Rob Williams

Timelines for the massive-scaled, $455-million rebuild of Belmont Park were brought more clearly into focus Wednesday during a construction update presented by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) at a meeting of the New York State Franchise Oversight Board (FOB). In chronological order: 1) Belmont's new one-mile Tapeta track could open for training as early as the spring of 2025. 2) NYRA is keeping open the option of running the 2026 GI Belmont Stakes back downstate at the new facility under a festival-meet scenario in which all four racing surfaces...

Rick Dutrow was on the Belmont backstretch Tuesday morning preparing for the rest of his career after an absence of more than ten years, the result of his license being revoked by the New York racing authorities. Dutrow had his license reinstated by the New York Gaming Commission on Feb. 27, but said that Tuesday was his first day back at work. "They gave me stalls in barn 28," Dutrow said. "They allowed me to come back [Tuesday]. It was mid-day and I went straight to the barn to set...