NYRA Releases 2025 Race Dates; Expands Belmont and July 4 Festivals

The 2025 racing schedule, which includes 200 live race days at Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course, has been released by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA).

The ongoing construction of Belmont Park will again require adjustments to the customary NYRA schedule. Most notably, the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, expanded for 2025, will be held across five days at Saratoga Race Course from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8.

Saratoga will also play host to the extended July 4th Racing Festival, which is traditionally held at Belmont Park, from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6. The July 4th Racing Festival will serve as the conclusion of the 2025 Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet.

“There is nothing in sports that compares with the energy at Saratoga Race Course, and we join the fans in looking forward to another spectacular season of racing in 2025,” said NYRA President & CEO David O’Rourke. “While Saratoga is rightly defined by history and tradition, NYRA is thrilled to bring the Belmont Stakes and a special July 4th Racing Festival to Saratoga while a new Belmont Park takes shape on Long Island.”

In addition, the fall and spring/summer meets normally held at Belmont Park will take place at Aqueduct Racetrack in 2025, including the period between the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and July 4th Racing Festival.

Following the close of the 2024 Aqueduct fall meet on Sunday, Dec. 29, the 49-day winter meet begins Wednesday, Jan. 1 and continues through Sunday, Mar. 30.

With the exception of Opening Week, live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday from the week of Jan. 9 through the week of Feb. 27. Aqueduct will host a Presidents’ Day card on Monday, Feb. 17. The winter meet will offer three-day race weeks Friday-Sunday throughout the month of March.

The 15-day Aqueduct spring meet will run from Thursday, Apr. 3 through Sunday, Apr. 27 with racing conducted Thursday-Sunday.

The NYRA circuit will remain at Aqueduct for the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet, which will open on Thursday, May 1 and continue through Sunday, July 6, with the final four days relocating to Saratoga for the July 4th Racing Festival.    Racing at the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet will be conducted Thursday-Sunday throughout the spring/summer with the exception of a Memorial Day program on Monday, May 26.*

The 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will open on Thursday, July 10 and continue through Labor Day, Sept. 1. Following the four-day opening week, live racing will be conducted Wednesday-Sunday with the exception of closing week, which will conclude on Monday, Sept. 1.

The NYRA circuit will then return downstate for the 32-day Belmont at the Big A fall meet, which will open on Thursday, Sept. 11 and continue through Sunday, Nov. 2. Racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday throughout the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

A 27-day fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack will draw the curtain on live racing at NYRA in 2025. The fall meet will open on Thursday, Nov. 6 and continue through Wednesday, Dec. 31 with live racing generally conducted Thursday-Sunday.

For the 2025 calendar of live race dates, visit www.NYRA.com/2025.