OTHER SPORT
Why is the Belmont Stakes being held at the Saratago Race Course in 2024?
The famous race recently moved to Saratago Race Course. Here’s why...
The oldest race of the triple crown has a new home for this year and next. After being moved from Morris Park Racecourse in Westchester County, New York, the race was held at Belmont Park and has taken place there every year since 1968, barring a five-year period that the sport was held at the Aqueduct.
However, the race course for this year’s event is located in Saratoga Springs, New York, about 40 miles north of Albany: the course was established in 1863 and is where the Travers Stakes is held.
It is no slouch of a venue, either. The New York Times reported that “the racing association has spent $113 million since 2016″.
General Info for the 2024 Belmont Stakes & Belmont Stakes:
Post Times:
June 6 at 12:50pm
June 7 at 12:20pm
June 8 at 10:45am
June 9 at 12:50pm
Gate Times:
June 6 at 11am
June 7 at 10:30am
June 8 at 9am
June 9 at 11am
Why has the Belmont Stakes moved locations?
The 2024 Belmont Stakes changed locations due to renovations at Belmont Park after a $455 million makeover and modernization project was put in place.
Renovations include replacing the grandstand and all three race racecourses. It is scheduled to reopen in 2026.
The next two Belmont Stakes will be shorter than usual because Saratoga Race Course features a one-mile main track, unlike Belmont Park’s 1.5-mile oval.
While held at Saratoga Race Course, the Belmont Stakes will be a 1.25-mile race, matching the distance of the Kentucky Derby and the Travers Stakes. Additionally, Saratoga Race Course has a capacity of 50,000, which is significantly less than Belmont Park’s 90,000.
The prize money on offer is not, however, up to the numbers of the Kentucky Derby. While the Derby saw a record $5 million purse split among the top five finishers, the Belmont Stakes features a $2 million purse. Not too shabby.
The 156th Belmont Stakes runs Saturday, June 8, 2024, and post time is 6:41 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on Fox, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2.