Summary (tl;dr)

The 2026 Belmont Stakes, the final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, is currently trending as it is scheduled to take place on June 6, 2026, at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. This marks the third and final year the prestigious race will be held at Saratoga before returning to its traditional home at a renovated Belmont Park in 2027.

Essential Background

The Belmont Stakes is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, known as "The Test of the Champion" due to its demanding distance and position as the concluding race of the Triple Crown, following the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Inaugurated in 1867, it is the oldest of the Triple Crown races. Traditionally, the race is held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, and covers a distance of 1 ½ miles.

The Full Story

Interest in the Belmont Stakes 2026 is surging as the event is set to run on Saturday, June 6. For the third consecutive year, the race will be held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, while Belmont Park undergoes extensive reconstruction, with its reopening anticipated in 2027. Due to Saratoga's track configuration, the 2026 Belmont Stakes will be contested at a shorter distance of 1 ¼ miles, differing from its customary 1 ½ miles at Belmont Park. This year's event, the 158th running, is a centerpiece of a five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival running from June 3-7. The field is expected to include a rematch between the top two finishers of the Kentucky Derby, Golden Tempo and Renegade, among other notable contenders, with the official post-position draw scheduled for June 1st.

Why It Matters

The Belmont Stakes holds significant importance as the final opportunity for a three-year-old Thoroughbred to achieve Triple Crown glory, although no horse has won the first two legs this year. Beyond Triple Crown aspirations, the race is crucial for establishing the top-ranked horses in the three-year-old division. The temporary change in venue and distance at Saratoga creates unique handicapping challenges and has impacted race dynamics, making this final running at "the Spa" particularly noteworthy before the race returns to a renovated Belmont Park in 2027. The event also boasts a substantial $2 million purse.

Geographic Location

• Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, New York, United States (hosting the 2026 Belmont Stakes and Belmont Stakes Racing Festival)
• Belmont Park, Elmont, Nassau County, New York, United States (traditional home of the Belmont Stakes, currently undergoing reconstruction)