Michael Dubb is broadly thought of one of many nation’s high builders. So when Dubb raves concerning the new half-billion-dollar Belmont Park, his phrases carry immense weight.
The founder and CEO of Beechwood Properties, Dubb’s firm has constructed greater than 10,000 luxurious houses in 80 communities. His firm constructed Meadowbrook Pointe, which consists of 720 houses on the Lengthy Island, N.Y., web site of the outdated Roosevelt Raceway harness monitor. Beechwood additionally performed a lead position within the Residences on the Adelphi Lodge, a fancy of about 80 high-end condominiums in downtown Saratoga Springs. N.Y.
Dubb was a driving power behind the development of Anna Home at Belmont Park and Religion’s Home at Saratoga Race Course to supply youngster look after backstretch employees.
Dubb additionally launched then New York Islanders proprietor Charles Wang to Belmont Park, which paved the best way for the UBS Area to be constructed on the racetrack’s grounds in addition to a buying space and tiered storage to be constructed throughout the road in Belmont’s car parking zone on the opposite aspect of Hempstead Turnpike.
“The constructing is gorgeous,” Dubb stated concerning the facility, which can open for racing Sept. 18 for the primary time since 2023. “I feel it is right-sized for the occasions we dwell in. The outdated constructing was basically the Empire State Constructing laying on its aspect. The brand new constructing can be user-friendly in that there can be what you’ll put into a contemporary area or stadium with suites and hospitality. There are loads of completely different areas for the several types of individuals who go to the monitor. It provides folks areas to socialize or hang around. It is fashionable, it is clear.”
The hospitality areas that can be open on the constructing’s first two flooring this weekend (flooring 3-5 will open at a later date) embody Massive Pink’s (honoring Secretariat), Homestretch Market, Silks, and the Trackside Lounge on the primary ground, together with premium eating on the Turf Membership Restaurant and Lounge, The Overlook, and The Stretch View on the second ground. There may even be grab-and-go areas for drinks and snacks.
One function Dubb particularly appreciated concerning the constructing is that the grandstand was constructed to afford grand views of each the paddock and racing surfaces from the glass-enclosed construction.
“The constructing just isn’t that deep. It was designed in order that you could possibly simply go from the entrance of the constructing to the again very simply. There is a huge, spacious, magnificent paddock that may be seen from the size of the constructing,” stated Dubb, a extremely energetic proprietor on the New York circuit and seven-time main proprietor at Saratoga in addition to a member of the New York Racing Affiliation’s board of administrators.
On Friday, racing will return to Belmont Park with a card highlighted by Japan-based star Endlessly Younger within the Grade 1 Jockey Membership Gold Cup Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence “Win and You are In” prep for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional. Endlessly Younger earned champion older grime male honors final season after profitable the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Traditional.
As for the racing, gone can be “Massive Sandy” as Belmont’s primary monitor was resurfaced to match the composition of Saratoga. There can be a brand new, mile-long all-weather floor oval and each turf programs had been widened. A contemporary drainage system that surpasses anything within the trade was put in. Dubb celebrates the hassle.
“We’ve got created one thing that can be second to none, maybe anyplace on the earth, in that we now have two sweeping turf programs which were rebuilt with a state-of-the-art drainage system which implies fewer races will come off the turf,” Dubb stated. “By including the Tapeta monitor, I can not consider one other monitor that has two turf programs, a Tapeta monitor, and a giant, lovely grime course. There is a two-part story. There is a new, lovely constructing however the work (NYRA senior vice chairman of operations and capital initiatives) Glen Kozak has handcrafted with the programs deserves loads of credit score. When folks set foot within the constructing they may see how lovely every thing is.”
Getting folks to Belmont is a fait accompli so far as Friday goes. All 6,000 tickets have been bought, and going ahead, attendance can be restricted to 4,000 till extra flooring are opened. The grand opening of the complete facility is scheduled for on or round Wooden Memorial Stakes Day in April 2027.
The earlier Belmont Park was reconstructed in 1963-68 and the huge grandstand was splendid for weekend crowds of 25,000 or extra on the time. However in an period dominated by cellular and on-line wagering, the brand new constructing will in the end match about 10,000 every day, with a reconfigured yard space and the provision of extra non permanent seating for large days such because the Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup World Championships (scheduled for Belmont in 2027).
One query in want of a solution is the type of attendance and deal with Belmont Park can generate in its new position as a year-round facility with Aqueduct Racetrack closed. Dubb thinks the hockey crowd might assist.
“It has at all times been my hope there can be synergy between the racetrack and the Islanders. I feel it could be nice to see folks come to Belmont and be capable of wager on a double of a race and the Islanders sport,” Dubb stated. “These are issues we have to do. We should be artistic.
“In addition to constructing a brand new facility, which I feel will entice loads of horse folks, we have to re-create our wagering so we will entice folks to take part in our sport. No matter we’re doing now, we have now to do higher to get individuals who simply wager on sports activities to wager on our sport,” Dubb added. “It is an thrilling time as a result of NYRA has to look ahead and in addition be artistic to get folks to return to the monitor after the primary few weeks.
“We’re not going to emulate Saratoga, however we wish households to return out to the yard and really feel at residence and create reminiscences that may create longtime followers. I feel every thing NYRA put into that is going to work.”
