Anyone who has ever had work done on their house knows deadlines are often fluid when it comes to renovations.
That’s why it should be no surprise that Saratoga Race Course will remain the host of the Belmont Stakes in 2026.
The race will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, and, due to the configurations of the track in Saratoga, will be run at a mile and a quarter, rather than the traditional mile and a half.
The original plan was to have Belmont Park up and running for next year’s “Test of the Champion,” but it will instead reopen in September 2026.
The announcement, made Friday by Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York Racing Association, explained that keeping the Belmont Stakes in Saratoga for one more year would allow for the on-time and uninterrupted construction of a new Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
“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,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement.
“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.”
Saratoga has hosted the last two iterations of the Belmont Stakes, won by Dornoch and Sovereignty.
The annual Saratoga summer meet will get underway on Thursday, July 10, but the Race Course will also serve as the host of the July 4th Racing Festival, which is traditionally held at Belmont Park.
The four-day festival will run from Thursday, July 3, to Sunday, July 6.
Hochul announced earlier this month that Belmont would host the 2027 Breeders’ Cup.