Belmont’s Back… All Right!
A crowd of spectators awaits the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course on June 7. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced last week that the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will return to the Saratoga Race Course in June 2026 for a third and final year while construction is completed at the new Belmont Park on Long Island.
The announcement confirmed speculation that the event would return once more to the Spa City.
Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus said that his organization and its partners are already working on plans for a third Belmont on Broadway concert in 2026.
Next year’s Belmont Stakes will be held on Saturday, June 6. The race will once again be contested at 1.25 miles, rather than the traditional 1.5 miles, due to the configuration of Saratoga’s main track.