doing a tremendous job. The track is fantastic and so are all the facilities. I'm really happy to be part of it. This is top class. This was a perfect start for me here.”Friday's card, which featured a stellar performance from Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel ({Jpn}) in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, was the first held at Belmont since July 9, 2023. The time was needed to construct the new facility, which promised to not only be more modern but a better fit for the marquee days, like the GI Belmont Stakes Day and the 2027 Breeders' Cup.With that in mind, NYRA constructed a building that leans heavily on hospitality rooms. The facility will eventually include five levels, but only the first two were open Friday. The plan is to have the entire building ready to go by early spring of next year and to expand on the amount of green space that is currently available.On the first two floors, there are six separate rooms that offer everything from fine dining to places where the more casual fans can sit at a carrel and pore over past performances before deciding on their wagering strategy. There are also areas where outdoor seating is available to customers who elect to pay only the price for general admission, which is $10 if purchased at the door or $7 if bought in advance.“From the old to the new, it's really different. It's really nice,” jockey Kendrick Carmouche said. “We needed this in horse racing to take things to the next level. The sport needs to keep upgrading. They've done that in football and in basketball and we need the same stability in our game. We need to learn to put ourselves out there more and promote horse racing and this is a step forward.”Opening day crowd at Belmont | Sarah AndrewHorsemen have been almost universal in their praise for the new tracks and courses, which were rebuilt and refurbished. The project included the installation of a synthetic Tapeta track, which will be used exclusively during the winter months.“I'm very excited,” said trainer Miguel Clement. “I believe these tracks are safe. We've been training over them for a while. It's exciting to have a new surface in the Tapeta in the rotation. The two turf courses look to be in excellent condition. When I went running myself over it, I thought they looked great. And then with the dirt track, breezing over it for the last couple months, if anything, it seems a little bit quicker than previously. Nevertheless, let's give it a little bit of time so the new surface can settle in. But in my opinion, it's been very safe and we're looking forward to the new Belmont.”One of the highlights of the new facility is the paddock, which is twice the size of the old paddock and is surrounded by chairs and tables that offer the fans a chance to watch the horses from their perch. NYRA was careful to keep the best aspects of the old paddock, namely the iconic white pine tree and the Secretariat statue. Until the weather turns colder, the paddock and the adjacent seating areas promise to be a popular destination for owners, trainers and fans.“It's pretty impressive,” said racegoer and Manhattan resident Jeff Bua, who was soaking in the atmosphere from his seat by the paddock “It's so new. I haven't toured it completely yet, but it's obviously something special and the paddock is very nice. It seems a lot bigger than the old one. It's cool and it's good to be back. I'm looking forward to the racing season. I'm looking forward to when they open up more of the areas. I go to Saratoga, where I'm always out back in the in the grass with friends, smoking a cigar and reading the Racing Form. That's the best. I'm looking forward to having the same feel here. I definitely wanted to be here on opening day. That's special.”Gov. Kathy Hocul (center) opens the new Belmont Park | Sarah AndrewThe day included a lot of pomp and circumstance. The country-western star Dierks Bentley performed between races and the day kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that featured New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Racing dignitaries were easy to find. Among others, those in attendance included owner Vinnie Viola, former Jockey Club Chairman Stuart Janney III, Del Mar CEO Josh Rubinstein and numerous local and state politicians.“Today marks the beginning of a new era for Belmont Park, which was made possible because of the leadership and vision of Governor Hochul,” NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke said. “Horse racing is a powerful engine for New York's economy that supports hundreds of small businesses and is responsible for thousands of jobs. The New York Racing Association is proud to partner with the Governor in unveiling this modern, new venue which will serve as an important cornerstone for our sport, drive tourism and play an exciting role in sports and entertainment here on Long Island.”The old Belmont, which opened in 1968, was an iconic building which hosted dozens of historic moments. But, while there was a lot to like about that facility, it was a poor fit for the modern era. It was an uncomfortable place to be on cold days, it didn't offer the type of amenities that are now so popular at sports venues and was so cavernous that it could feel depressing when small weekday crowds milled around the place. NYRA decided it was time to move on and build something better. That's exactly what it did, and the end result was a new Belmont Park that couldn't have gotten off to a better start.The jockeys for the first race at the new Belmont Park! pic.twitter.com/haMD4Nxpzk— Belmont Park (@BelmontPark1905) September 18, 2026The post Opening Day At The New Belmont Park Is A Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.