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Belmont Park is back, but leave the booze and cooler at home
By
Ryan Kost
Published Sep 18, 2026
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Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
By
Ryan Kost
Published Sep 18, 2026
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Belmont Park, the horse track on Long Island, officially reopened Friday, more than three years after its last race.
The park — renovated with a $455 million loan from the state — now sports a five-story, glass-walled grandstand, a bigger paddock that allows fans to get closer to the horses, a new synthetic track for winter racing and about five times more green space than before.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a ribbon-cutting Friday morning that the park is expected to generate more than $155 million in annual economic impact and support thousands of jobs on Long Island.
“When the starting bell rings and the horses thunder out of the gate, a whole new era of racing officially begins,” Hochul said.
But one change may not go over so well with longtime fans: Outside booze is no longer allowed.
Here’s what to know.
No booze. No coolers.
Bringing your own drinks was a Belmont tradition for years, though the track had started tightening the rules in the years leading up to the closure.
Now, however, the guest policies say no outside alcohol will be allowed into the park. Coolers are also banned under the new rules.
Each guest can still bring in food and one non-alcoholic (non-glass) drink, so long as it fits in a permitted bag.
If you can’t bear watching a race without a cold one, alcohol will still be sold on the premises.
Getting In
The fall meet runs through Dec. 6 with races generally scheduled Thursday through Sunday. General admission is $7 in advance and $10 at the gate. Seats in the grandstand go for $50 and come with a $25 food and beverage credit.
Take the train
The New York Racing Association recommends taking the LIRR to the Elmont-UBS Arena station. The N6 bus also stops right across the street. There is also parking on site.
Dress the part
There’s no official dress code for general admission, but these are horse races and the racing association suggests dressing for the occasion. “Guests are invited to embrace the occasion and express their personal style in a manner that reflects the elegance and spirit of the sport,” the website reads.
Not just for horses
The new Belmont Park is meant to be more than a racetrack. Hochul said the new space was envisioned as “an international racing hub that could double as a concert and entertainment space.” The racing association is already advertising priority access to non-racing events as a perk of its new memberships.
Tagged
Politics
long island
sports
Ryan Kost
Ryan Kost is a reporter on the day-of news desk, where he covers breaking news and writes enterprise stories about jails, courts, prosecutors and government accountability. His work focuses on the public institutions that shape life in New York. Before joining the newsroom, he lead a multi-part investigation with Columbia Journalism Investigations and New York Focus into how New York prosecutors handle wrongful conviction claims. He's also been a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle, The Associated Press and The Oregonian. Got a tip? Signal: ryankost.20
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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