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The Belmont Stakes is one of the most prestigious races in the Triple Crown series, following the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Known as the “Test of the Champion,” this race challenges horses with its demanding distance and high stakes. Fans eagerly await the thrilling competition, where the finest thoroughbreds and their skilled jockeys will vie for victory.

This article will cover everything you need to know about the Belmont Stakes 2024, from the event schedule and critical participants to travel tips and local highlights. Get ready to immerse yourself in one of horse racing’s most iconic events and discover all it offers.

Temporary Relocation

This year, the race will take place at the Saratoga Race Course primarily due to a significant $455 million renovation project at Belmont Park. Saratoga Race Course, known for its rich history and picturesque setting, provides a unique backdrop for this year’s race.

The relocation to Saratoga marks the fourth time in history that the Belmont Stakes will be held outside its traditional venue.

The race distance has been adjusted from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/4 miles to accommodate the shorter track at Saratoga. This change is necessary to ensure the safety and integrity of the race while still offering a challenging test for the competing horses and their jockeys. The temporary move adds a new chapter to the storied history of the Belmont Stakes, offering fans a fresh and exciting experience in a beloved racing locale.

Racing Schedule

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will feature an action-packed schedule with 24 stakes races over four days, boasting a total purse of $10.25 million. The festival’s highlight is the $2 million Belmont Stakes, which will be held on June 8, 2024. This critical race attracts top competitors and is eagerly awaited by fans and racing enthusiasts.

Attendance for the event is capped at 50,000 to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone. While tickets for Belmont Stakes Day have already sold out, tickets for other festival days are still available.

What to Expect at the Track

Fans can look forward to watching training sessions on the main track on Thursday and Sunday mornings. Entry is through gates C and D, and free picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis during these sessions. However, there will be no access to the main track for training on Friday and Saturday.

On Thursday and Sunday, gates open at 11 A.M. On Friday, they open at 10:30 A.M. For the main event on Belmont Stakes Day, gates will open early at 9 A.M., with the first race starting at 10:45 A.M. Visitors are reminded that reentry is not permitted during the festival, and all transactions, including food, beverages, and tickets, must be cashless, except in the official Saratoga store.

Visitors can bring a folding chair and a small cooler, but large items, alcohol, and professional photography equipment are prohibited. Idina Menzel will headline the entertainment on Belmont Stakes Day, adding to the event’s excitement.

Top Contenders

As the excitement for the Belmont Stakes 2024 builds, all eyes are on the top contenders who are set to compete in this prestigious race. Here’s a look at some of the leading horses expected to make a significant impact:

• Seize the Grey

• Sierra Leone

• Fierceness

• Antiquarian

• The Wine Steward

• Honor Marie

• Mystik Dan

• Thorpedo Anna

• Dornoch

These horses have all shown exceptional talent and potential, making the Belmont Stakes 2024 an event full of excitement and fierce competition. Racing fans can look forward to a thrilling race day as these top contenders vie for victory in one of horse racing’s most prestigious events. For the best experience, Belmont Stakes online betting offers a convenient way to participate in the excitement and place bets on their favorite contenders.

Street Closures and Transportation

Several streets in Saratoga Springs will be closed for the Belmont on Broadway concert and festival activities. Broadway will be closed from 5 A.M. on Wednesday, June 5, to 2 A.M. on Thursday, June 6, for stage setup and the event. Additional closures south on Broadway to Washington and Springs streets will start at 3 P.M. on Wednesday. Detour signs will be posted to direct traffic.

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) will offer shuttle services to help ease festival-goer transportation. Shuttles will run from 3 P.M. to 11 P.M. on Wednesday, providing transportation from the Route 50 lot at Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the Wilton Mall bus stop to the corner of High Rock Avenue and Lake Avenue. This service aims to help visitors reach the concert and other festival activities conveniently and safely.

Security and Safety Measures

A robust law enforcement presence, including city police, county sheriff’s deputies, state police, and the FBI, will ensure safety throughout the festival. Drones and horse-mounted units will also be utilised. Sheriff Michael Zurlo advises visitors to use ride-sharing services and designated drivers to prevent drunk driving.

Chief of Police Tyler McIntosh highlighted the importance of patience due to potential traffic delays and emphasised the city’s preparedness for the event.

Conclusion

The 2024 Belmont Stakes promises to be an unforgettable event. So, don’t miss your chance to be part of the action at Saratoga Race Course or catch the excitement from home through online streaming and betting options. Stay updated with the latest news and schedule, secure your tickets for the available days, and prepare for an extraordinary experience.

