Stall applications for the upcoming Belmont Park fall meet are now available online, officials at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) have announced.
Following three years of renovation and rebuilding, the 'new' Belmont Park is set to open for live racing on Sept. 18, with the fall meeting set to continue through Dec. 6.
As previously announced by NYRA, the fall meeting will feature significant purse increases in overnight races. Prize money for open allowance races has been increased by 15% to $115,000, while first-level optional-claiming events will run for $105,000. Second-level optional claimers will offer purse money of $108,000.
The opening day program, featuring the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, will see the already record overnight purses bumped by an additional 50% to mark the occasion.
To coincide with the beginning of the fall meeting, NYRA will also launch the Belmont Big Apple Bonus, a new initiative created to reward owners and trainers for participating in the fall meet at the new Belmont Park. The Big Apple Bonus will provide up to $8,500 in awards per horse shipping or relocating to Belmont Park from other racing jurisdictions. Owners and trainers currently based at NYRA are fully eligible for these bonuses, which complement the record overnight purses to be offered during the fall meet.
The expanded fall meet at the new Belmont Park will feature 32 graded events among 72 total black-type races worth $17.7 million.
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