2026 Belmont Stakes

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The race will be held on June 6, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. This is the third and final year the race will be held here while its traditional home, Belmont Park, undergoes redevelopment.

Often called “The Test of the Champion,” the Belmont Stakes is historically the longest of the three Triple Crown races. It’s the deciding factor in whether a horse can achieve the rare Triple Crown sweep, testing elite three-year-old thoroughbreds for their endurance and stamina.

The race is organized by the New York Racing Association (NYRA).

Venue, Competitors’ Structure, and Prize Pool Overview for the 2026 Belmont Stakes

The 2026 Belmont Stakes will be held at the historic Saratoga Race Course.

Up to 16 jockeys will participate in an outdoor event held on a dirt track, as the field for the race is limited to a maximum of 12 horses.

The total purse for the race is $2 million. The distribution is tiered among the top finishers, with the winner receiving 60% of the total pool:

• 1st place: $1,200,000
• 2nd place: $360,000
• 3rd place: $200,000
• 4th place: $100,000
• 5th place: $60,000
• 6th place: $40,000
• 7th & 8th place: $20,000 each

Participating Jockeys & Horses in the 2026 Belmont Stakes and Qualification Overview

The official field of jockeys for the 2026 Belmont Stakes hasn’t yet been finalized. Jockeys are usually assigned to horses just days before the race during the official post-position draw.

However, based on the current 2026 Triple Crown trail and top-performing riders, the following jockeys are leading contenders to participate. These riders are currently leading the 2026 circuit or have established partnerships with top 3-year-old contenders:

• Junior Alvarado: Often rides for trainer Bill Mott; previously rode Sovereignty to victory in the 2025 Belmont Stakes.
• Irad Ortiz Jr.: The leading jockey in North America, currently riding top contender Renegade.
• John Velazquez: Hall of Famer currently riding the “buzz horse” Further Ado.
• Luis Saez: Scheduled to ride Commandment, who entered the spring on a four-race win streak.
• Flavien Prat: Partnered with Emerging Market, winner of the 2026 Louisiana Derby.
• Mike Smith: At 60 years old, he is a top contender riding the Santa Anita Derby winner So Happy.

For high-stakes events like the 2026 Belmont Stakes, jockeys don’t “qualify” through a points system as the horses do. Instead, they are selected based on:

1. Trainer/owner choice: Owners and trainers choose jockeys they believe match their horse’s running style or with whom they have a winning history.
2. Mount availability: A jockey must have a “mount” (a horse entered in the race). If their primary horse does not qualify or is injured, they may be picked up by another stable.
3. Horse qualification: For a jockey to participate, their horse must qualify for the field. Horses qualify for the Belmont Stakes primarily through:

• Grades stakes performance: High finishes in “prep” races like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Wood Memorial, or Blue Grass Stakes.
• Lifetime earnings: If more than the maximum number of horses (usually 12-16 for the Belmont at Saratoga) are entered, those with the highest career earnings in stakes races get priority.
• Automatic entry: The first three finishers of the Peter Pan Stakes (run at Aqueduct) typically have their entry and starting fees waived for the Belmont.

As of late April 2026, the horse field for the 2026 Belmont Stakes is primarily composed of the leading contenders currently preparing for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The following horses are the top “probables” based on their current standings on the 2026 Triple Crown trail and their performances in major prep races.

The final field for the Saratoga-hosted Belmont Stakes will be determined after the results of the Kentucky Derby (May 2) and the Preakness Stakes (May 16) are official.

Here, horses don’t qualify through a formal points system like the Kentucky Derby. Instead, the field is determined by specific eligibility requirements and entry preferences.

• Age: Only three-year-old Thoroughbreds are eligible.
• Weight: Colts and geldings carry 126 lbs, while fillies carry 121 lbs.
• Registration: Horses must be nominated to the Triple Crown series by their owners.

