The New York Racing Association announced Feb. 26 the stakes schedule for the 2026 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which will open July 3 and continue through Labor Day, Sept. 7.
Highlighted by the 157th renewal of the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 29 and the 99th edition of the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) Aug. 8, the 46-day summer meet will offer 20 top-level races among 73 stakes worth $23,575,000 in total purses.
The summer meet will begin with a special July 4th Racing Festival featuring the $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) and $600,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T). Typically held at Belmont Park, they are at Saratoga this year due to ongoing construction at Belmont that will be completed for racing this fall.
Following the three-day opening weekend, July 3-5, racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday before the resumption of the five-day racing week beginning July 29. The 2026 summer meet will conclude with a six-day closing week from Sept. 2 through Labor Day.
With the new Belmont Park to reopen Sept. 18, this year will mark the final year of adjustments to the customary schedule of racing at Saratoga. Beginning in 2027, Belmont Park will host the Belmont Stakes (G1) and July 4th Racing Festivals, while Saratoga will return to its traditional 40-day summer meet.
The $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) will return to its traditional home at Belmont Park in 2026 and serve as the opening-day feature with the unveiling of the new Belmont Park Sept. 18. This follows a five-year period when the Jockey Club Gold Cup was held during the summer meet at Saratoga. Additionally, the $500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T) will return downstate and be held during the fall meet at Belmont Park on a date to be determined.
Whitney Stakes day and Travers Stakes day will again offer blockbuster days of racing with numerous grade 1s on deck.
Saratoga Live, the critically acclaimed and award-winning television show produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, will return for its 11th season in 2026 to provide daily coverage on the FOX Sports family of networks.
Saratoga will host the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival for the third and final time from June 3-7. Highlighted by the 158th edition of the $2 million Belmont Stakes June 6, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will include 10 grade 1 races among 18 graded stakes across five days of world-class competition.
To mark 100 days until the Belmont Stakes, fans who purchase Belmont Stakes Day admission Feb. 26 will receive complimentary general admission for June 4 and June 5 as well $25 of credit redeemable for food & beverage June 6. This special offer is available online at Ticketmaster.
The complete Saratoga stakes schedule Saratoga is available online.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
