The Triple Crown season of American horse racing will come to an end this Saturday, June 6, with the 158th edition of the Belmont Stakes, one of the most prestigious races on the calendar and the ultimate test for the best three-year-old Thoroughbred horses in North America.
For the third consecutive year, the Belmont Stakes will not be held at Belmont Park, its usual venue, but at the historic Saratoga Race Course, in Saratoga Springs, New York, due to the renovation work that continues at the Elmont venue.
The race It will distribute a purse of two million dollars and will feature a group of nine participants led by Golden Tempo, winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby, and Renegade, betting favorite to win the last jewel of the Triple Crown.
When is the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
The 2026 Belmont Stakes will be held on Saturday, June 6. The official departure time is scheduled for 7:04 pm Eastern Time.
The event is part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which takes place June 3-7 at Saratoga.
The 2026 Belmont Stakes will be run over a distance of 1¼ miles (10 furlongs), equivalent to approximately 2 kilometers.
The distance is less than the traditional mile and a half that characterized the test at Belmont Park. The change is in accordance with the characteristics of the Saratoga track, which has different dimensions than the original venue.
Where is the Belmont Stakes run this year?
The 2026 edition will be held at Saratoga Race Course, one of the most emblematic racetracks in the country.
Although the Belmont Stakes has historically been held at Belmont Park, reconstruction work at the complex has forced the race to be moved to Saratoga from 2024. Belmont Park is scheduled to reopen in September 2026 and the Belmont Stakes will return to its usual home in 2027.
Who are the favorites to win?
Initial odds place Renegade as the main candidate for victory. The Todd Pletcher-trained specimen will start from position four and will be jockeyed by the Puerto Rican Irad Ortiz Jr. Renegade has won two races this year: the Sam F. Davis Stakes on February 7 and the Arkansas Derby on March 28. In the Kentucky Derby on May 2 he was also a favorite, but came in second position.
Very close appears Chief Wallabee. The Bill Mott-trained horse has shown consistency throughout the season, according to various analyses, and will start from position three.
Another of the most followed names will be Golden Tempo, winner of the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by José Ortiz, the colt arrives with a 9-2 odds after not participating in the Preakness Stakes.
Participants and starting positions of the 2026 Belmont Stakes
The official draw defined the nine starting positions for the race:
- Vitruvian Man (30-1)
- Powershift (12-1)
- Chief Wallabee (3-1)
- Renegade (2-1)
- Ottinho (20-1)
- Growth Equity (12-1)
- Commandment (6-1)
- Emerging Market (6-1)
- Golden Tempo (9-2)
The historical numbers especially favor middle positions. In the last 20 editions of the Belmont Stakes, positions 2, 3, 6 and 7 have produced three winners each, making them the most successful of the recent period.
Golden Tempo, one of the favorites, will start from position nine, a position that has not produced a winner since 2006.
How to watch the 2026 Belmont Stakes live?
The television broadcast will be carried out by Fox, with coverage beginning at 4:00 pm ET and extending until the main race.
Fans will also be able to follow the competition through the FOX One platform and streaming services that include the Fox Sports signal.
In addition to the $2 million purse, the Belmont Stakes represents the closing of the American Triple Crown, made up of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes itself.
This year the focus will be on Golden Tempo, who will look to add a second major victory after his surprise win in the Kentucky Derby. However, Renegade and Chief Wallabee arrive as their main obstacles.