The field for the Belmont Stakes is, as said, limited to 16 horses (12 are likely to participate this year). If more than 16 horses are entered, the final participants are chosen based on the following hierarchy:

1. Triple Crown performance: Priority is given to horses that competed well in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes.
2. Graded stakes earnings: If the race is oversubscribed, horses with the highest career earnings in graded stakes races are selected first.
3. Local prep races: The Peter Pan Stakes (run at Aqueduct) is the traditional local prep race. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) waives entry and starting fees for the first three finishers of the Peter Pan to encourage their participation.

The entry process:

• Fees: Owners must pay entry and starting fees, which typically total $30,000.
• Trainer decision: Because the race is a grueling “Test of the Champion,” trainers often decide based on a horse’s recovery from the Derby or Preakness and their perceived ability to handle the distance.

Structure and Competition Format of the 2026 Belmont Stakes

The 2026 Belmont Stakes is a single-day, one-off race, not a multi-stage tournament. While it’s the third and final leg of the Triple Crown, it doesn’t have a “best-of” or “first-to” format common in team sports.

The main race on Saturday, June 6, 2026, is part of the broader Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which spans five days:

• Wednesday, June 3: Opening Day (New York-Bred Showcase).
• Thursday, June 4: Featured races include the Belmont Gold Cup.
• Friday, June 5: Featured races include the Acorn Stakes.
• Saturday, June 6: The 158th Belmont Stakes.
• Sunday, June 7: Final day of the festival.

The race follows standard Thoroughbred horse racing rules:

• Format: It’s a “winner-takes-all” single race. Horses compete in a one-time sprint over 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) at the Saratoga track.
• Elimination system: There’s no elimination bracket. The “field” (the group of horses) is set a few days before the race. Once the gates open, the horse that crosses the finish line first is the winner.
• Triple Crown context: While the race itself is standalone, a horse must have already won the Kentucky Derby (May 2) and the Preakness Stakes (May 16) to “qualify” for a Triple Crown title. However, horses don’t need to win the first two legs just to run in the Belmont.

Favorites in the 2026 Belmont Stakes, Betting Options, and Where to Watch

Current futures markets and expert rankings highlight several clear frontrunners. The following horses are the top contenders heading into the 2026 Triple Crown series:

• Renegade (4-1): Trained by Todd Pletcher, this colt is the current market leader after a dominant win in the Arkansas Derby (G1).
• Commandment (5-1): A Brad Cox trainee on a four-race win streak, including a gritty victory in the Florida Derby (G1).
• Further Ado (6-1): Another Brad Cox standout who recently overwhelmed the field in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) by 11 lengths.
• The Puma (10-1): A consistent stalker from the Gustavo Delgado barn who narrowly lost to Commandment in Florida.
• Chief Wallabee (10-1): A “buzz horse” for Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who has shown significant late-closing ability in recent starts.

Wagering on the Belmont Stakes involves several popular betting markets:

• Straight bets: Win (1st place), place (1st or 2nd), and show (1st, 2nd, or 3rd).
• Exotic bets: Exacta (top two in order), trifecta (top three), and superfecta (top four).
• Futures: Betting on a horse to win the race weeks or months in advance for higher potential payouts.

If you’re looking for the best online horse racing bookmaker, popular legal platforms in the U.S. include TwinSpires, DK Horse, and NYRA Bets. These sites offer live streaming and detailed past performance data to help you make informed picks.

The FOX Sports family of networks holds the exclusive media rights for the Belmont Stakes through 2030.

• TV: The main race will air on FOX on Saturday, June 6. Early undercard coverage typically begins on FS1 or FS2 earlier in the day.
• Streaming: You can stream the entire festival live via the FOX Sports App, FOXSports.com, or through services like Fubo and DirecTV Stream.

Pros & Cons of Favorites in the 2026 Belmont Stakes

Betting strategy tips:

• The 1 1/4-mile factor: Remember that the 2026 race at Saratoga is shorter than the traditional 1 1/2 miles. This favors horses with “middle-distance” pedigrees like Commandment over pure stayers.
• Fixed odds vs. parimutuel: Using a horse racing bookmaker to lock in fixed odds now can provide better value than waiting for the track odds on race day, though you risk losing the stake if the horse doesn’t start.