Belmont Stakes will be run as the first of the Triple Crown races
Usually last, this year the Belmont Stakes will be first.
The New York Racing Association announced Tuesday that the Belmont Stakes will be run on June 20 without spectators at Belmont Park. Instead of the traditional mile-and-a-half, the race will be run at a distance of a mile-and-an-eighth. The purse will be $1 million.
That means that because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Belmont will be the first race of the Triple Crown series instead of its traditional spot at the end of the three races. Originally scheduled for May 2, the Kentucky Derby has been rescheduled for Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs. Originally scheduled for May 16, the Preakness Stakes will be run Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
The Belmont will now be a prep race with qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs announced last week that if either the Preakness or the Belmont was run before the Derby, the winner would receive 150 points toward entrance in the Derby. The second-place finisher will earn 60 points, with 30 for third place and 15 for fourth.
According to a tweet by Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form, the “Belmont has been run as short as 1 1/8 miles twice previously, in 1893-94, when race was run at Morris Park. Race was run clockwise then. Moved to Belmont Park in 1905 (at Aqu 1963-67 during Bel renovations). Wasn’t run counterclockwise until 1921. Been 1 1/2 miles since 1926.”
Last week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the go-ahead for New York tracks to resume racing June 1 without fans.
Churchill Downs resumed racing last Saturday. The Matt Winn Stakes will be Saturday at Churchill. That race will award 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner followed by 25-10-5 for second, third and fourth.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 12:05 PM.
