Report: Belmont Stakes to return to Saratoga in 2026

The Belmont Stakes, the third leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, reportedly will be run at Saratoga Race Course for a third consecutive year in 2026.

WNYT-13, the NBC affiliate in Albany, N.Y., is reporting that plans are being made to run the Belmont at the historic upstate track next year as work continues to rebuild Belmont Park on Long Island.

The 2025 race will be held June 7 in Saratoga Springs.

The New York Racing Authority has targeted September 2026 as a completion date for the work at Belmont Park but held out hope that the track could host the Belmont next June, per WNYT.

NYRA spokesperson Pat McKenna told the affiliate that the organization wasn't ready to make any commitments about the 2026 edition before the 2025 race is run.

"NYRA remains focused on conducting a successful and memorable 2025 Belmont Stakes racing festival next week at Saratoga Race Course," he said. "However, we certainly appreciate the interest around the 2026 edition and will be finalizing and announcing its location in the coming weeks."

The lineup for next weekend's Belmont has not been finalized, but there remains a possibility that both Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Journalism, victorious in the Preakness Stakes, will be in the field.

--Field Level Media