BELMONT: ‘We are ready’: Belmont Racing Festival descends upon Saratoga Springs

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — As Michael Keaton famously said in the 1988 movie Beetlejuice, “It’s Showtime!”

Months of planning, planning and even more planning come to fruition on Thursday with the opening day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. Over the four days of world-class thoroughbred horse racing, more than 100,000 fans are anticipated to flock to the Spa City, generating an expected $50 million economic impact on the region.

“This is one of the most anticipated sporting events in upstate New York history, to be held in front of racing’s most passionate and knowledgeable fans here at the sport’s most important and revered venue,” New York Racing Association (NYRA) Vice President of Communications Pat McKenna said.

Earlier this week, Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford declared: “We are ready for the Belmont.”

Since the official announcement was made to run the third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown at Saratoga while major renovations are taking place at Belmont, the region has been preparing for this one-of-a-kind event. The Belmont will return to Saratoga Race Course in 2025 before heading back to its permanent home in Elmont, N.Y. in 2026.

Earlier this week, NYRA unveiled a reimagined Jim Dandy Bar as well as Clubhouse Grill, part of more than $100 million in capital improvements made to the track since 2017.

More than $10 million will be available among the 24 stakes races over the four days of racing, representing the highest purse levels and number of stakes offered since the launch of the multi-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in 2014.

The highlight of the weekend’s action comes Saturday with the 156th running of the $2 million Grade I Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. Post time is scheduled for 6:41 p.m.

The Belmont is one of nine stakes races on Saturday’s card, which also includes the Grade II True North Stakes (fourth race), Grade II Poker Stakes (fifth), Grade II Suburban Stakes (sixth), Grade I Ogden Phipps Stakes (seventh), Grade I Woody Stephens Stakes (eighth), Grade I Jaipur Stakes (ninth), $1 million Grade I Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Stakes (10th), and the $1 million Grade I Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (11th).

The Belmont is the 12th race on the 14-race card and features Kentucky Derby champion Mystik Dan, Preakness champion Seize the Grey, and Derby runner-up Sierra Leone in the 10-horse field. Mystik Dan is the lone horse in the field to compete in all three Triple Crown races.

Seize the Gray drew post position No. 1 and is listed at 8-1 odds, followed in post position order by Resilience (10-1 odds), Mystik Dan (5-1), The Wine Steward (15-1), Antiquarian (12-1), Dornoch (15-1), Protective (20-1), Honor Marie (12-1), morning-line favorite Sierra Leone (9-5), and second choice Mindframe (7-2).

In addition to the world-class racing, Tony Award-winning actress, singer/songwriter, producer, and author Idina Menzel highlights top-notch entertainment, performing the iconic “New York, New York” before the Post Parade on Belmont Stakes Day.

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 later in the afternoon, Popular Country singer Tom Nitti, a former contestant on NBC’s “The Voice,” will perform live from the Purdy’s Summer Music Stage beginning at 11 a.m., and there will be a parachute jump scheduled for approximately 1:30 p.m. by professional skydivers from the veteran-owned-and-operated Patriot Parachute Team.

Gates open at 11 a.m. for Thursday’s 10-race card and at 10:30 a.m. for Friday’s 12-race card. Gates open at 9 a.m. on Belmont Stakes Saturday and at 11 a.m. for Sunday’s 12-race card. Gates will also open for early morning access on Thursday and Sunday at 7 a.m. to watch training — with the ground being cleared at 10 a.m. Picnic tables are unavailable for claiming during early morning access on Thursday or Sunday.

After the official gate opens, no re-entry is permitted throughout the four-day festival. Other policies, rules, and restrictions can be found at https://www.belmontstakes.com/

Thursday’s card features four stakes races — Tremont Stakes, Jersey Girl Stakes, Astoria Stakes, and the Grade II Belmont Gold Cup Stakes. Friday’s card features the Grade II Intercontinental Stakes, Grade I Just A Game Stakes, Grade I New York Stakes and Grade I DK Horse Acorn Stakes. Sunday’s final day of racing features the Grade I Beverly R. Steinman (Steeplechase), Mike Lee Stakes, Commentator Stakes, Critical Eye Stakes, Mount Vernon Stakes, Bouwerie Stakes, and Kingston Stakes.

Saturday isn’t the only day full of entertainment.

Thursday will feature the Mendelssohn Club of Albany performing the National Anthem and a medley of Broadway selections, including “Oklahoma,” “Hey Look Me Over,” “Good Night Sweetheart” and “Fugue for Tinhorns,” Friday will feature Opera Saratoga singing the National Anthem and two horse racing themed selections from the Broadway hit show “Guys and Dolls” and Sunday will feature The Racing City Chorus singing the national anthem, “Blue Skies,” “Wonderful Day Medley,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon” and “Top of the World.”

The Purdy’s Summer Music Stage will feature live music throughout the four-day festival, including the Garland Nelson Band on Thursday, IMI on Friday, Tom Nitti followed by ILL Funk on Belmont Stakes Day and Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra on Sunday.

While fans at the track should be prepared for world-class thoroughbred racing and top-notch entertainment, another thing they should unfortunately be prepared for is some wet and stormy weather.

According to the National Weather Service, Thursday could feature showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. are predicted for Friday, with showers likely, mainly after 2 p.m. anticipated for Saturday. For the final day of racing on Sunday, showers are likely, mainly after 2 p.m.

Despite the less-than-ideal forecast, the excitement in the region is palpable as Saratoga Springs takes center stage with this week’s Festival.

“We’re so fortunate to be able to show Saratoga not only to the people who will be here over the course of the weekend but to the millions more who will be watching on FOX Sports beginning Thursday,” McKenna said earlier this week. “They (local leaders) clearly understand and appreciate the impact that this place has, not only on Saratoga Springs, the entire county, and really the entire Capital Region.”

MediaNews Group reporter Emma Ralls contributed to this report.