Belmont Park's 2026 fall stakes schedule: What you need to know

The New York Racing Association announced the stakes schedule for the 2026 fall meet at the re-imagined Belmont Park, which will open for live racing Sept. 18 following a multiyear redevelopment project on Long Island.

The consolidation of NYRA's downstate racing operations at Belmont brings an expanded fall meet featuring 32 graded events among 72 stakes races worth $17.7 million in total purses. Highlighted by a series of major Saturday race days beginning in September and continuing through Cigar Mile Day, the fall meet concludes Dec. 6.

"The new Belmont Park will provide the stage to showcase the best racing in North America," said Andrew Offerman, NYRA SVP, Racing & Operations. "With that in mind, we have arrived at a stakes schedule that reflects the importance of the fall racing season, emphasizes major weekends throughout the meet, and establishes a strong foundation in advance of the 2027 Breeders' Cup World Championships. We look forward to September 18, and the next chapter in NYRA's history."

Centered around a five-story grandstand with an array of fan amenities and hospitality offerings, Belmont Park will open with four newly constructed racetracks including the main dirt track, two turf courses and a 1-mile synthetic oval. Beyond the new grandstand, expanded paddock area and modernized racing and training infrastructure, NYRA has unlocked the Belmont Park infield to provide fans and the surrounding community with more accessible green space than ever before.

NYRA will celebrate a new era Friday, Sept. 18, with an Opening Day program anchored by the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup. Established in 1919 and captured by the likes of Man o' War, Forego and Cigar, among others, the Jockey Club Gold Cup returns to Belmont Park after running at Saratoga from 2021-25. The race provides a "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic.

To help unveil the new Belmont Park to a national audience, FOX will present live coverage of the Jockey Club Gold Cup on its broadcast network.

Previously contested during the Belmont Park spring meet, the Grade 2, $500,000 Man o' War shifts to Nov. 28 and groups with the Grade 2, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby, Grade 3, $500,000 Jockey Club Oaks, Grade 3, $250,000 Long Island and two $300,000 New York Stallion Stakes Series races.

NYRA has organized the first half of the fall meet around two consecutive Saturdays to include 10 graded stakes with six Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" chances on the line.

On Sept. 26, the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Classic headlines a program featuring the Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl, a "Win and You're In" to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf; the Grade 3, $250,000 Vosburgh, a "Win and You're In" to the Breeders' Cup Sprint; and the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom.

Four Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races await Saturday, Oct. 3 as part of a program built around the juvenile division. Headlined by the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne, Oct. 3 features the Grade 1, $500,000 Frizette, the Grade 2, $250,000 Pilgrim, the Grade 2, $250,000 Miss Grillo, the Grade 3, $200,000 Futurity and the Grade 3, $200,000 Matron.

NYRA will highlight the New York-bred program by hosting Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park during the fall meet. Scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24, this year's Empire Showcase Day program includes 10 stakes exclusively for horses foaled in New York State.

Among additions to the fall meet, Cigar Mile Day transitions to its new home at Belmont Park on Saturday, Dec. 5. Headlined by the Grade 2, $250,000 Cigar Mile, NYRA has added the Grade 2, $250,000 Brooklyn to a program including the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen, Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle and Grade 3, $250,000 Elite Power.

Last contested at Aqueduct in 2024, the Brooklyn reclaims its position on the NYRA stakes schedule in 2026 and will run at the traditional 1 1/2 miles on the main track.

The Belmont Stakes returns to its Long Island home in 2027. In addition, Belmont Park will host the 2027 Breeders' Cup World Championships, the first edition of the Breeders' Cup in New York State since 2005.