Belmont Stakes To Return To Saratoga In 2026

[Wandering Eyes]

The 2026 running of the GI Belmont Stakes will be run at Saratoga Race Course for a third and final time, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and officials at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) said in a release Friday morning.

“New York is home to world-class sports and entertainment and this final chapter of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course honors our rich racing heritage while paving the way for a bold, new future at Belmont Park,” Governor Hochul said. “Bringing the race back to Saratoga next year will once again expand the audience for this storied leg of the Triple Crown and ensure fans continue to enjoy the full experience.”

The new Belmont Park remains on schedule to open to the public in September 2026. Some consideration had been given to conducting the final leg of the Triple Crown at the partially completed facility with a limited number of racegoers next June, but the decision to return to Saratoga will allow the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to proceed without restrictions that would have been necessitated at Belmont Park due to the ongoing work, according to the release.

“Saratoga has served our fans and stakeholders extremely well as the temporary home of the Belmont Stakes during the construction of a new Belmont Park on Long Island,” said NYRA President and CEO David O'Rourke. “As we prepare for the opening of the new Belmont Park in the fall of 2026, NYRA is pleased to bring the Belmont Stakes to Saratoga for a third and final time next June. Belmont Park will always be the home of the Belmont Stakes and we look forward to its return to the newly reimagined Belmont in 2027.”

Added Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford: “It has been an honor and a privilege for Saratoga Springs to host The Belmont over the past two years. The exceptional collaboration between NYRA, the [Saratoga County] Chamber [of Commerce], Discover Saratoga, and other dedicated community partners has created a memorable experience for all who visited our city. We are excited to continue these strong partnerships and welcome an additional year of the Belmont in Saratoga for 2026.”

The 2026 Belmont Stakes will take place Saturday, June 6, over the mile and a quarter due to the configuration of the Saratoga main track before returning to its traditional 12-furlong distance in 2027.

Saratoga is set to host a special Fourth of July Racing Festival from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6, serving as a prelude to the main summer meeting which kicks off Thursday, July 10.

Last month, it was announced that the new Belmont Park will play host to the 2027 Breeders' Cup World Championships for the first time since 2005.

The post Belmont Stakes To Return To Saratoga In 2026 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article