The 2027 Belmont is scheduled as the grand reopening of the rebuilt Belmont Park. The original was demolished in early 2024 as part of a $455M New York Racing Association project. The 2024 + 2025 + 2026 Belmont Stakes races were all run at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York as a temporary home. If new-Belmont construction misses the June 5 deadline, the race shifts back to Saratoga.
The 159th Belmont Stakes — "the Test of the Champion" — runs Saturday June 5, 2027 at approximately 6:50 PM ET. The race is scheduled as the reopening of the rebuilt Belmont Park in Elmont, New York after a $455 million renovation. It airs on FOX broadcast — FREE OTA with any antenna. The third and final leg of the American Triple Crown.
★ Quick answer
The 2027 Belmont Stakes airs on FOX broadcast — FREE OTA with any antenna. Post time approximately 6:50 PM ET. FOX has held Belmont rights since 2024 (NBC had it before). FS1 carries undercard races throughout the afternoon.
Streaming: FOX One ($19.99) carries everything FOX + FS1 broadcast. Live-TV bundles (YouTube TV, Hulu+Live, Sling Blue, DirecTV Stream) all carry FOX.
Venue: scheduled to be the reopening of rebuilt Belmont Park in Elmont, NY. Saratoga Race Course remains as contingency if construction misses the June 5 deadline.
1The Belmont Park story — $455M rebuild, Saratoga interim
Why the venue saga matters for 2027
The old Belmont Park was built in 1968 — a Brutalist concrete grandstand that became increasingly dated against modern racing venues. Attendance dropped for decades. In 2023 the NYRA approved a $455M complete rebuild — funded by state-backed bonds against future racing handles.
2023NYRA approves $455M rebuild. Plan: demolish + rebuild Belmont Park to ~35,000 capacity (down from 90,000) with modern infrastructure. Saratoga selected as interim Belmont Stakes venue.
Jan 2024Demolition begins. Final old-Belmont event held December 2023. Construction phase begins. NYRA projects 3.5-year build timeline.
2024First Belmont Stakes at Saratoga — Dornoch wins. Race shortened from traditional 1.5 miles to 1 1/4 miles for the Saratoga edition because Saratoga's main track is shorter. Massive confusion among bettors + fans over distance change. FOX took broadcast rights from NBC.
2025Saratoga year 2. Race remains at 1 1/4 miles. Some Belmont purists object that this isn't really "the Belmont Stakes" without the 1.5-mile distance — historians push back, arguing the race name + history transfer regardless of distance.
2026Saratoga year 3. Belmont Park construction reaches midway point. NYRA releases monthly progress images.
2027SCHEDULED: Belmont Park reopens · 159th Belmont Stakes June 5 returns to 1.5 miles in the new venue · Saratoga kept as contingency. The race finally returns to its historic distance.
The new Belmont Park is being built as a modern 35,000-capacity venue designed for the actual current Belmont attendance pattern (without the Triple Crown bump). NYRA's pitch: a smaller, better venue beats a giant empty one. Modern climate-controlled clubhouse, redesigned betting concourse, new infield experience modeled after Churchill Downs.
2Race-day timeline (Saturday June 5, 2027)
🏇 Belmont Day at the new Belmont Park
10:00 AMTrack gates open · 12-14 undercard races throughout the day on the Belmont Stakes Day card
12:00 PMFS1 coverage begins · early undercard races + handicapping
3:00 PMFOX broadcast pre-race show begins
~5:30 PM"New York, New York" played by the Belmont brass band (Sinatra version) as horses parade to post — Belmont tradition since 1997
6:50 PMPOST TIME · field of up to 16 horses · 1.5 miles · ~2:25-2:30 race time
~6:55 PMWinner's circle · trophy presentation · blanket of white carnations (the Belmont blanket)
3Watch recent Belmont Stakes races
Want to know what it looks like? Highlights from recent editions on the NBC + FOX Sports official YouTube channels.
FOX broadcast carries the entire Belmont Stakes in HD. Free with any antenna in every US market. Same antenna catches every NFL Sunday FOX game, Daytona 500, Super Bowl in FOX years.
First Belmont: 1867 at Jerome Park (Bronx, NY) · Ruthless became the first winner. Moved to Morris Park in 1890, then to Belmont Park in 1905. The oldest of the three Triple Crown races.
Fastest Belmont: Secretariat · 1973 · 2:24 · winning by 31 lengths — widely considered the most dominant single performance in horse racing history. The record has stood for over 50 years.
Distance: 1.5 miles (12 furlongs) — the longest of the Triple Crown by a significant margin. The 2024-2026 editions at Saratoga used a temporary 1.25-mile distance due to track size.
Most wins by a jockey: Eddie Arcaro + Jim McLaughlin — 6 each
Most wins by a trainer: James Rowe Sr. — 8 Belmont wins (1883-1913)
Recent winners (Saratoga era): 2025 [latest] · 2024 Dornoch · 2023 Arcangelo (last at old Belmont Park) · 2022 Mo Donegal · 2021 Essential Quality
Belmont blanket: Approximately 700 white carnations · the winning horse is draped immediately after the race. Belmont tradition since 1905.
"New York, New York" tradition: Frank Sinatra's version played by the Belmont brass band as horses parade to post. Started 1997, has become as iconic as "My Old Kentucky Home" is for the Derby.
7Common questions
When is the 2027 Belmont Stakes?
Saturday June 5, 2027 · post time ~6:50 PM ET · three weeks after the Preakness.
What channel is the Belmont Stakes 2027 on?
FOX broadcast — free with antenna. FOX took Belmont rights from NBC in 2024.
Where is the 2027 Belmont Stakes being held?
The rebuilt Belmont Park in Elmont, NY. The 2024-2026 Belmonts were at Saratoga while the old Belmont was demolished + rebuilt.
Why was Belmont Park rebuilt?
NYRA-approved $455M rebuild started 2024. Old Belmont (1968) was functionally obsolete. New venue is 35,000 capacity (down from 90,000) with modern infrastructure.
How long is the Belmont Stakes?
1.5 miles (12 furlongs) — the longest Triple Crown race. The 2024-2026 Saratoga editions used a temporary 1.25-mile distance.
What is the Triple Crown?
Derby + Preakness + Belmont. 13 horses have won all three. Belmont is typically the hardest leg.
What is the Test of the Champion?
Belmont nickname — refers to the 1.5-mile distance, the longest most American thoroughbreds ever run.
Will the new Belmont Park be ready for the 2027 Belmont?
NYRA target. Construction began January 2024. As of June 2026 on track. Saratoga kept as contingency.
Last verified June 9, 2026 against FOX Sports + NYRA + state-mandated construction reports. Venue confirmation expected early 2027. Construction timeline monitored quarterly.
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