Belmont Park's stakes schedule set; 59 races worth $18.4 million
The New York Racing Association, Inc. on Friday announced the stakes schedule for a 48-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet, featuring 59 total stakes races worth $18.4 million, to commence on Friday, April 26, and run through Sunday, July 7.
The meet is highlighted by the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival from Thursday, June 6, through Saturday, June 8, that will encompass 18 total stakes, including eight Grade 1s, featuring the 151st running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes.
The Man o' War Racing Festival set for May 11 boasts five stakes, including four graded events, led by the Grade 1, $700,000 Man o' War at 1 3/8-miles on the turf for 4-year-olds and upward.
In 2019, the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival will be contested over three days beginning on Thursday, July 4 and concluding on Saturday, July 6, when five graded stakes will be offered on the Belmont spring/summer meet's penultimate day.
Notably, the Grade 2, $300,000 John A. Nerud, formerly the Belmont Sprint Championship, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Sprint, has been renamed to honor the Hall of Famer, who trained such legends of the sport as Dr. Fager and Gallant Man, and was a founding member of the Breeders' Cup. The longtime trainer, president and general manager for William L. McKnight's Tartan Farms passed away in 2015 at the age of 102.
DATE | RACE | GR. | PURSE ($) | AGE | DISTANCE |
Fri., Apr. 26 | Affirmed Success (NYB) | 100,000 | 4&UP | 6 Furlongs | |
Sat., Apr. 27 | Elusive Quality | 125,000 | 4&UP | 7 Furlongs (Turf) | |
Sun., Apr. 28 | License Fee | 125,000 | F&M 4&UP | 6 Furlongs (Turf) | |
Fri., May. 3 | Flat Out | 100,000 | 4&UP | 1 3/8 | |
Sat., May. 4 | Sheepshead Bay | II | 200,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 3/8 (Turf) |
Sat., May. 4 | Westchester | III | 200,000 | 4&UP | 1 Mile |
Sat., May. 4 | Fort Marcy | III | 150,000 | 4 & UP | 1 1/8 (Turf) |
Sun., May. 5 | Ruffian | II | 250,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 Mile |
Man o'War Racing Festival | |||||
Sat., May. 11 | Man o' War | I | 700,000 | 4&UP | 1 3/8 (Turf) |
Sat., May. 11 | Peter Pan | III | 300,000 | 3YO | 1 1/8 |
Sat., May. 11 | Beaugay | III | 200,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 1/16 (Turf) |
Sat., May. 11 | Vagrancy | III | 200,000 | F&M 4&UP | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
Sat., May. 11 | Runhappy | 150,000 | 4&UP | 6 Furlongs | |
Sun., May. 12 | Gold Fever | 100,000 | 3YO | 6 Furlongs | |
Sat., May 18 | Soaring Softly | III | 100,000 | F3YO | 7 Furlongs (Turf) |
Sat., May 25 | Paradise Creek | 100,000 | 3YO | 7 Furlongs (Turf) | |
Belmont Park New York Breeders' Showcase Day (Big Apple Showcase Day) | |||||
Mon., May. 27 | Commentator (NYB) | 200,000 | 3&UP | 1 Mile | |
Mon., May. 27 | Critical Eye (NYB) | 200,000 | F&M 3&UP | 1 Mile | |
Mon., May. 27 | Kingston (NYB) | 125,000 | 3&UP | 1 Mile (Turf) | |
Mon., May. 27 | Mount Vernon (NYB) | 125,000 | F&M 3&UP | 1 Mile (Turf) | |
