Queens racing facility and casino, a NYC landmark
Aqueduct Racetrack has hosted racing for 132 years before closing its live races. The New York Racing Association is consolidating thoroughbred racing at Belmont Park and Saratoga, with Aqueduct remaining for simulcasting until September and Belmont reopening after a $550 million rebuild.
The Triple Crown is reshaped as the Preakness moves to late May, Belmont to June, and a new 3-year-old championship series is introduced. The changes aim to bolster participation and viewership but may end the streak of a 2027 Triple Crown winner.
Belmont Park has reopened after a multi-year rebuild funded by a $455 million state loan and $100 million from NYRA. The redesigned complex is smaller but state-of-the-art, featuring a Tapeta track for winter racing, two new turf courses, a larger paddock, and expanded green space. Officials say the project aims to attract new crowds and sustain horse racing amid a changing betting landscape.