The NY Islanders and Belmont Park are about to have a major face lift

After years of fighting off relocation while looking for a new home, the NY Islanders found the perfect location, uprooting their roots to Belmont Park. Opened in 2021, UBS Arena became the flashy new addition to the hallowed grounds, while the race track at Belmont Park was in desperate need of some modern updates.

Home to the third and final leg of the Triple Crown, Belmont Park has been home of the Belmont Stakes since 1905. The track has been home to some of horse racing's most memorable moments, including Secretariat's record of 2:24:00 at the 1973 Stakes, which also included a record 31 lengths victory.

With renovations underway, the Belmont Stakes will move to Saratoga for the next two years before returning to its rightful home.

Today, renderings were made available of the new and improved Belmont Park, and the images are quite impressive.

“The redevelopment of Belmont Park is a critical investment in one of New York’s most historic sporting venues,” Governor Kathy Hochul said today.“The new facility will support year-round racing, thousands of new jobs for Long Islanders, and provide an enhanced experience for customers attending the iconic Belmont Stakes for generations to come."

Some of the upgrades will include a winterized track which will allow for year-round racing, and vehicular and pedestrian tunnels allowing access to the tracks infield. This means like Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore and home to the Preakness Stakes, patrons will be able to enjoy themselves in the middle of the track.

For those who frequent UBS Arena and make the long walk from the Emerald parking lot to the arena, you can see the significant amount of work being done to the track, including the massive mound of dirt directly in the center.

There's hope that when the track is set to open in 2026 it'll attract the Breeder's Cup, which includes the largest purse in American horse racing.

An improved Belmont Park will be a pleasure for all in attendance, and with year-round racing a possibility, this means more days fans can indulge at the track before making the short walk to watch their Islanders.