2023 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to open today

Pat McKenna, Mark Bardack

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that Saratoga Race Course will host an expanded Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and, for the first time, a special July 4th Racing Festival. Both events will fall outside of the traditional 40-day summer meet, which will open on Thursday, July 10 and conclude on Labor Day, September 1.

NYRA Press Office

​Manny Franco, the reigning NYTB Jockey of the Year, won three races - including a pair of stakes - on Sunday’s New York Showcase Day program on Closing Day of the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

NYRA Press Office

Trainer Danny Gargan won his first career Grade 1 as Dornoch, who also earned his first score at the level, gamely fought back along the rail to capture Saturday’s Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

Christian Abdo

​Tournament veteran Ken Jordan bested a field of 68 entries to capture the 2024 Belmont Stakes Challenge, which was contested from Friday, June 7 through Saturday, June 8 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

Mary Eddy

​For the first time in 156 years, the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets saw the quest for glory in the final leg of racing’s Triple Crown take place at Saratoga Race Course. Dornoch, under jockey Luis Saez, rose to the historic occasion and filed their names in the history books with a tenacious score in Saturday’s prestigious $2 million test for sophomores.

Pat McKenna

​Saturday's blockbuster Belmont Stakes Day card, highlighted by Dornoch’s victory in the 156th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, generated all-sources handle of $125,748,941 which is a New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) record for a non-Triple Crown year.