NYRA Seeks Approval to Finish Meet at Belmont Park

The New York Racing Association is filing a request with the New York State Gaming Commission seeking approval to scrap initial plans to shift the final three weeks of the Belmont Park meet to Aqueduct Racetrack and conduct the remainder of the fall meet at the Elmont, N.Y., racetrack through its originally scheduled closing date of Oct. 27.

NYRA also is seeking to move back post time at Belmont to 1 p.m. on each racing day after shifting to a 3 p.m. start on weekdays when the meet began Sept. 6. That change could be implemented as soon as Sept. 25.

The changes come as NYRA and horsemen found that construction of the New York Islanders' new arena on the property did not pose as much interference with racing and training at the racetrack as expected, eliminating the need to race at Aqueduct Oct. 11-27.

"This is a decision that follows careful analysis of ongoing construction and meetings and discussions with horsemen and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association," NYRA spokesperson Pat McKenna said. "There was a clear consensus during those discussions that the construction had minimal impact on live racing operations, whether that's morning training or live racing, and as a result we will be seeking to conduct the full meet here at Belmont Park."

Approval from the gaming commission could come as soon as Sept. 18 (today).

"All of our members are in favor of it. They would like to stay at Belmont as much as possible and limit the dislocation," said Joe Appelbaum, president of the NYTHA. "So far, the construction hasn't proven to be overly disruptive to the operation of the main track, but we are ever vigilant to make sure the welfare of the horses and our human athletes is well-guarded."