These renovations, totaling nearly half a billion dollars, involve replacing the grandstand and all three racetracks at Belmont Park. The move to Saratoga is temporary, and the race is expected to return to the renovated Belmont Park in 2026.
It is important to note that holding the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga results in some changes to the race, including:
• Distance: The race is shortened to 1 ¼ miles, matching the distance of the Kentucky Derby, because the Saratoga main track cannot accommodate the traditional 1 ½ mile Belmont distance without putting the starting gate on a turn
• Prize Purse: The prize purse for the Belmont Stakes has been increased from $1.5 million to $2 million
• Festival Length: The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga has been expanded to five days instead of the usual four
The last time the Belmont Stakes was held at a different location was from 1963 to 1967, when it was held at Aqueduct Race Track during previous renovations at Belmont Park.
The three placed winners of the most Kentucky Derby will be running in the Belmont. They are Sovereignty (1), Journalism (2) and Baeza (3). Journalism won the Preakness, while neither Sovereignty nor Baeza were run.
It should be an interesting and competitive race. As a further note, Sovereignty is a direct descendant of the legendary Secretariat who won the Triple Crown in 1973, as well as, Seattle Slew (1977) and Justify (2018).
It's Post Time, the horses are on the track!
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