Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown. It was opened on May 4, 1905, and is one of the best well known racetracks in the United States.
Exterior and tote board in 1999 | |
| Location | 2150 Hempstead Turnpike Elmont, New York, United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°42′54″N 73°43′22″W |
| Owned by | State of New York |
| Operated by | New York Racing Association |
| Date opened | May 4, 1905 May 20, 1968 (renovation) |
| Capacity | 100,000 |
| Screened on |
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| Course type | Flat/Thoroughbred 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Notable races |
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| Official website | |
Operated by the New York Racing Association (NYRA), Belmont Park is typically open for racing from late April through mid-July (known as the Spring meet), and again from mid-September through late October (the Fall meet). The race park's main dirt track has earned the nickname, "the Big Sandy", given its prominent overall dimensions (1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km)) and the deep, sometimes tiring surface. Belmont is also sometimes known as "The Championship Track" because almost every major champion in racing history since the early 20th century has competed on the racecourse – including all of the Triple Crown winners.
Belmont hosted its largest crowd at the 2004 Belmont Stakes, when 120,139 spectators saw Smarty Jones upset by Birdstone in his Triple Crown bid.