NYRA Releases 2026 Racing Schedule, Sets Multi-Year Race-Dates Agreement

[Wandering Eyes]

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) released its 2026 racing schedule Thursday, a calendar which includes 196 live race days spread across Aqueduct Racetrack, Saratoga Race Course and the new Belmont Park.

Additionally, NYRA has reached a multi-year agreement with the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) designed to provide racing participants with additional certainty regarding racing opportunities and underscores NYRA's commitment to year-round racing during the transition to a re-imagined Belmont Park.

Accordingly, NYRA has established the foundation of a 2027 racing schedule to include 203 live race days split between Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park. The 2027 racing calendar will mark the return of the GI Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets to Long Island. And for the first time since 2005, the Breeders' Cup World Championships will be contested at Belmont Park on October 29-30, 2027.

Following a three-year period of temporary adjustments to the schedule of racing at Saratoga [2024-2026], NYRA will return to the traditional 40-day summer meet in 2027.

“NYRA has arrived at a schedule for the next two years that provides continuity in 2026 and significantly expands racing opportunities in 2027,” said Andrew Offerman, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing and Operations. “The two-year plan reflects NYRA's investment in a revitalized winter racing product at the new Belmont Park, where the availability of a Tapeta surface will improve field size and increase the quality of racing year-round. We will soon be entering a new era for racing downstate, and this agreement allows NYRA to focus its efforts on planning and implementing these racing calendars, continuing to improve the quality of racing opportunities for all participants in New York, and successfully reopening Belmont Park.”

As part of the same forward-looking agreement, NYRA will be accelerating the implementation of comprehensive purse increases for all New York-bred overnight races. Originally scheduled for January 2027, these purse increases in races restricted to New York-breds will now be fully enacted in September 2026 to coincide with the re-opening of Belmont Park. Throughout the 2026 calendar year, as previously announced, NYRA will increase purses in all New York-bred overnight races for 2-year-olds.

“This two-year agreement represents a significant step forward for every participant in the New York-bred program,” said Najja Thompson, NYTB Executive Director. “The significant increase in purses for all New York-breds with the reopening of Belmont Park will be enormously beneficial for breeding and racing in New York, which drives a broad and growing industry across the state. We're proud to have the best regional breeding program in the nation, and this announcement further strengthens our position.”

Specific purse levels and details relative to these increases will be published in the first condition book for the summer meet at Saratoga and the first condition book for the fall meet at Belmont Park.

“We are very pleased to announce a landmark two-year calendar for New York racing,” said Tina Marie Bond, NYTHA President. “This ensures stability for New York owners, trainers, and other major stakeholders as we prepare to transition to the brand-new surfaces of the redeveloped Belmont Park. We will continue to work closely with NYRA to secure a healthy future for horse racing in the Empire State.”

The ongoing construction of a new Belmont Park, which will re-open in September, will require certain adjustments to the customary NYRA racing schedule throughout 2026. The spring/summer meets traditionally held at Belmont Park will again take place at Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga will host the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival for the third and final time.

Highlighted by the 158th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 6, the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be held at Saratoga from Wednesday, June 3 through Sunday, June 7.

“Each summer, Saratoga Race Course stands at the center of the racing world,” said David O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. “The 2026 season will be particularly special as we celebrate the final Saratoga edition of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and honor America's 250th anniversary at one of the country's most historic sporting venues. While Saratoga has served as the ideal temporary host for the Belmont Stakes and July 4th festivals, we look forward to returning to the traditional 40-day summer racing schedule at Saratoga in 2027.”

The 2026 Aqueduct winter meet will open Wednesday, January 1 and continue through Sunday, March 30. Except for January 8, live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday until February 15 and Friday-Sunday from February 20 through the end of March. The winter meet will offer 45 live race days in total.

The 2026 spring meet at Aqueduct will open Thursday, April 2 and continue through Sunday, April 26 with live racing conducted Thursday-Sunday. The spring meet will offer 15 live race days in total.

The 2026 Belmont at the Big A spring summer meet will open Thursday, April 30 and continue through Sunday, June 28. Live racing will generally be conducted Thursday-Sunday except for Memorial Day weekend and a period of dark days prior to the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga. The Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet will offer 33 live race days in total.

NYRA will honor the legacy of Aqueduct throughout 2026 and bid farewell to the storied venue with a series of events culminating on June 28. Additional details will be provided in early 2026.

At the conclusion of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet, the NYRA circuit will return to Saratoga for a 46-day summer meet to open with the July 4th Racing Festival from Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5.

“We are excited to have one more opportunity to showcase our amazing community to the world by hosting the Belmont Stakes and July 4th Festivals,” said Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus. “To kick off the Belmont Festival, we will again host a Belmont on Broadway concert free for locals and visitors to our community, and the July 4th All American Celebration to add to the festivities at the track. These two festivals helped drive up revenue at local hotels, restaurants, bars, stores and shops throughout the area, in 2025, and the same will be true as our historic run hosting these events concludes in 2026.”

To accommodate the 2026 calendar, Saratoga will then host a series of four-day racing weeks, Thursday through Sunday, from Thursday, July 9, through Sunday, July 26 prior to the resumption of the five-day racing week beginning Wednesday, July 29. The 2026 summer meet will conclude with a six-day closing week from Wednesday, September 2, through Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

NYRA will then unveil the new and re-imagined Belmont Park when live racing returns to Elmont, N.Y. in September. Centered around a new grandstand and paddock, Belmont Park will offer four newly constructed racing surfaces including a one-mile Tapeta track to be used for winter racing, off-the-turf races and for training year-round.

Tentatively scheduled to begin Friday, September 18, the Belmont Park fall meet will continue through Sunday, December 6 and offer 46 live race days in total. NYRA will provide additional details in the coming weeks and months regarding Opening Day events and festivities to celebrate the new Belmont Park.

The 2026/27 Belmont Park winter meet will open on Thursday, December 10 and will continue into 2027 following 11 days of live racing in December.

Click here for the 2026 calendar of live race dates, which is pending New York State Gaming Commission approval.

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