Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Highlights

by Pat McKenna, Mark Bardack

WHAT: Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course

WHEN: Wednesday, June 5 – Sunday, June 9

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

Belmont on Broadway:

Saratoga Springs will kick off the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival with Belmont on Broadway, a multifaceted celebration running through Sunday, June 9. The event will be highlighted by a free concert featuring Grammy Award-winning Blues Traveler on Wednesday evening adjacent to the Saratoga City Center.

Saratoga Springs-based Tops of Trees, an eight-piece rock and soul ensemble, will get things started at 6 p.m. followed by the upbeat party vibes of The Pat McGee Band at 7 p.m. Blues Traveler will take the stage at 8 p.m.

The multi-day festival will also feature a Belmont Stakes-themed window decorating contest for visitors to enjoy as they shop downtown; live music throughout the week; and Belmont Stakes watch parties on Saturday at Universal Preservation Hall, Putnam Place, The Bunker and Dance Fire Studio.

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

Admission Gates and Post Time:

Admission gates will open at 11 a.m. with first post for the 10-race program at 12:50 p.m.

Morning Training:

Fans can watch morning training on the main track and at the Oklahoma track from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Fans are asked to enter the main track through Gates C and D at the intersection of Frank Sullivan Place and Wright Street while the Oklahoma Training Track is accessible through Gate 21 on East Avenue. On-site parking is not available during training hours.

Belmont Gold Cup:

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival opens with four stakes on Thursday highlighted by the Grade 2, $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup, which will be a ‘Golden Ticket’ event offering the winner an automatic berth into the Group 1, AUD$8.4 million Lexus Melbourne Cup.

The new partnership between the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the Victoria Racing Club will provide the winner of the Belmont Gold Cup, a two-mile test for older horses, a place in the starting gate for the Lexus Melbourne Cup on November 5 at Flemington Racecourse in Victoria, Australia.

Melbourne Cup:

Fans will have the opportunity to take their photo with the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Porch. The 18-carat trophy, which will be on display at Saratoga for the special event, is created from 34 gold pieces, was hand-crafted for over 200 hours and is valued at AUD$600,000. The Melbourne Cup is awarded to the owner of the winning horse, and smaller replicas are given to the trainer and jockey.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on FOX Sports:

The FOX Sports family of networks will provide more than 25 hours of wall-to-wall coverage and expert analysis of the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival live from Saratoga Race Course. For the complete broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit BelmontStakes.com.

The Mendelssohn Club of Albany:

The Mendelssohn Club of Albany will perform the National Anthem at 12:25 p.m. and two Broadway medleys after the third and fifth races. Formed in 1909, the all-male chorus is the longest continuously performing arts group in the Capital Region.

Purdy’s Summer Music Stage:

The Purdy’s Summer Music Stage will host live music throughout the afternoon featuring Saratoga Springs’ singer-songwriter Garland Nelson.

Community Outreach Booth:

As part of its commitment to spreading awareness of local nonprofits, NYRA will host one organization each day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in the Community Outreach Booth, located adjacent to the Jockey Silks Room, inside Gate B. On Thursday, representatives from Saratoga 250 will be on track to provide information about the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga and the turning point of the American Revolution.

Family Fun Zone:

Coco’s will host a wide variety of free, family-friendly activities, games, attractions and educational experiences daily in the Family Fun Zone, located inside Gate A near the Saratoga Race Course Box Office.

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

Admission Gates and Post Time:

Admission gates will open to the public at 10:30 a.m. with post time for the 12-race program scheduled for 12:20 p.m.

New York Presented by Rivers Casino:

Friday will feature three Grade 1 events among four stakes topped by the $750,000 New York presented by Rivers Casino; the $500,000 DK Horse Acorn; and the $500,000 Just a Game. The Grade 2, $200,000 Intercontinental presented by MTV Solutions rounds out the stakes action on the second day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Opera Saratoga:

Opera Saratoga, founded in 1962 as Lake George Opera, will perform the National Anthem at 11:55 a.m. followed by two horse racing themed selections from the Broadway hit show “Guys and Dolls” after the third and fifth races.

Purdy’s Summer Music Stage:

The Purdy’s Summer Music Stage will host live music from IMI.

Alcohol Beverage Samplings:

Fans 21 years and older can enjoy complimentary samples of cocktails from the official partners of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., while supplies last. Samples of the Belvedere Hibiscus Lemonade, Botanist Elderflower Gin Fizz and Mount Gay Eclipse Rum Punch will be available outside the Jim Dandy Bar; samples of the Casa Noble Thoroughbred Margarita can be found at the Casa Noble Tequila bar on the second level; samples of Cutwater Spirits and NÜTRL canned cocktails will be available outside the Cutwater Stretch; and samples of Mionetto Prosecco Brut can be found outside the Mionetto Easy Goer.

Dunkin’ Samplings:

Fans can enjoy complimentary samples of Dunkin’ Iced Coffee and SPARKD’ Energy by Dunkin’ beginning at 3 p.m. outside Gates B, C and D, while supplies last.

