The one-mile Tapeta track currently under construction at Belmont Park will become the exclusive winter racing surface on the New York Racing Association circuit when the Long Island facility reopens in 2026, NYRA has announced.

The change will result in approximately three months of racing exclusively on an all-weather surface with the shift from dirt to the all-weather in the winter months.

This is expected to enhance equine safety and provide additional opportunities for the circuit’s year-round horse population for the benefit of the state’s Thoroughbred racing ecosystem.

NYRA has invested in upgrades to a variety of racing and training facilities at Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course in recent years.

These improvements include the installation of an all-weather Tapeta surface over the Belmont Park pony track and the complete renovation of the main track and Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga.

At Aqueduct Park, NYRA has renovated the main track; replaced the inner dirt with a second turf course and added a new surface to the inner turf course, all since 2017.

Following the installation of a limestone base topped by a clay pad, the dirt surfaces at Saratoga now respond exceedingly well to extreme weather, while the clay pad offers a more forgiving surface.

According to The Jockey Club Equine Injury Database, the dirt surfaces at Saratoga have been the statistically safest among NYRA tracks each year since 2021.

To achieve consistency with the dirt racing and training surfaces at Saratoga, the main track at the new Belmont Park will feature a limestone base topped with a clay pad below the racing surface itself.

This construct, which has proven to be effective in the wide variety of weather conditions found at Saratoga from April through November, is expected to be similarly beneficial for the main track surface at the new Belmont Park.

In addition to the new main track and all-weather Tapeta track, NYRA is currently renovating and expanding the Widener and Inner turf courses at Belmont Park.

As a result, both courses will feature additional running lanes, modern drainage and a state-of-the-art irrigation system serviced by a new infield irrigation pond and on-site pump station.

NYRA officials are hopeful that the improvements to both surfaces and facilities will facilitate a return of the Breeders’ Cup to New York.

The Championship event has not been held in the state since 2005.