The Belmont Stakes made one decision that will drive horse racing fans wild
Horse racing’s Triple Crown has a new home for another year.
And it’s not where you might expect.
The Belmont Stakes made one decision that will drive horse racing fans wild.
Saratoga gets the nod for a third straight year
Horse racing fans got some exciting news that has tracks buzzing from coast to coast.
The Belmont Stakes will stay put at Saratoga Race Course for yet another year instead of returning to its Long Island home.
Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Racing Association officials made it official that the final jewel of the Triple Crown will remain in upstate New York through 2026.
The decision allows ongoing construction work to continue uninterrupted at the new Belmont Park facility being built in Elmont.
"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 in the announcement.
NYRA could have chosen to host the 2026 race at a partially finished Belmont Park with reduced capacity.
Instead, they opted to stick with the successful Saratoga arrangement rather than deal with construction-related headaches.
Attendance tells the story
Looking at the numbers makes it clear why NYRA chose to stay in Saratoga.
The track has welcomed over 100,000 racing fans for each of the past two Belmont Stakes festivals.
Despite rainy weather that persisted through Friday and well into Saturday, the 2025 five-day event still attracted 110,561 visitors.
While that represents a drop from 2024’s inaugural festival that drew 120,427 people, it’s still a solid turnout for a major racing event.
Saturday’s main event brought in 46,243 paying customers.
That number fell slightly short of 2024’s capacity-capped crowd of 50,000, but the financial picture actually improved.
The total betting action across all five days reached $197,784,145 – almost $700,000 more than the previous year’s four-day festival generated.
Saturday’s Belmont Stakes Day alone produced $101,861,883 in wagering handle.
Local community embraces the big event
The city and surrounding areas have rolled out the welcome mat for racing fans in a big way.
Local businesses and organizations have gone all-out to create memorable experiences for visitors.
The popular Belmont on Broadway concerts have become a festival highlight, bringing free entertainment to downtown.
After Blues Traveler rocked the stage in 2024, the Gin Blossoms took over headlining duties this year.
Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus confirmed they’re "already working on plans" for next year’s downtown concert.
"It has been an honor and a privilege for Saratoga Springs to host the Belmont over the past two years," Mayor John Safford stated.
The collaboration between NYRA, the Chamber, Discover Saratoga, and other community partners has created something special.
Racing returns to its roots
There’s something fitting about the Belmont Stakes calling Saratoga home, even temporarily.
Saratoga Race Course is one of America’s oldest and most beautiful tracks.
The facility oozes history and tradition in a way that modern venues struggle to match.
NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke acknowledged the success of the temporary arrangement.
"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," O’Rourke said.
This year’s Belmont Stakes delivered drama worthy of the historic venue.
Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty beat Derby runner-up and Preakness winner Journalism in the 157th running of the $2 million Grade 1 race.
The end is in sight
Construction of the new Belmont Park remains on schedule to open to the public in September 2026.
O’Rourke made it clear that 2026 will be the final year for Saratoga’s Belmont Stakes hosting duties.
"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," he explained.
The new facility promises to be a game-changer for horse racing on Long Island.
But Saratoga has proven it can handle one of racing’s biggest events with style and success.
The 2026 Belmont Stakes will be held on Saturday, June 6, with the race contested at 1.25 miles rather than the traditional 1.5 miles due to Saratoga’s track configuration.
After that, the race returns to its rebuilt Long Island home for good.
The temporary move to Saratoga has exceeded all expectations and created some unforgettable moments for racing fans.
It’s been a win-win situation that nobody saw coming when construction first began at Belmont Park.
But all good things must come to an end, and 2026 represents the final chapter of this unique arrangement.
