Latest news with #NYRA
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Belmont Park will host the Breeders' Cup in 2027 after $455M renovation. Keeneland gets 2026 event
The Breeders' Cup World Championships are returning to New York in 2027 at the rebuilt Belmont Park , following a massive renovation project to revitalize one of the most important horse racing tracks in the country. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with officials from the Breeders' Cup and the New York Racing Association, announced Wednesday that the track on the edge of Queens and Nassau County on Long Island will stage the event in the fall two years from now.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Belmont Park will host Breeders' Cup in 2027 after $455M renovation
The Breeders' Cup world championships are returning to New York in 2027 at the rebuilt Belmont Park, following a massive renovation project to revitalize one of the most important horse racing tracks in the country. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with officials from the Breeders' Cup and the New York Racing Association, announced Wednesday that the track on the edge of Queens and Nassau County on Long Island will stage the event in the fall two years from now. "We wrote the Governor of New York a letter in 2023 that simply said, 'If you build it, we will come,'" Breeders' Cup Limited President and CEO Drew Fleming said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "And so we're very honored to keep our word and have a wonderful Breeders' Cup world championships here in 2027 to showcase the new development and investment in Belmont Park to our fans from across the globe." Keeneland in Lexington was revealed as the 2026 host. "It was always part of the initial goals" Belmont Park was last home to the Breeders' Cup in 2005, the fourth time in two decades after also being there in 1990, '95 and 2001. A goal of the $455 million teardown and reconstruction was to attract the major event. "It was always part of the plan: We weren't going to redevelop Belmont Park without Breeders' Cup in mind, so it was always part of the initial goals," NYRA President and CEO David O'Rourke told the AP by phone. "Getting the championships back to New York is big from an economic point of view, and probably one of the most important (things), if not the most important, it gives our trainers and horsemen a chance to compete on their home tracks. I think it's great. It's been over 20 years." Hochul in a statement said the redevelopment is bringing thousands of jobs and $1 billion in long-term economic activity to Long Island. "Thanks to the investments we are making at Belmont Park, the long held dream of bringing the prestigious Breeders' Cup back to New York will soon be a reality," Hochul said. Breeders' Cup shifting back to East Coast The Breeders' Cup has been at a Kentucky or California track every year since 2008. Del Mar outside San Diego has it this year as a back-to-back host and for the fourth time since 2017. Santa Anita outside Los Angeles, Keeneland and Churchill Downs in Louisville — home of the Kentucky Derby — have become the regular sites for the two-day festival featuring the best thoroughbreds in the world and tens of millions of dollars' worth of races. It's shifting back to the Eastern time zone for the next two years. "California is and has always been a wonderful spot to have the Breeders' Cup with Santa Anita Park and Del Mar, but one of the missions of the Breeders' Cup is to grow the sport and one of the ways we do this is hosting world championships at various venues across the United States," Fleming said, adding that he expects the event to generate $100 million for the New York economy. While NYRA has not yet announced a location for the 2026 Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown is set to return to its old home by 2027 at the latest, after a multiyear stint at historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York during renovations. With the Belmont at Belmont Park shifting back to an annual occurrence, it is possible the track known for greats like Secretariat and Seattle Slew rumbling down the stretch to the finish line with fans roaring might get back in a regular rotation. "The best part about working for the Breeders' Cup is that nothing is off the table," Fleming said. "New York City has some of the finest accommodations and restaurants and entertainment in the world, so it'd be a natural fit that we would be at Belmont Park frequently."
Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Business
- Fox Sports
Belmont Park will host the Breeders' Cup in 2027 after $455M renovation. Keeneland gets 2026 event
Associated Press The Breeders' Cup world championships are returning to New York in 2027 at the rebuilt Belmont Park, following a massive renovation project to revitalize one of the most important horse racing tracks in the country. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with officials from the Breeders' Cup and the New York Racing Association, announced Wednesday that the track on the edge of Queens and Nassau County on Long Island will stage the event in the fall two years from now. 'We wrote the Governor of New York a letter in 2023 that simply said, 'If you build it, we will come,'' Breeders' Cup Limited President and CEO Drew Fleming said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. 'And so we're very honored to keep our word and have a wonderful Breeders' Cup world championships here in 2027 to showcase the new development and investment in Belmont Park to our fans from across the globe.' Keeneland in Lexington was revealed as the 2026 host. Belmont Park was last home to the Breeders' Cup in 2005, the fourth time in two decades after also being there in 1990, '95 and 2001. A goal of the $455 million teardown and reconstruction was to attract the major event. 'It was always part of the plan: We weren't going to redevelop Belmont Park without Breeders' Cup in mind, so it was always part of the initial goals,' NYRA President and CEO David O'Rourke told the AP by phone. 'Getting the championships back to New York is big from an economic point of view, and probably one of the most important (things), if not the most important, it gives our trainers and horsemen a chance to compete on their home tracks. I think it's great. It's been over 20 years.' Hochul in a statement said the redevelopment is bringing thousands of jobs and $1 billion in long-term economic activity to Long Island. 