Mon., May. 27 | Mike Lee (NYB) | 125,000 | 3YO | 7 Furlongs | |
Mon., May. 27 | Bouwerie (NYB) | 125,000 | F3YO | 7 Furlongs | |
Sat., June 1 | Pennine Ridge | III | 200,000 | 3YO | 1 1/8 (Turf) |
Belmont Stakes Racing Festival | |||||
Thurs., June 6 | Intercontinental | III | 200,000 | F&M 4&UP | 7 Furlongs (Turf) |
Thurs., June 6 | Wonder Again | III | 200,000 | F3YO | 1 1/8 (Turf) |
Thurs., June 6 | Astoria | 150,000 | F2YO | 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
Fri., June 7 | New York | II | 600,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 1/4 (Turf) |
Fri., June 7 | Belmont Gold Cup Invitational | II | 400,000 | 4&UP | 2 Miles (Turf) |
Fri., June 7 | True North | II | 250,000 | 4&UP | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
Fri., June 7 | Bed o' Roses Invitational | III | 250,000 | F&M 4&UP | 7 Furlongs |
Fri., June 7 | Tremont | 150,000 | 2YO | 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
Sat., June 8 | Belmont Stakes | I | 1,500,000 | 3YO | 1 1/2 |
Sat., June 8 | Runhappy Metropolitan (BC) | I | 1,200,000 | 3&UP | 1 Mile |
Sat., June 8 | Woodford Reserve Manhattan | I | 1,000,000 | 4&UP | 1 1/4 (Turf) |
Sat., June 8 | Ogden Phipps (BC) | I | 700,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 1/16 |
Sat., June 8 | Acorn | I | 700,000 | F3YO | 1 Mile |
Sat., June 8 | Longines Just A Game | I | 700,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 Mile (Turf) |
Sat., June 8 | Woody Stephens | I | 400,000 | 3YO | 7 Furlongs |
Sat., June 8 | Brooklyn Invitational | II | 400,000 | 4&UP | 1 1/2 |
Sat., June 8 | Jaipur Invitational (BC) | I | 400,000 | 3&UP | 6 Furlongs (Turf) |
Sat., June 8 | Easy Goer | 150,000 | 3YO | 1 1/16 | |
Sun., June 9 | Jersey Girl | 150,000 | F3YO | 6 Furlongs | |
Sat., June 15 | Dancin Renee (NYB) | 100,000 | F&M 3&UP | 6 Furlongs | |
Sun., June 16 | Poker | III | 300,000 | 4&UP | 1 Mile (Turf) |
Sat., June 22 | Wild Applause | 100,000 | F3YO | 1 Mile (Turf) | |
Sun., June 23 | New York Stallion Stakes | 150,000 | F3YO | 7 Furlongs (Turf) | |
Cupecoy's Joy Division | |||||
Sun., June 23 | New York Stallion Stakes | 150,000 | 3YO | 7 Furlongs (Turf) | |
Spectacular Bid Division | |||||
Sat., June 29 | Mother Goose | II | 250,000 | F3YO | 1 1/16 |
Sat., June 29 | Perfect Sting | 100,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 Mile (Turf) | |
Sun., June 30 | Saginaw (NYB) | 100,000 | 4&UP | 1 1/16 | |
Stars & Stripes Racing Festival | |||||
Thurs., July 4 | Manila | 100,000 | 3YO | 1 Mile (Turf) | |
Fri., July 5 | Victory Ride | III | 150,000 | F3YO | 6 1/2 Furlongs |
Fri., July 5 | River Memories | 100,000 | F&M 4&UP | 1 1/2 (Turf) | |
Sat., July 6 | Belmont Derby Invitational | I | 1,000,000 | 3YO | 1 1/4 (Turf) |
Sat., July 6 | Belmont Oaks Invitational | I | 750,000 | F3YO | 1 1/4 (Turf) |
Sat., July 6 | Suburban | II | 700,000 | 4&UP | 1 1/4 |
Sat., July 6 | John A. Nerud (BC) | II | 300,000 | 3&UP | 7 Furlongs |
Sat., July 6 | Dwyer | III | 250,000 | 3YO | 1 Mile |
Sun., July 7 | State Dinner | 100,000 | 4&UP | 1 1/16 |