Full Belmont Stakes Schedule – Full Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Program at Saratoga
The Belmont Stakes schedule 2025 looks a little different to normal. That is because the meet containing the third and final leg of the Triple Crown has a new temporary home. The entire Belmont Stakes Racing Festival moves upstate and out of New York City for 2024 and 2025.
This is because Belmont Park has an extensive renovation process having at it. Most of the Belmont race program is at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs. More than just a spa town 300km outside The Big Apple, it’s a horse racing hub in its own right.
Saratoga hosts the entire Belmont Stakes schedule this year and next. Triple Crown fans will soon be back at Belmont Park though, so the action is only at another NYRA operated track for a couple seasons. Those racegoers with Belmont Stakes tickets should remember to head for Saratoga, though!
On this page, we provide a detailed overview of the entire Belmont program from the four-day event known as the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. There are modifications to certain events, such as race distances, since Saratoga is not exactly the same size as Belmont Park. We cover all the excitement from each of the five days.
Belmont Stakes Schedule Of Events – Belmont at Saratoga
Now that you understand a different host venue is where the Belmont Stakes 2025 schedule is at, let’s get down to business. We have a day-by-day breakdown of the five-day meet right here with graded stakes and Black Type races throughout.
There is so much to bet on through the best Belmont Stakes racebooks, that’s for sure. Let’s start at the beginning of the Festival with the opening day:
Belmont Racing Festival Opening Day Card (Wednesday, June 4)
Taking advantage of Saratoga having a steeplechase course, the opening day of the Belmont Stakes schedule includes some jumping this year. The second edition of the Beverly R. Steinman Steeplechase is the feature Grade I as the curtain rises on the Festival.
Most of the card sees State Restricted races for local horses take center stage. Saratoga is Upstate New York’s center for thoroughbred bloodstock, so a range of dirt and turf events for equines from the Empire State showcases them. Only New York bred horses can run in most of these races:
Race No Race Name Race Type Surface Distance Age of Horses 1 Beverly R. Steinman Steeplechase Grade I Turf 2m 3f 3yo+ 2 Mike Lee Stakes State Restricted Dirt 7f 3yo only 4 Commentator Stakes State Restricted Dirt 1m 1f 3yo+ 6 Bouwerie Stakes State Restricted Dirt 7f 3yo fillies only 7 Kingston Stakes State Restricted Turf 1m 0.5f 4yo+ 8 Critical Eye Stakes State Restricted Dirt 1m 1f 3yo+ fillies & mares 9 Mount Vernon Stakes State Restricted Turf 1m 4yo+ fillies & mares Intercontinental Stakes Day Card (Thursday, June 5)
On the second day of the Belmont Racing Festival, a Grade II turf sprint in the Intercontinental Stakes headlines the card card. This is for older horses like the Grade III Poker Stakes over a mile.
Meanwhile, on the dirt track, there are several prestigious early Black Type and Listed races for young horses. The Astoria Stakes, exclusively for fillies, and the Tremont Stakes provide opportunities for talented two-year-olds to showcase their abilities:
Race No Race Name Race Type Surface Distance Age of Horses 1 Tremont Stakes Listed Dirt 5.5f 2yo only 3 Astoria Stakes Black Type Dirt 5.5f 2yo fillies only 7 Intercontinental Stakes Grade II Turf 5.5f 4yo+ 9 Poker Stakes Grade III Turf 1m 4yo+ Belmont Gold Cup & Acorn Stakes Day Card (Friday, June 6)
Action on the Belmont Stakes schedule kicks up a notch on the third day of the meet. A superb card of four Grade I events, all for fillies (and mares) includes the Acorn Stakes for three-year-old females on dirt, but this year there’s a twist. It will have a race distance of nine furlongs, rather than an extended mile.
Older fillies and mares tackle the Ogden Phipps Stakes on the dirt. This race, like others open to older horses at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, has a history of multiple winners.
On the turf, meanwhile, the Just A Game Stakes and New York Stakes are Grade I Belmont events at Saratoga open to older females. Supporting those is the new Bed o’ Roses Stakes on dirt.
