Thoroughbred racing in the US is on the forefront of a renaissance that would change considerably how present followers interact with the game and its effectiveness in attracting new followers. This forecast was supplied in remarks made by Todd Gralla, principal/director of equestrian providers for Populous, a world architectural design firm, Aug. 1 throughout The Jockey Membership Spherical Desk Convention on Issues Pertaining to Racing held in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. A video replay can be obtainable at jockeyclub.com.
Main renovations ongoing at Belmont Park and which have been applied since 2014 at Churchill Downs are main what might be an age of fan expertise enlightenment for horse racing, Gralla mentioned. These modifications mirror a pattern seen in Main League Baseball beginning in 1992 with the Baltimore Orioles’ new Camden Yards ballpark. That revolutionary undertaking, which centered on improved meals and beverage providers, supplied a larger number of hospitality choices and premium seating and delivered an total higher expertise, launching sweeping modifications throughout MLB parks over the subsequent 30 years.
“Over the identical many years we’ve been taking a look at main league sports activities stadium and enviornment design, the racing business invested closely in know-how associated to simulcast wagering and gaming,” mentioned Gralla, keynote speaker on the Spherical Desk. “Now we have performed a very good job of integrating gaming and non-pari-mutuel sports activities wagering into our racing venues. However horse racing fell behind throughout these three or 4 many years associated to the in-venue expertise.”
Populous, then beneath the identify HOK Sport, did the design work on Camden Yards and in addition labored on a serious renovation of Ascot Racecourse that opened in 2006. After Ascot, Populous started working with Churchill Downs on what has been greater than $400 million in facility upgrades thus far and is doing the design work on Belmont Park.
“Different sports activities acknowledged extra shortly that the in-venue expertise was important to sustaining followers and attracting progress particularly amongst youthful followers,” Gralla mentioned. “A traditionalist goes to a ballpark, sits in a single seat, and watches all the sport. An experientialist buys a seat however desires to roam across the ballpark to see totally different viewing positions, totally different meals and beverage choices, and will by no means return to the seat bought.
“Understanding these modifications means main investments in meals and beverage, consolation, premium hospitality, distinctive experiences, key model partnerships and know-how,” Gralla continued. “At a time when the common lifespan of an NBA enviornment was 20 years, the common age of our racing venues was over 60. We all know from our world sports activities and leisure work that folks need, and can pay a premium for, intimate connections and experiences that they can not get at house.”
The rebuilding of Belmont Park, which reopens in 2026, will create a 275,000-square-foot, five-level grandstand with seating for about 8,000 folks. However the house consists of a wide range of areas with versatile configuration that may be scaled to accommodate a wide range of racing and non-racing occasions. For instance, the bottom degree of the grandstand and momentary overlay parts can create house for as much as 50,000 friends on-site.
Along with a wide range of membership and eating areas and personal suites, the redesign “unlocks” the infield and recaptures house alongside the stretch, which supplies the New York Racing Affiliation larger flexibility in adapting its facility to the size of an occasion, equivalent to when a horse is in competition for a Triple Crown title.
With renovations already bookending the racetrack hosts for the Triple Crown collection, Populous is concentrated on a reinvention of Pimlico Race Course as effectively.
Gralla mentioned he has been concerned in discussions about the way forward for Pimlico for seven years and is now working with the newly shaped Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Working Authority to “decide one of the best technique going ahead.”
“Prior to now few weeks, we’ve discovered that technique,” he mentioned. “Distinctive to Pimlico is that it’s a full redevelopment, together with a brand new observe, racing operations, and the spectator facility. The positioning can be stripped clear after the 2025 Preakness.
“The answer will probably be much like Belmont in that it is going to be scaled again however permit flexibility to scale up for the Preakness and main occasions,” he continued. “Our plan features a low-stress, off-site coaching heart to assist take the stress off the day-to-day racing facility. Design ideas to be shared quickly.”
Populous is working as effectively with Keeneland Race Course on its largest renovation undertaking ever. The observe is relocating its administrative workplaces to liberate house for expanded hospitality areas, new jockeys quarters, and new saddling stalls. A key ingredient of the design is to make the renovations “appear and feel like they’ve at all times been part of Keeneland.” Gralla mentioned this section is the primary is a collection of hospitality enhancements Keeneland intends to undertake.
Woodbine, Gulfstream Park, and Canterbury Park are different racetracks which have engaged Populous for design work in addition to a brand new racecourse undertaking in Qiddiya, Saudi Arabia, which would be the new house for the Saudi Cup.
“That is our second,” Gralla mentioned. “We have to take the reins and urge this renaissance in racing forward. Now we have folks throughout the business with the ambition and imaginative and prescient to reimagine how folks expertise horse racing and have interaction extra folks on this sport.”
