Belmont Park

Belmont Park Race Track has the largest dirt racecourse of any Thoroughbred track in the world, as well as the largest grandstand. It is world-famous as the home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. The dirt racecourse is one-and-one-half-miles long.

Both the Belmont Park and Belmont Stakes were named after financier and sportsman August Belmont, Sr The race was first run in 1867; it has been run at Belmont Park since 1905, with the exception of the 1963-67 editions held at Aqueduct during the Belmont Park renovation. The first post parade in the United States was at the 14th Belmont, in 1880.

Secretariat's 1973 Belmont victory set a record not only for the race, but for the mile and a half on dirt, that still stands. Other memorable performances in Belmont Park history include Affirmed's epic stretch duel with Alydar in the 1978 Belmont Stakes, a victory that gave Affirmed the Triple Crown; and Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew's defeat of Affirmed in the 1978 Marlboro Cup that September.

In addition to the Belmont Stakes, other major races held at Belmont include the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Woodward Stakes, the Suburban Handicap and the Memorial Day standby -- the Metropolitan Handicap, also known as the "Met Mile."

With some of the elegant aura of its sister track, Saratoga Race Course, in a suburban setting, Belmont is known as one of the most gorgeous and accommodating racecourses in the world. The "backyard" and backstretch are notable for their huge, attractive trees and landscaping, and the infield is dominated by two picturesque lakes. Along with Saratoga, Churchill Downs in Louisville, and Del Mar and Santa Anita racecouorses in California, Belmont is considered one of the elite racetracks in the sport.

Belmont Park was closed for renovations from 1963 until May 1968, when the present grandstand was opened. The Belmont racing seasons were conducted at Aqueduct Race Track in South Ozone Park, Queens. The Belmont grandstand has a total attendance capacity of 90,000, the largest in racing. The seating portion totals nearly 33,000. (Ironically, the smaller Churchill Downs grandstand has more seats than Belmont, 48,000, soon to increase to 51,000).

Belmont's backyard is well-known as a gathering place for racing fans to see their horses saddled before they hit the track. In addition it serves as a picnic area for the increasing numbers of fans who make Belmont Stakes Day -- the first Saturday in June -- a tourist attraction. (Unlike Churchill and Pimlico, Belmont does NOT allow spectators to picnic in the infield.)

The racetrack, training and barn facilities are located entirely in the Elmont and Floral Park communities of Nassau County, New York, just outside the New York City limits. A neighboring Long Island Rail Road station and a small portion of the adjoining parking fields are inside the city line.