The opening of the new Belmont Park provided a long-awaited homecoming for New York racing—and West Point Partners were there in force to help celebrate the occasion.

West Point’s Tom Bellhouse, Joe Bianca and Danielle Austin were joined by approximately 20 Partners on opening day Friday. A similarly strong group returned Saturday, when West Point hosted a cocktail hour at the Big Red Bar on the first floor, and an even larger turnout will gather Sunday for the career debut of Amira’s Star.

Beyond the racing, the weekend offered Partners their first look at a dramatically transformed Belmont. The new building, expansive paddock and state-of-the-art racing surfaces made a strong impression, while the presence of so many familiar faces gave the opening the feeling of a reunion.

“Opening day at the new Belmont was an outstanding time,” Bianca said. “It was so great to see so many familiar faces. The new building is stunning, the tracks are top of the line and the paddock is enormous. It was truly one of the most joyful and celebratory days I’ve ever experienced at a racetrack.

“Every fan I talked to was thrilled to be there and had great things to say about the place. This was always intended to be a soft opening of the first two floors before all five open in the spring, so I had no issue with some work still being completed. As someone who spent nearly every weekend at Aqueduct for the past three years, I think we had waited long enough for one of the most iconic venues in American racing to reopen.

“Considering how many racetracks we’ve seen close or face the threat of closure in recent years, I feel incredibly fortunate as a New York racing fan to celebrate a brand-new facility that can serve the sport for the next 100 years.”

Bellhouse was equally impressed by the way the new Belmont blends the track’s history with a modern fan experience.

“There is a tremendous amount of respect and homage paid to the past, along with all the amenities today’s racing fan desires,” Bellhouse said. “I can’t wait for our Partners to see it—and, more importantly, to have their pictures taken in the beautiful new Belmont Park winner’s circle.”

Bellhouse also believes the FOX Sports coverage from Belmont could help change the way racing is presented. The broadcast operation is expected to incorporate more than 100 camera angles, drones and other state-of-the-art technology inspired by racing coverage in Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

For West Point, the weekend captured what a day at the races is all about: horses, Partners and friends coming together for a memorable occasion. The new Belmont Park may still be a work in progress, but its opening weekend offered an exciting glimpse of the future—and a fitting new stage for West Point horses and Partners.

Fox Sports Coverage of Opening Day at Belmont

The race vieweing area for horse connections.

Welcoming up to the east side entrance.