The Belmont Stakes will remain the traditional final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, alongside the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. But the race is also set to become part of a new six-race competition known as the Thoroughbred Championship Series, according to the New York Racing Association.

For local businesses near Belmont Park, the annual race remains a major economic driver, especially in years when a Triple Crown is on the line.

“The Belmont Stakes, the Preakness, the Kentucky Derby, of course, those have been major events for so many years,” said Ben Borgognone of Buttercooky Bakery & Cafe in Floral Park.

Business owners at Buttercooky Bakery & Cafe and King Umberto in Elmont say the Belmont Stakes routinely draws large crowds that boost sales and bring visitors to the area. They hope the addition of the new racing series will not diminish the event’s significance.

“Maybe it will be a little less the impact. People will have more time to go other places and where they’re going to go visit,” Borgognone said.

The Belmont Stakes attracted more than 90,000 fans in 2018 when Justify entered the race with a chance to complete a Triple Crown sweep. Attendance dropped to about 56,000 the following year, when there was no Triple Crown bid at stake.

“The Belmont Stakes is already a busy day,” said Ciro Cesarano of King Umberto. “If it’s a Triple Crown, it becomes twice as busy.”

Belmont Park is scheduled to reopen next month following a major renovation project, a development local businesses say they have been eagerly anticipating.

“Belmont hasn’t been running, and they’ve been doing the renovation. We definitely took a dip in business. You can see it,” Cesarano said.

Despite concerns that the new Thoroughbred Championship Series could overshadow the Triple Crown, NYRA officials say the historic three-race competition will remain unchanged.

“The Triple Crown concludes with the Belmont Stakes,” said Pat McKenna of NYRA. “This then continues through the summer and fall.”

For local business owners, the focus remains on welcoming racing fans back to Belmont Park and hoping the new series adds to the sport’s appeal.

“I hope it works, what they’re considering doing,” Borgognone said.