A sweeping part of New York history is its horse racing legacy. For the first half of the 20th century, horse racing was embraced with feverish affection by New York’s elite and urban horseplayers alike.
Belmont Park opened on Long Island in 1905, establishing the expansive legacy that would carry to the present day. Despite the traditional flair this legendary racetrack carries, the venue itself is constantly evolving with the most modern enhancements to entertain and astonish the sports and entertainment crowd. Olde Good Things was able to be a part of this legacy by salvaging some cherished items that exude the atmosphere of old New York luxury.
Belmont Park’s Legacy of Luxury and Excellence
The Belmont Stakes or “Test of Champions” race is the traditional third and final race of the Triple Crown. Named for August Belmont Sr., a 19th century banker and racing man, the race is held in June following the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Belmont’s heir, August Jr., also inherited his father’s love for horse racing. August Belmont Jr. served as head of New York’s first racing commission, founded the Sheepshead Bay and Belmont Park tracks, and bred champion horses.
Belmont Park was a project designed by and for the American aristocracy – a collaboration of such names as James Keenes, William C. Whitney, J.P. Morgan, Thomas Hitchcock, and William K. Vanderbilt. They purchased 650 acres on the border of Queens and Nassau Counties and began to build a racetrack modeled after the finest European racecourses. A Tudor-Gothic mansion, which became the track’s Turf and Field Club, was included in the purchase. Civil Engineer and Landscape Architect Arthur Underhill designed and managed the building of the original Belmont Park.,
The grand opening of Belmont Park attracted over 40,000 horse racing fans. Thomas Edison sent his film crew to document the opening. Regular stakes players came from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx to play the horses.
Over the next century, Belmont Park became the stage for racing legends like Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Beldame, Curlin, and other champion horses. The venue also hosted concerts and notable events like the 1910 Wright Brothers aerial competition, the 1943 “Back the Attack Day” to support war efforts overseas, and the Breeders’ Cup Championships. In 1918, Belmont Park became the terminal for the first airmail service between Washington, DC, and New York.
The original park featured a three-level Grandstand, mainstay of any horse racing park, and four-level Clubhouse. The Garden Terrace Dining Room occupied the fourth floor of the Clubhouse. The Paddock area behind the Grandstand offered fans the opportunity to greet racing horses more closely. This area is graced by a statue of Secretariat, who made horse racing history in the 1973 Belmont Stakes with a world record time of 2:24 and a win by 31 lengths.
A renovation in 1957 by Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon Architectural Firm, designers of the Empire State Building, included a newly-constructed grandstand and clubhouse, the addition of escalators to the Grandstand, a new railroad station and bus terminal, and fluorescent lighting in the betting ring. The 1957 grandstand was demolished in 1963 due to structural issues. It was replaced with the 1968 grandstand designed by Beverly Hills luxury architect Arthur Froelich – distinguished as the largest Thoroughbred racetrack grandstand in the US at the time. This grandstand was demolished in 2023, with an expected reopening in 2026.
Four stone pillars at the clubhouse entrance from the Washington Course in Charleston, South Carolina, and the racing motif iron railings from the old grandstand are two elements from the original Belmont Park that remain today.
Updated Luxury with Traditional Roots
With a focus both on preserving history and enhancing guest experience, the park has made several modernized improvements since 2012 such as HD televisions across the property, Paddock video display boards, Trakus Technology for horseplayers, and expansion of the Belmont Cafe and Top of the Stretch picnic area.
The architectural firm Populous is in charge of the redevelopment of the current transformation of Belmont Park – with a mind to modern luxury and guest amenities. Additional green space will be one feature, along with a centralized five-story building of flowing organic lines and glass, complete with modern amenities and open terrace on the top level.
“The design for the new Belmont Park draws inspiration from the flowing, mutable shape of a ribbon – the traditional symbol of victory,” reads a statement from Populous.
Belmont Demolition Scrapbook
Our demolition photo journeys let you in on our adventurous salvage jobs.
Olde Good Things Belmont Racetrack Collection
Belmont Park Horse Racetrack Green Oak & Iron Outdoor Bench
These ornate iron benches are perfect for outdoor areas or indoor embellishment, preserving the detailed work that decorated Belmont Park’s green space. Take a look below at how our customers have used these benches in their outdoor spaces. View online.
Pair of Belmont Wood Bar Stools with Green Vinyl Upholstery
Made of a light wood tone oak frame, green vinyl upholstery, and brass finish, these stools will lend a classic look to a sporty decor. View online.
Belmont Park Racetrack Seating Framed Blueprint
This original “Belmont Racetrack Seating” blueprint has a wood frame with a Plexiglas front. View online.
Handcrafted 36.75 in. Live Edge Mahogany Wafer Steel Bistro Table
This chic, shapely bistro table is made of mahogany salvaged from trees felled in Hurricane Wilma in 2005 in southern Florida paired with a steel base from Belmont Park. Epoxy creates a seamless surface. This piece was handcrafted in our table shop in Scranton, PA. View online.
Reclaimed 130 in. Aluminum Belmont Park Racetrack Sign
This bold aluminum sign comes straight from Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, New York. Its striking dark green background and crisp white lettering make a statement piece for any equestrian or racing enthusiast. View online.
Belmont Park 2011 Horse of The Year Havre de Grace Vinyl Print
A classic print featuring 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace adds a touch of class to sporting design. View online.
Belmont Park Horse Hitch Ring & Stall Nameplate
This cast iron hitch ring and wooden nameplate were salvaged from Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, New York. The ring was used to tie up horses in their stalls, while the painted wooden plaque once displayed each horse’s information. View online.
Take a look at our collection of equestrian memorabilia from Belmont Park. Click below to see what we’ve listed so far!