Community Outreach Booth:

NYRA will host the Race Track Chaplaincy of New York, which provides a variety of services and ministers to the spiritual needs of the backstretch community in New York State.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 (Belmont Stakes Day)

Admission Gates and Post Time:

Admission gates will open to the public at 9 a.m. with first post for the 14-race Belmont Stakes Day program at 10:45 a.m.

The Belmont Stakes, Presented by NYRA Bets:

A blockbuster Belmont Stakes Day awaits on Saturday with a program to include six Grade 1 events among nine stakes races in total, culminating with the 156th edition of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes, presented by NYRA Bets, and featuring three Breeders’ Cup “Win And You’re In” qualifiers: the Grade 1, $1 million Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap [Dirt Mile]; the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford [Distaff]; and the Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur presented by Resolute Racing [Turf Sprint]. The prestigious Grade 1 races on Belmont Stakes Day will include the $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan and the $500,000 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun.

Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga will be bolstered by the Grade 2, $350,000 True North presented by F.W. Webb; the Grade 2, $350,000 Suburban; and the Grade 3, $350,000 Poker.

Belmont Stakes Day on FOX:

FOX will present live coverage of the Belmont Stakes during a special three-hour broadcast from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. preceded by coverage of all Belmont Stakes Day racing from Saratoga beginning at 10:30 a.m. on FS1. The day’s coverage will continue on FS2 and conclude shortly after 8 p.m.

Photo Fashion Contest:

Fans can enter a photo fashion contest for a chance to win a $1,000 first prize, $500 second prize or $250 third prize gift certificate to Lifestyles of Saratoga, a women’s fashion boutique located in downtown Saratoga Springs. Fashion contest winners will also take home a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne, courtesy of Moët Hennessy. The contest runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Porch.

“New York, New York” Performed by Idina Menzel:

The celebrated theme song of the Empire State, “New York, New York,” will be performed by Tony Award-winning actress, singer/songwriter, producer and author Idina Menzel.

Menzel is best known for her starring roles in the original cast of Broadway shows “Rent” and “Wicked,” and as Elsa in Disney’s “Frozen” franchise. She will perform just prior to the Post Parade for the 156th edition of the Belmont Stakes.

West Point Anthem Performance and Patriot Parachute:

Sergeant Major MaryKay Messenger, lead vocalist for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, will sing “God Bless America” at 10:30 a.m. and the National Anthem at 3:40 p.m. Both performances will be accompanied by a presentation of colors by the West Point Color Guard. At approximately 1:30 p.m., professional skydivers from the veteran-owned and operated Patriot Parachute Team will touch down on the infield at Saratoga Race Course.

Purdy’s Summer Music Stage:

The Purdy’s Summer Music Stage will host live music from “The Voice” Season 24 contestant and popular country singer Tom Nitty in the morning, followed by ILL Funk in the afternoon.

Community Outreach Booth:

The Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) will be at the Community Outreach Booth on Belmont Stakes Day. BEST is devoted to resolving the health and social needs of backstretch workers in New York State by providing on-site counseling and primary healthcare services, access to health insurance and case management assistance.

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

Admission Gates and Post Time:

Admission gates will open at 11 a.m. with first post for the 10-race program at 12:50 p.m.

Morning Training:

Fans can watch morning training on the main track and at the Oklahoma track from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Fans are asked to enter the main track through Gates C and D at the intersection of Frank Sullivan Place and Wright Street while the Oklahoma Training Track is accessible through Gate 21 on East Avenue. On-site parking is not available during training hours.

New York Showcase Day:

The 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will conclude on Sunday when New York-breds take center stage for a special New York Showcase Day featuring six stakes exclusively for New York-breds including a quartet of $125,000 events: the Kingston, the Mount Vernon, the Mike Lee and the Bouwerie. The day’s feature races are a pair of $200,000 stakes in the Commentator for 3-year-olds and up and the Critical Eye for fillies and mares 3 years old and up.

The Grade 1, $150,000 Beverly R. Steinman, a new 2 3/8-mile steeplechase event created to honor the career of Beverly R. “Peggy” Steinman, will be contested for the first time that afternoon.

Racing City Chorus:

The Racing City Chorus, a local chapter of the Barber Shop Harmony Society, will perform the National Anthem at 12:25 p.m. and a pair of live medleys after the third and fifth races. Founded in 1956, the Saratoga Springs-based chorus performs at various community events throughout the year.

Purdy’s Summer Music Stage:

The Purdy’s Summer Music Stage will wrap up the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival with live music from Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra.

Community Outreach Booth:

In honor of New York Showcase Day, New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) will be featured at the Community Outreach Booth. NYTB is the official authorized representative of the thoroughbred breeding industry in New York state, and lends its support to activities which aid in the development of the breeding and racing industries in New York in particular, and the nation in general.

Family Fun Zone:

Coco’s will host a wide variety of free, family-friendly activities, games, attractions and educational experiences daily in the Family Fun Zone, located inside Gate A near the Saratoga Race Course Box Office.

All events and activities are subject to change at the discretion of NYRA.