When is the 2026 Belmont Stakes? The 158th running of the “Test of the Champion” is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026, with an official post time locked in for 7:04 PM ET. For the third and final consecutive year, the final jewel of the Triple Crown will take place at the historic Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, while the massive demolition and reconstruction of Belmont Park reach its final phases ahead of its official September grand reopening.
The primary storyline heading into Saratoga took a dramatic turn at Monday’s post-position draw. While fans were eagerly anticipating a heavyweight rematch between the dual classic winners, Preakness Stakes champion Napoleon Solo is bypassing the race. Instead, the tactical spotlight shines directly on Todd Pletcher’s barn. Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite, while history-making Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo faces a steep challenge after drawing the extreme outside post in the compact nine-horse field.
The race will be broadcast live nationwide on FOX and the FOX Sports app. Below is our updated printable 2026 Belmont Stakes schedule, broadcast checklist, and finalized field contenders.
Last Updated: June 2, 2026
2026 Belmont Stakes Event Schedule & TV Broadcast Info
Here’s the 2026 Belmont Stakes event schedule for you. We also have the TV broadcast info for you to checkout the racing events. Please note that the race is the same length as the Kentucky Derby this year.
| Event | Date | Time (ET) | TV Channel & Streaming |
| Belmont Racing Festival Opener | Wednesday, June 3 | 12:00 PM | FS1 / FS2 / FOX Sports App |
| The Acorn Stakes (G1) | Friday, June 5 | 5:00 PM | FS2 / FOX Sports App |
| 158th Belmont Stakes (G1) | Saturday, June 6 | 6:50 PM | FOX / FOX Sports App |
| Belmont Festival Finale | Sunday, June 7 | 1:00 PM | FS2 / FOX Sports App |
2026 Belmont Stakes Early Contenders & Morning Line Odds
Here’s the official 2026 Belmont Stakes event schedule and TV broadcast timeline. Please note that due to the track configuration at Saratoga, the race is the exact same length as the Kentucky Derby this year ($1\frac{1}{4}$ miles).
| Post | Horse Name | Trainer | Jockey | Morning Line Odds |
| 1 | Vitruvian Man | Doug O’Neill | Antonio Fresu | 30-1 |
| 2 | Powershift | Todd Pletcher | Luis Saez | 12-1 |
| 3 | Chief Wallabee | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado | 3-1 |
| 4 | Renegade (Favorite) | Todd Pletcher | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 2-1 |
| 5 | Ottinho | Chad Brown | Dylan Davis | 20-1 |
| 6 | Growth Equity | Chad Brown | Manny Franco | 12-1 |
| 7 | Commandment | Brad Cox | John Velazquez | 6-1 |
| 8 | Emerging Market | Chad Brown | Flavien Prat | 6-1 |
| 9 | Golden Tempo | Cherie DeVaux | Jose Ortiz | 9-2 |
📊 Contender Breakdown:
- The Pace Setter: Todd Pletcher’s second entrant, Powershift (12-1) from post 2, projects as the likely early speed to lead the field around the first turn.
- The Inside Track: Last year’s winning Belmont connections, Bill Mott and Junior Alvarado, hold an ideal stalking position with Chief Wallabee (3-1) from post 3.
- The Local Threat: Saratoga native Chad Brown enters a staggering one-third of the entire field, headlined by Peter Pan Stakes winner Growth Equity (12-1) and Louisiana Derby winner Emerging Market (6-1).
2026 Belmont Stakes Schedule Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is the 2026 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga again? The New York Racing Association (NYRA) temporarily relocated the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to Saratoga Race Course for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons to accommodate a complete $455 million rebuilding of Belmont Park. The brand-new state-of-the-art facility on Long Island is officially scheduled to reopen for live racing on September 18, 2026, meaning the Triple Crown will return home to its traditional track in June 2027.
Is the distance of the 2026 Belmont Stakes shorter? Yes. Because Saratoga’s main dirt track configuration has a smaller circumference than the massive 1.5-mile “Big Sandy” oval at Belmont Park, the 2026 race cannot physically be run at its traditional 1 1/2-mile distance. For this year, it will be contested at 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs), making it the exact same length as the Kentucky Derby.
Where can I watch or stream the Belmont Stakes without cable? National television coverage belongs exclusively to FOX. Cord-cutters can stream the entire race card live using the FOX Sports App by logging in with active television provider credentials, or through live internet TV streaming services including YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV. It will not be available to stream on Peacock or Max.
Will the 2026 Preakness Stakes winner run in the Belmont? Yes. Following his commanding 1 1/4-length victory under jockey Paco Lopez, trainer Chad Summers indicated that Preakness champion Napoleon Solo is actively targeting the Belmont Stakes. This sets up a highly anticipated showdown against fresh Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo.
Internal Resources & Triple Crown Hub
- Kentucky Derby Bingo Generator: Generate custom bingo cards for your Triple Crown watch parties.
- Printable 2026 Preakness Stakes Betting Sheet: Download our signature high-contrast tracking sheet for today’s middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
- 2026 NFL Printable Schedule Hub: Get ahead of the regular season with clean, low-ink PDF schedules for all 32 franchises.
- 2026 French Open Bracket & TV Schedule: Check out the newly updated broadcast channels and tournament draws for Roland Garros.
