The New York Racing Association and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday that the 2026 Belmont Stakes will return to Saratoga Race Park for the third and final time. The event will return to Belmont Park in 2027 following reconstruction of the venue.
“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,” 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 2026 Belmont Stakes will be held on Saturday, June 6, and will once again be a 1.25 mile race. This year’s event, ran on June 7, saw Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado capture the victory. According to the NYRA, hosting next year’s event in Elmont with a limited capacity was an option, but the race might have faced restrictions due to the construction.
“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.”
Belmont Park is set to reopen in September 2026 following a $455 million redevelopment project. Once finished, Belmont Park will jump right back in as a center to the horse racing world. The venue will host the 2027 Breeder’s Cup from Oct. 29-30, its first visit since 2005.
Saratoga will continue to host events throughout the summer, starting with the July 4 Racing Festival from July 3-6, typically held in Elmont. After the event, Saratoga’s 40-day Summer Meet will return from July 10 to Sept. 1.
“Once the reimagined Belmont Park opens, New York will be home to the most state-of-the-art and the most historical Thoroughbred racetracks in the country,” said Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, who represents Saratoga in New York’s 20th Congressional District. “I am already looking forward to next year and the bright future of this heritage sport in our state.”
