The 158th running of the Belmont Stakes takes place on Saturday 6 June 2026 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The third and final leg of American horse racing’s Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes is one of the most prestigious flat races in the world and the culmination of the sport’s most celebrated three-race series.
What is the Belmont Stakes?
The Belmont Stakes is a Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and the oldest of the three American Triple Crown races, first run in 1867. It traditionally follows the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, held five weeks after the Derby and three weeks after the Preakness. The race is often called the “Test of the Champion” owing to its demanding distance, which at its traditional home of Belmont Park measures one and a half miles. At Saratoga, the distance is shortened to one and a quarter miles (10 furlongs) to suit the smaller main dirt track. The 2026 edition carries a purse of approximately $2 million.
When is the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
The Belmont Stakes is scheduled for Saturday 6 June 2026, with post time typically around 6:30 PM ET. The race anchors a five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival running from Wednesday 3 June to Sunday 7 June, featuring a full card of graded stakes races throughout the week. Saturday’s main broadcast window on FOX runs from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM ET, with extended coverage beginning at 2:30 PM ET.
Where is the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
The 2026 Belmont Stakes returns to Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, for the third and final consecutive year. The race has been relocated from its traditional home at Belmont Park on Long Island while the venue undergoes a major redevelopment, with Belmont Park scheduled to reopen in the autumn of 2026. Saratoga Race Course, opened in 1863, is widely regarded as the oldest major sporting venue in the United States. The track has a capacity of approximately 50,000 and is celebrated for its historic Victorian grandstand, mature elms, and intimate atmosphere that sets it apart from larger modern racetracks.
Key Contenders
The 2026 Belmont Stakes field will be shaped by the results of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes earlier in the spring. The defending champion is Sovereignty, who won the 2025 edition by three lengths in a time of 2:00.69 under jockey Junior Alvarado, trained by William I. Mott. The most compelling Triple Crown storyline in recent years saw Sovereignty also take the 2025 Kentucky Derby, though he bypassed the Preakness and therefore could not claim the Triple Crown. The last horse to sweep all three legs was Justify in 2018, trained by Bob Baffert. Only 13 horses have ever achieved the feat, making any Triple Crown bid a major narrative heading into the Belmont.
How to Watch
In the United States, the Belmont Stakes is broadcast live on FOX, with streaming available through the FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com. Coverage typically begins at 2:30 PM ET with the wider racing festival, building to the main Belmont Day broadcast from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM ET. SiriusXM also provides live radio coverage. In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports Racing (Sky channel 415, Virgin 519) carries the race live as part of its American racing coverage. Racing TV also offers on-demand coverage for subscribers. In Australia, viewers can find the race through Sky Racing, while fans across much of the rest of the world can access NYRA’s own simulcast streams or international sports betting platforms that carry live racing feeds.
History and Records
First contested in 1867 at Jerome Park in the Bronx, the Belmont Stakes predates both the Kentucky Derby (1875) and the Preakness Stakes (1873). The race is named after financier August Belmont Sr., a prominent figure in American racing. The most iconic moment in Belmont history came on 9 June 1973, when Secretariat won by an astonishing 31 lengths in a still-standing record time of 2:24, a performance widely considered one of the greatest in the history of sport. No horse has come within two seconds of that time. James McLaughlin and Eddie Arcaro share the record for most jockey victories at the Belmont with six each. Three trainers have saddled two Triple Crown winners through the Belmont: “Sunny” Jim Fitzsimmons, Ben Jones, and Bob Baffert.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival are available through NYRA’s official website. General admission on Belmont Stakes day (Saturday 6 June) is priced at $75 per person, with children aged 4 to 12 at $20. Admission on the surrounding festival days is considerably cheaper: $10 on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and $30 on Friday. A five-day festival bundle is available for $120. Premium hospitality packages, including climate-controlled suites, open bars, gourmet dining, and paddock access, are offered through Belmont Experiences. Given the intimate setting of Saratoga Race Course and the popularity of the event, securing tickets early is advisable.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 Belmont Stakes start?
The Belmont Stakes is scheduled for Saturday 6 June 2026, with post time expected around 6:30 PM ET. The wider racing festival runs from 3 to 7 June.
Where is the 2026 Belmont Stakes being held?
Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. This is the third and final year at Saratoga before the race returns to the redeveloped Belmont Park.
How can I watch the Belmont Stakes?
In the US, the race airs live on FOX and streams on the FOX Sports app. In the UK, Sky Sports Racing carries the broadcast. SiriusXM provides radio coverage.
Who won the Belmont Stakes last year?
Sovereignty won the 2025 Belmont Stakes by three lengths, ridden by Junior Alvarado and trained by William I. Mott, in a time of 2:00.69 at Saratoga Race Course.