NYRA has increased its investment in three major racing festivals to $17.25 million for 2025, up from $16.85 million in 2024, despite reducing the total number of stakes races from 56 to 55.
The 157th running of the Grade I, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets will take place Saturday, June 7 at Saratoga. The five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will feature 27 stakes races with purses totaling $11,275,000 — marking the richest purses and highest number of stakes offered since the festival’s 2014 inception.
The Triple Crown’s final leg will again be contested at 1 1/4 miles rather than its traditional 1 1/2-mile distance due to the configuration of Saratoga’s main track.
FOX returns for its third consecutive year as the television home of the festival, providing live broadcast coverage throughout the week.
The 2025 Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet will run from Thursday, May 1 through Sunday, July 6. Ongoing construction at the new Belmont Park continues to necessitate adjustments to NYRA’s typical schedule. The meet features 28 stakes worth $5,975,000, down from last year’s 32 stakes valued at $6.6 million.
The July 4th Racing Festival — traditionally held at Belmont Park — will serve as a prelude to Saratoga’s summer meet while concluding the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer schedule.
Following the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival (June 4-8), live racing on the NYRA circuit will return to Aqueduct from June 12 to June 29 before shifting to the July 4th Racing Festival.
With the addition of both the Belmont Stakes and July 4th Racing Festivals, Saratoga will host nine live race days in 2025 outside its traditional 40-day summer meet.