'Thanks to the investments we are making at Belmont Park, the long held dream of bringing the prestigious Breeders' Cup back to New York will soon be a reality,' Hochul said. The Breeders' Cup has been at a Kentucky or California track every year since 2008. Del Mar outside San Diego has it this year as a back-to-back host and for the fourth time since 2017. Santa Anita outside Los Angeles, Keeneland and Churchill Downs in Louisville — home of the Kentucky Derby — have become the regular sites for the two-day festival featuring the best thoroughbreds in the world and tens of millions of dollars' worth of races. It's shifting back to the Eastern time zone for the next two years. 'California is and has always been a wonderful spot to have the Breeders' Cup with Santa Anita Park and Del Mar, but one of the missions of the Breeders' Cup is to grow the sport and one of the ways we do this is hosting world championships at various venues across the United States,' Fleming said, adding that he expects the event to generate $100 million for the New York economy. While NYRA has not yet announced a location for the 2026 Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown is set to return to its old home by 2027 at the latest, after a multiyear stint at historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York during renovations. With the Belmont at Belmont Park shifting back to an annual occurrence, it is possible the track known for greats like Secretariat and Seattle Slew rumbling down the stretch to the finish line with fans roaring might get back in a regular rotation. 'The best part about working for the Breeders' Cup is that nothing is off the table,' Fleming said. 'New York City has some of the finest accommodations and restaurants and entertainment in the world, so it'd be a natural fit that we would be at Belmont Park frequently.' ___ AP horse racing: recommended
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Breeders' Cup returning to Belmont in 2027 after $455 million renovation
The Breeders' Cup will be returning to Belmont Park, with the two-day, 14-event slate of championship races set for Oct. 29 and 30, 2027. The announcement was made Wednesday morning by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul at a Manhattan press conference, where it was also revealed that Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., will be the 2026 host site. 'The redevelopment of Belmont Park is bringing thousands of jobs and generating $1 billion of economic activity on Long Island,' Hochul said. 'Thanks to the investments we are making at Belmont Park, the long held dream of bringing the prestigious Breeders' Cup back to New York will soon be a reality.' Advertisement An artist rendering of what Belmont Park will look like after its $455 million renovation. AP Belmont Park is currently undergoing a $455 million capital construction project, which includes the building of a 300,000-square foot, five-story main building with modern amenities, renovation of the main dirt track and two turf courses, and tunnels that will allow racing fans access to the 45-acre Belmont infield for the first time. NYRA plans to open the refurbished facility in September 2026. Before that, it will conduct the 2025 Belmont Stakes on June 7 as part of a five-day racing festival at Saratoga Race Course. Advertisement Kentucky Derby winner Sovreignty and Preakness champ Journalism are expected to go head-to-head at the historic upstate track. NYRA has yet to announce the location of the 2026 Belmont Stakes. Saint Liam, left, with jockey Jerry Bailey up, wins the Breeders' Cup Classic horse race at Belmont Park, on Oct. 29, 2005. AP Belmont Park has hosted four previous Breeders' Cups (1990, 1995, 2001 and 2005). The 1995 Breeders' Cup Classic is one of most famous races to be run at the track, as Cigar capped a 10-for-10 season. 'New York's racing fans and participants have longed to host this event since it was last held at Belmont in 2005, and we thank the Breeders' Cup for making that a reality,' said David O'Rourke, NYRA president and CEO. Advertisement 'The return of the Breeders' Cup to New York has been years in the making, and we thank Governor Hochul for supporting a new Belmont Park and a New York Breeders' Cup,' said David Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. 'The reimagined Belmont Park will provide an exceptional stage for the world's greatest racehorses and participants as we welcome contenders and fans from around the globe.' Del Mar in southern California will be the site of this year's event, with the races slated for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Since 2008, the championships have been limited to a strict four-track rotation — Del Mar and Santa Anita in California and Churchill Downs and Keeneland in Kentucky. Prior to that, Breeders' Cup locations included Belmont and Aqueduct in New York, Monmouth Park in New Jersey, Lonestar in Texas, Arlington Park in Illinois, Gulfstream and Hollywood in Florida and Woodbine in Canada.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Belmont Park to host Breeders' Cup in 2027 after $455M renovation. Keeneland gets 2026 event
The Breeders' Cup world championships are returning to New York in 2027 at the rebuilt Belmont Park, following a massive renovation project to revitalize one of the most important horse racing tracks in the country. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with officials from the Breeders' Cup and the New York Racing Association, announced Wednesday that the track on the edge of Queens and Nassau County on Long Island will stage the event in the fall two years from now. Keeneland in Lexington was revealed as the 2026 host. Belmont Park was last home to the Breeders' Cup in 2005, the fourth time in two decades after also being there in 1990, '95 and 2001. A goal of the $455 million teardown and reconstruction was to attract the major event and eventually get back into the rotation that has involved a Kentucky or a California track every year since 2008. Del Mar outside San Diego has the Breeders' Cup later this year as a back-to-back host and for the fourth time since 2017. Santa Anita outside Los Angeles, Keeneland and Churchill Downs in Louisville — home of the Kentucky Derby — have become the regular sites for the two-day festival featuring the best thoroughbreds in the world and tens of millions of dollars' worth of races. The Belmont Stakes also is set to return to its old home in either 2026 or '27, after a multiyear stint at historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York during renovations. ___ AP horse racing:
