The 2026 edition of the Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, with the race once again being staged at historic Saratoga Racecourse instead of its traditional home at Belmont Park.
It will be the third and final straight year the Triple Crown finale is held at Saratoga while Belmont Park undergoes a massive redevelopment project.
2026 Belmont Stakes Date & Race Details
- Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
- Venue: Saratoga Racecourse
- Race Number: 158th running of the Belmont Stakes
- Distance: 1¼ miles (10 furlongs)
- Surface: Dirt
- Race Type: Grade 1 Thoroughbred race for three-year-olds
- Festival Dates: Wednesday, June 3 through Sunday, June 7, 2026
- Purse: $2 million
Normally known as the “Test of the Champion” – the Belmont Stakes is traditionally contested over 1½ miles at Belmont Park.
However, Saratoga’s tighter configuration cannot accommodate the classic distance in the same way, so the race has been shortened to 1¼ miles – the same distance as the Kentucky Derby.
Belmont Stakes 2026 Post Time
As of now, NYRA has not officially confirmed the exact post time for the race itself.
However, multiple reports indicate the 158th Belmont Stakes is expected to go off at approximately 6:50 p.m. ET, with live national coverage beginning earlier in the afternoon.
TV Schedule & Broadcast Information
The entire Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be carried by the FOX family of networks, continuing FOX’s exclusive rights deal for the Triple Crown race.
- Main Belmont Stakes Broadcast
- Network: FOX
- Coverage Start: Around 4:00 p.m. ET
- Expected Race Time: Approximately 6:50 p.m. ET
- Streaming: FOX One and FOX Sports digital platforms
FOX will also televise races across the full five-day festival from June 3-7.
Though detailed daily channel assignments and exact timings are still to be finalized by NYRA.
Why Is The Belmont Stakes Being Run At Saratoga?
The relocation is due to the ongoing redevelopment and reconstruction of Belmont Park, which is undergoing a huge modernization project valued at roughly $455 million.
The work includes:
- A rebuilt grandstand
- Modern hospitality facilities
- Upgraded racing infrastructure
- Improved fan experience areas
- Long-term consolidation of New York racing operations
Originally, officials hoped Belmont Park would be ready to host the race again in 2026. But construction timelines pushed the reopening back to September 2026.
That forced NYRA and New York State officials to keep the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga for one additional year.
Despite being temporary, the Saratoga editions of the Belmont Stakes have proven hugely popular with fans because of the venue’s intimate atmosphere and historic setting.
When Will The Belmont Stakes Return To Belmont Park?
The race is expected to return to its traditional home at Belmont Park for the 2027 Belmont Stakes, after the redeveloped venue officially reopens in fall 2026.
That means:
- 2026: Final Saratoga-hosted Belmont Stakes
- September 2026: Belmont Park reopening target
- June 2027: Planned return of the Belmont Stakes to Belmont Park
The upgraded Belmont Park is also expected to host the Breeders’ Cup in 2027 once construction is complete.
The Last Three Belmont Stakes Winners
2025 – Sovereignty
The 2025 Belmont Stakes was won by Sovereignty, who added the final leg of the Triple Crown to his earlier Kentucky Derby victory.
Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, the colt produced a polished front-running performance at Saratoga Racecourse to cement himself as one of the standout three-year-olds of the season.
The victory was especially notable because Sovereignty skipped the Preakness Stakes, meaning there was no Triple Crown bid on the line.
However, the Belmont still delivered a high-profile showdown against several of the division’s leading runners.
Sovereignty stopped the clock in 2:00.69 over the shortened 1¼-mile trip and became the first horse since Justify to win two Triple Crown races in the same season.
WATCH: Sovereignty Winning The 2025 Belmont Stakes
2024 – Dornoch
The 2024 Belmont Stakes produced a surprise result when Dornoch scored at odds of nearly 18-1 in the first Belmont Stakes ever staged at Saratoga Racecourse.
Ridden aggressively by Luis Saez for trainer Danny Gargan, Dornoch battled bravely throughout before holding off the fast-finishing Mindframe and Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone.
The victory gave Gargan his first Triple Crown race success and confirmed Dornoch as a high-class colt after earlier wins in the Remsen Stakes and Fountain of Youth Stakes.
The race was shortened from the traditional 1½ miles to 1¼ miles because of Saratoga’s tighter track configuration during the Belmont Park reconstruction project.
WATCH: Dornoch Winning The 2024 Belmont Stakes
2023 – Arcangelo
The 2023 Belmont Stakes was won by Arcangelo in one of the most historic renewals of the race in recent memory.
Trained by Jena Antonucci and ridden by veteran jockey Javier Castellano, Arcangelo surged clear in the stretch at Belmont Park to defeat favorite Forte and Tapit Trice.
The win made Antonucci the first female trainer ever to win a Triple Crown race, creating a landmark moment in American horse racing.
Arcangelo handled the traditional Belmont distance of 1½ miles strongly and delivered a memorable performance during the 50th anniversary celebrations of Secretariat’s famous Belmont triumph.
WATCH: Arcangelo Winning The 2025 Belmont Stakes
Early 2026 Belmont Stakes Betting Favourites
Although the final field for the 2026 Belmont Stakes will not be confirmed until the post-position draw on June 1.
But several leading contenders have already emerged in the BetOnline betting markets ahead of the June 6 race at Saratoga.
Golden Tempo
Kentucky Derby hero Golden Tempo is expected to start near the head of the betting after connections deliberately skipped the Preakness Stakes in order to target the Belmont.
The colt shocked many observers when winning the Derby at 25-1. But his stamina and strong finishing style make him a major danger at Saratoga.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux has reportedly built the entire late spring campaign around peaking for the Belmont Stakes.
Renegade
Renegade is attracting growing support among handicappers thanks to a series of strong prep-race performances earlier in the spring.
The colt is viewed as one of the fresher horses in the likely Belmont field and is expected to improve over the longer distance.
Early betting markets have consistently listed him among the top tier of contenders.
Commandment
Another horse generating significant buzz is Commandment, whose late-running style could prove extremely effective if the Belmont develops into a fast-paced race.
Several early previews have identified him as a potential value betting play with upside if conditions suit.
Other Horses Being Closely Watched
Additional names currently appearing in Belmont discussions include:
- Further Ado
- Potente
- Chief Wallabee
- Emerging Market
- Albus
All are expected to feature prominently in the build-up once official entries and morning-line odds are released in early June.
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