New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York Racing Affiliation introduced June 13 that the Belmont Stakes Racing Competition will return to historic Saratoga Race Course in June 2026 for a 3rd 12 months to permit for the on-time and uninterrupted development of a brand new Belmont Park.
The announcement makes the extensively speculated plan official. The plan additionally requires a return of the Belmont Stakes to its conventional residence in 2027.
“New York is residence to world class sports activities and leisure and this last chapter of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course honors our wealthy racing heritage whereas paving the best way for a daring, new future at Belmont Park,” Hochul mentioned. “Bringing the race again to Saratoga subsequent 12 months will as soon as once more broaden the viewers for this storied leg of the Triple Crown and guarantee followers proceed to benefit from the full expertise.”
The announcement follows the not too long ago concluded 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Competition at Saratoga, highlighted by Sovereignty ‘s victory within the 157th operating of the Belmont.
The reimagined Belmont Park stays on schedule to open to the general public in September 2026. Whereas NYRA had beforehand left open the potential of internet hosting a Belmont Stakes in {a partially} accomplished facility with a restricted variety of followers, the choice to return to Saratoga for the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Competition will permit the occasion to be unhindered by varied restrictions made crucial by ongoing development.
The 2026 Belmont Stakes might be held June 6 and can once more be contested at 1 ¼ miles, quite than the normal 1 ½ miles because of the configuration of Saratoga’s important monitor.
Within the coming weeks, Saratoga will function the house to a particular July 4th Racing Competition which is historically held at Belmont Park. The four-day occasion will happen July 3-6 and can function a prelude to the normal 40-day Saratoga summer season meet which will get underway July 10 and can proceed by way of Labor Day, Sept. 1. New York State and the NYRA are at the moment redeveloping Belmont Park, with a $455 million capital development mission remodeling the power right into a world-class racing and leisure vacation spot.
Final month, Hochul introduced Belmont Park will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2027 for the primary time in 20 years. It is going to be the fifth time New York will host the Breeders’ Cup after editions in 1990, 1995, 2001, and 2005. The Breeders’ Cup at Belmont Park might be Oct. 29-30, 2027.
“Saratoga has served our followers and stakeholders extraordinarily properly because the momentary residence of the Belmont Stakes in the course of the development of a brand new Belmont Park on Lengthy Island,” mentioned New York Racing Affiliation president and CEO Dave O’Rourke. “As we put together for the opening of the brand new Belmont Park within the fall of 2026, NYRA is happy to carry the Belmont Stakes to Saratoga for a 3rd and last time subsequent June. Belmont Park will at all times be the house of the Belmont Stakes and we stay up for its return to the newly reimagined Belmont in 2027.”
All race dates are pending approval by the New York State Gaming Fee. For extra data, go to belmontstakes.com.
