Belmont Stakes 2025: Rain is forecast to taper off at Saratoga

Rain continued at Saratoga on Saturday, but it was forecast to let up in the afternoon after wiping out turf races ahead of Belmont Stakes 2025.

After steady rain in the morning, the National Weather Service said showers and thundershowers could continue mainly before 2 p.m. EDT with a 40% chance of up to a tenth of inch of added precipitation. The high temperature is forecast to be 74 degrees.

Belmont Stakes 2025: Guide to final jewel of Triple Crown.

The chance of rain drops to 20% as the afternoon becomes evening with the lingering possibility of thunderstorms before 8 p.m. EDT. The Belmont Stakes is scheduled for 7:04 p.m.

The Manhattan and Jaipur, a pair of Grade 1 turf tests carded as the ninth and 12th races, were postponed until Sunday as the steady rain continued Saturday morning.

Anticipating another day of wet weather, the New York Racing Association took races 3, 6, 10 and 14 off the turf Saturday. By rule the Wonder Again (G2), the sixth race, and the Pennine Ridge (G3), the 10th, will be downgraded, and the American Graded Stakes Committee ultimately will determine how far.

The Belmont Gold Cup was rained off the turf Friday, meaning it would be dropped from a Grade 2 to no higher than a Grade 3 once the American Graded Stakes Committee reviews it.