If you’re looking for the historic home of the "Test of Champions," don’t just type "Belmont" into your GPS and hope for the best. You’ll probably end up in a random neighborhood in Queens. Belmont Park Race Track is actually located at 2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003. It sits right on the border of New York City and Nassau County. It's a massive 430-acre property. But here is the thing: if you show up right now expecting to see that giant, hulking 1960s grandstand you remember from the Secretariat years, you’re going to be staring at a lot of steel beams and construction cranes instead.
We’re in the middle of a massive $455 million transformation.
Finding the Finish Line: Where is Belmont Park Race Track Exactly?
Technically, the track is in Elmont, Long Island. Most people think it’s in Queens because the western edge of the parking lot basically touches the city line, but the racing heart of the place is firmly in Nassau County.
Getting there is honestly pretty easy, provided you aren't trying to drive during a Friday rush hour on the Cross Island Parkway.
- By Car: You’ll want the Cross Island Parkway. Exit 26B is your best friend. It drops you right onto Hempstead Avenue, which turns into Hempstead Turnpike the second you cross the city line.
- The Train: This is where things get interesting for 2026. For years, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) only ran a "Belmont Special" on race days. Now, you’ve got the Elmont-UBS Arena Station. It’s a full-time station. You can catch a train from Grand Central Madison or Penn Station and be there in about 35 minutes.
- Ride Sharing: If you’re taking an Uber or Lyft, make sure you specify "UBS Arena" or "Belmont Park Main Entrance." Because the property is so big, getting dropped off at the wrong gate means a very long, very sad walk.
The 2026 Rebuild: What’s Actually Happening?
If you haven’t been following the news, the old Belmont is gone. Demolished. They tore down the 1.25 million-square-foot building—which, let’s be honest, was way too big for modern crowds anyway—and they're replacing it with a sleek, 275,000-square-foot "winterized" masterpiece.
It’s about a third of the size of the old one, but it’s five stories of high-tech luxury.
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NYRA (the New York Racing Association) is aiming for a soft opening in September 2026.
The tracks are mostly done. They’ve rebuilt "Big Sandy," the famous 1.5-mile dirt main track, and added something called a Tapeta track. That’s a synthetic surface that doesn't freeze or get muddy, which is basically a requirement if you want to race in New York in January without the horses sliding around.
Why Everyone is Looking at Elmont This Year
Basically, 2026 is the year horse racing in New York changes forever.
For the last couple of years, all the big "downstate" racing has been happening at Aqueduct (The Big A) in South Ozone Park while Belmont was a construction zone. But that era is ending. Aqueduct is scheduled to close for good in June 2026. Once that happens, everything moves to the new Belmont.
"The last Belmont Park, when you looked at the building, it was a huge, impressive structure — but empty on the inside. The new building is much smaller... but the hospitality experience will be different and more modern." — Dave O'Rourke, NYRA President.
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The "Saratoga Pivot" for the Belmont Stakes
Now, if you’re asking "Where is Belmont Park race track" because you want to buy tickets for the 2026 Belmont Stakes, I’ve got some news you might not like.
The 2026 Belmont Stakes won’t be at Belmont.
Because the final touches on the new grandstand won't be ready until the fall, the "Third Jewel of the Triple Crown" is heading back to Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York for one last summer. It’ll be run on June 7, 2026. It’s also going to be shorter—1.25 miles instead of the traditional 1.5 miles—because Saratoga’s track just isn't built for that grueling distance.
The race finally returns to its actual home in Elmont in June 2027.
Surprising Details About the New Grounds
It isn't just about the betting windows and the beer. The new Belmont is trying to be a "park" in the literal sense.
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- The Infield is Open: For the first time ever, there are tunnels being built so the public can actually go inside the track. That’s 20 acres of green space that used to just be grass no one could touch.
- The Japanese White Pine: There’s a legendary tree in the paddock that's over 100 years old. People were worried it would be killed during construction. It’s still there. They built the new design around it.
- UBS Arena Connection: The track is now neighbors with the New York Islanders' home. This has turned the whole area into a massive sports and entertainment hub. There’s even a new "Belmont Park Village" for high-end shopping right next door.
How to Plan Your Visit for the Grand Reopening
If you want to be there when the gates finally open on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, you need a plan.
First, forget the old "picnic at the rail" vibe where you had to fight 50,000 people for a view. The new layout is designed for a better "flow." The first two floors are for general admission, but the upper levels are packed with 31 luxury suites—something the old track didn't even have.
Next Steps for Racing Fans:
- Check the LIRR Schedule: Don't look for the old "Belmont" stop on the app. Look for Elmont-UBS Arena. It’s the primary way to get there now.
- Monitor the Soft Opening: Keep an eye on NYRA's official site for September 2026 tickets. They’re likely to limit capacity while they test the new systems.
- Gear Up for 2027: If you want the "real" Belmont Stakes experience, mark your calendar for June 2027. That’s when the Triple Crown finally returns to its rightful dirt in Elmont.
Belmont isn't just a place where horses run anymore. It’s becoming a year-round destination that’s actually built for the 21st century. Whether you're there for the gambling or just to see the new architecture, it’s going to be a completely different animal than the one your grandpa used to visit.