A race which always attracts overseas runners from across the pond, meanwhile, is the Grade II Belmont Gold Cup on turf for Flat stayers. Learn more about these six graded races on the Belmont Stakes schedule below:
Race No Race Name Race Type Surface Distance Age of Horses 6 Bed o’ Roses Stakes Grade II Dirt 7f 4yo+ fillies & mares 9 Ogden Phipps Stakes Grade I Dirt 1m 1f 4yo+ fillies & mares 10 Belmont Gold Cup Grade II Turf 2m 4yo+ 11 Acorn Stakes Grade I Dirt 1m 1f 3yo fillies only 13 Just A Game Stakes Grade I Turf 1m 4yo+ fillies & mares 12 New York Stakes Grade I Turf 1m 1.5f 4yo+ fillies & mares Belmont Stakes Card (Saturday, June 7)
The Belmont Stakes race day schedule is jam-packed with action on both grass and dirt. This is no one trick pony, but builds excitement to the third and final leg of the Triple Crown.
There is a lot going on with the Belmont Stakes schedule at Saratoga here on this huge day for the sport. The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival day three card includes four other Grade I events on the track.
Turf sprinters show off their speed in the Jaipur Stakes, reduced to an extended five furlongs (1,1oom) from six while the race is at Saratoga. It’ll be fast and furious with some of the fastest horses in training scorching the grass.
Three-year-olds that haven’t stayed the middle distances of Triple Crown races run in the Woody Stephens Stakes down in trip over seven furlongs. Handicappers also have some real brain busters at the meet, though.
That’s because the Belmont Stakes schedule has two Grade I handicaps alongside these conditions races. First up, the Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap tests the mettle of milers on the dirt. Also known as the Met Mile, this race has a storied history.
The Manhattan Stakes, meanwhile, is the other big handicap on the card. Run on turf and only open to older horses, this also promises absorbing action in the build-up to the big race. Check out all eight graded races on the feature card of the meet:
Full Belmont Stakes Day Schedule
* Races delayed until Sunday due to wet weather. ^ Normal race distance is 1m 4f, but configuration of Saratoga Race Course means a shorter trip.Race No Race Name Race Type Surface Distance Age of Horses 6 Wonder Again Stakes Grade II Turf 1m 0.5f 3yo fillies only 7 True North Stakes Grade III Dirt 6.5f 4yo+ 8 Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap Grade I Dirt 1m 3yo+ 9 Jaipur Stakes * Grade I Turf 5.5f 3yo+ 10 Pennine Ridge Stakes Grade III Turf 1m 0.5f 3yo only 11 Woody Stephens Stakes Grade I Dirt 7f 3yo only 12 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes * Grade I Turf 1m 1.5f 4yo+ 13 Belmont Stakes ^ Grade I Dirt 1m 2f* 3yo only Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Final Day (Sunday, June 8)
A low key conclusion to this five-day meet sees the Belmont Festival finish with two three-year-old fillies only stakes races on the Sunday. The Grade III Soaring Softly Stakes is a turf sprint headlining the card. Alongside this is the Jersey Girl Stakes on the dirt.
After rain hit Saratoga on the scheduled race day, the NYRA decided to delay both the Jaipur Stakes and Manhattan Stakes and move them to this card instead. It gives the turf track a chance of drying out:
Race No Race Name Race Type Surface Distance Age of Horses 7 Soaring Softly Stakes Grade III Turf 5.5f 3yo fillies only 9 Jersey Girl Stakes Black Type Dirt 6f 3yo fillies only 12 Jaipur Stakes Grade I Turf 5.5f 3yo+ 13 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes Grade I Turf 1m 1.5f 4yo+ FAQs
Why is the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga?
What changes to the Belmont Stakes program have been made in 2025?
How many races are on the schedule for 2025 Belmont Stakes card?
What other Grade I events are on the Belmont Stakes race schedule?
What channel is the Belmont Stakes broadcast on?
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