Mark Your Calendar! Here Is the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Stakes Schedule
Planning a trip to the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course? This five-day event brings top-level thoroughbred racing to the Spa City each June, culminating with the historic 158th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Spanning 25 premium stakes races with an incredible $11,075,000 in total purses on the line, navigating the weekend requires knowing exactly when to be at the track. Below is the complete day-by-day stakes lineup paired with the daily gate and post times to help you plan your week.
2026 Belmont Stakes Festival: Daily Track & Stakes Race Schedule
To ensure you don’t miss a single race, keep an eye on the shifting timeline across the five-day festival. Gates open significantly earlier as the weekend approaches to accommodate the peak crowds.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 — New York Showcase Day
The festival kicks off with a massive celebration of Empire State racing. Six of today's races are ungraded $200,000 events exclusively reserved for New York-breds (NYB), running alongside a prestigious Grade 1 hurdle event.
- Gates Open: 11:00 am
- First Post: 12:35 pm
- Final Post: 5:48 pm
Featured Stakes Races:
- Beverly R. Steinman Memorial | G1 | $150,000 | 4&UP | 2 3/8 Miles | Turf (Hurdles)
- Mike Lee Stakes (NYB) | Ungraded | $200,000 | 3YO | 7 Furlongs | Dirt
- Bouwerie Stakes (NYB) | Ungraded | $200,000 | F3YO | 7 Furlongs | Dirt
- Critical Eye Stakes (NYB) | Ungraded | $200,000 | F&M 3&UP | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt
- Mount Vernon Stakes (NYB) | Ungraded | $200,000 | F&M 3&UP | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf
- Commentator Stakes (NYB) | Ungraded | $200,000 | 3&UP | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt
- Kingston Stakes (NYB) | Ungraded | $200,000 | 3&UP | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf
Thursday, June 4, 2026 — Belmont Gold Cup Day
Thursday's action turns up the heat with three major graded stakes, highlighted by marathon stayers testing their limits on the grass in the Belmont Gold Cup.
- Gates Open: 11:00 am
- First Post: 12:35 pm
- Final Post: 6:16 pm
Featured Stakes Races:
- Belmont Gold Cup | G2 | $250,000 | 4&UP | 2 Miles | Turf
- Intercontinental Stakes | G2 | $250,000 | F&M 4&UP | 5 1/2 Furlongs | Turf
- Pennine Ridge Stakes | G3 | $300,000 | 3YO | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf
- Jersey Girl Stakes | Ungraded | $175,000 | F3YO | 6 Furlongs | Dirt
Friday, June 5, 2026 — Premium Stakes Preview
A premier afternoon of racing featuring a trio of elite Grade 1 events. Friday puts a heavy emphasis on top-flight fillies and mares, including the historic Acorn and the Ogden Phipps.
- Gates Open: 10:00 am
- First Post: 11:45 am
- Final Post: 7:43 pm
Featured Stakes Races:
- New York Stakes | G1 | $750,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 3/16 Miles | Turf
- DraftKings Acorn Stakes | G1 | $500,000 | F3YO | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt
- Ogden Phipps Stakespres. by Ford | G1 | $500,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt
- Bed o' Roses Stakespres. by Boldyn Networks | G2 | $300,000 | F&M 4&UP | 7 Furlongs | Dirt
- Wonder Again Stakespres. by Shift4 | G2 | $300,000 | F3YO | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf
Saturday, June 6, 2026 — Belmont Stakes Day
The crown jewel of the festival features a spectacular card boasting six Grade 1 events. Because of the physical configuration of Saratoga's main track, the 158th Belmont Stakes will be run at 1 1/4 miles rather than its traditional 1 1/2 miles. Additionally, both the Metropolitan Handicap ("The Met Mile") and the Jaipur Stakes serve as official "Win and You're In" qualifiers for the year-end Breeders' Cup World Championships.
- Gates Open: 9:00 am
- First Post: 11:00 am
- Final Post: 8:02 pm
Featured Stakes Races:
- Belmont Stakespres. by NYRA Bets | G1 | $2,000,000 | 3YO | 1 1/4 Miles | Dirt
- Resorts World Casino Manhattan | G1 | $1,000,000 | 4&UP | 1 3/16 Miles | Turf
- Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap | G1 (BC) | $1,000,000 | 3&UP | 1 Mile | Dirt
- Woody Stephens Stakespres. by Mohegan Sun | G1 | $500,000 | 3YO | 7 Furlongs | Dirt
- Just A Game Stakespres. by Resolute Racing | G1 | $500,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 Mile | Turf
- Jaipur Stakes | G1 (BC) | $500,000 | 3&UP | 5 1/2 Furlongs | Turf
- True North Stakes | G3 | $400,000 | 4&UP | 6 1/2 Furlongs | Dirt
Sunday, June 7, 2026 — The Grand Finale
The festival wraps up on Sunday with a fantastic closing card, anchored by two turf sprints that give racing fans one last opportunity to cash in on a historic week at the track.
- Gates Open: 11:00 am
- First Post: 12:35 pm
- Final Post: 5:47 pm
Featured Stakes Races:
- Poker Stakes | G3 | $300,000 | 4&UP | 1 Mile | Turf
- Soaring Softly Stakes | G3 | $200,000 | F3YO | 5 1/2 Furlongs | Turf
Important Gate Entry & Re-Entry Rules
Saratoga is enforcing strict operational grounds rules for the 2026 festival. Please keep the following track policies in mind as you plan your arrival:
- No Dawn Patrol / Early Access: Unlike the traditional summer meet, there is no early-morning access to the trackside grounds for morning workouts. Fans will only be permitted onto the premises starting at the official gate opening times listed above.
- No Re-Entry Permitted: Plan your race day carefully and ensure you have all your necessities packed. Once you cross the gates and your ticket is scanned, re-entry is strictly prohibited for the remainder of that day.
- Snagging Backyard Picnic Tables: For General Admission ticketholders looking to claim one of the unreserved, first-come, first-served backyard picnic tables, plan your travel to arrive right as the gates officially open for the day (especially at 9:00 am on Belmont Stakes Day).
Make Your Belmont Plans
Spanning 25 high-stakes races and over $11 million in purses, the 2026 festival lines up five days of absolute world-class racing. Pin these gate and post times to your calendar, map out your must-see matchups, and get ready to experience a historic final leg of the Triple Crown at the Spa.
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