One of the best way of gaining first hand knowledge and equine information relating to flat or national hunt trainers, owners and their hopes for horses and the racing season is though via horse racing stable tours. These limited number of private vip, and public one on one or group tour experiences see leading racing trainers guide you through a tour of the gallops, schooling grounds, equine pool, watch jockey’s put horses through their paces and gain insights into stable training and preparation for the big race. You’ll also get to see the science behind how all of this fits together in the yard.

The cost of vip stable tours can vary, but they are informative both from a race goer point or view and also the perfect gift for someone who loves and follows horse racing. Several top uk horse trainers offer stable tours, and it’s quite an experience to see the nurturing ground and yard of winners of the Grand National and Cheltenham Festival races. These one off, behind the scenes looks at training yards are not to be missed experiences and a day to remember.

The following trainers offer horse racing trainer stable tours:

Kim Bailey
Micky Hammond
Alan King
Jonjo O’Neill
David Pipe
Charlie Longsdon
Ben Pauling

as well as several others via syndicate group perks for instance (Mark Johnston, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and the like)

Knowledge is power as they say, stable tours certainly are a valuable part of this puzzle, bringing the behind the scenes and working processes of turning a horse into a winner all very much into the real world.

Saturday, 13^th April, 2024.

4PM Aintree, Liverpool.

The Greatest Steeplechase in the World.

The question on the lips of every horse racing fan: ‘Will Corach Rambler win the 2024 Grand National?

Lucinda Russell’s bay gelding, a son of Jeremy, out of a mare called Heart N Hope, showed just that when trouncing his rivals in last year’s race. Aintree has seen its share of gallant winners but there was a real sparkle about that performance. Derek Fox must have been counting his percentage of the mighty £561,300 winnings.

With a £1,000,000 total prize fund there’s plenty to go round.

The Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap). Racing over 4m 2 1/2f, 30 fences and a total prize pot of £1M. No wonder the biggest names in racing: owners, trainers and jockeys are battling for triumph. A bustling crowd heading to the course to watch history in the making.

Corach Rambler, racing in the familiar silks of The Ramblers, tried their luck at Cheltenham when their 10-year-old finished third in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1). Although beaten 13-lengths, the £67,354.17 added to a healthy total prize earnings of £776,459. To be placed in the Gold Cup could be viewed as a positive for a second National victory.

However, the record of Gold Cup placed horses heading to the Grand National isn’t as sparkling as it might seem. In fact, from 16 runners there has been just one winner in the last 40-years – Rough Quest (1996).

How will Corach Rambler cope with the going? Heavy! No hiding place.

Also, he has to shoulder an extra 14lb with a weight of 11-5 (compared to last year’s victory at 10-5).

With animal welfare concerns, the maximum size of the race has been adjusted to 34 from 40 which should make for a better and safer race.

At the time of writing, Corach Rambler is priced 11/2 favourite with bookmakers. There seems little value in betting at those odds. However, we will only know the answer to that question come the finishing line.

In many ways, this year’s Grand National is a turning point. The traditional time has been moved to 4PM. The number of runner reduced and an added emphasis on animal welfare is a positive. The idea is reducing the speed of horses may seem ironic with this race taking place in testing conditions. A few races of old have seen a small number finish. Mud splattered jockeys. Who can forget Red Marauder winning by a distance on heavy ground at odds of 33/1. A field of 40 horses and only four finished each a distance apart.

Corach Rambler has stiff opposition from a number of fancied horses including those owned by J P McManus. I Am Maximus & Meetingofthewaters, trained by Willie Mullins, are priced at single-figure odds and sure to have their supporters. In fact, Mullins heads to Aintree with a strong hand considering Mr Incredible is a 12/1 shot.

Derek Fox will be pleased that the delaying of a potential whip ban means he is free to ride Corach Rambler. Saturday will see a good battle of 34 horses looking to make the headlines. If he wins two on the bounce, then next year’s race will be something to savour.

The Grand National is one of the most popular races in the world. The gambling industry and horse racing world have seen much turmoil over the last few years and perhaps this race will be a turning point for better times to come.

Update: I am Maximus is the winner of the Grand National 2024. The jockey of his main rival Corach Rambler  (Derek Fox) was unseated at the first fence.

Only a Gladiator could name a horse I Am Maximus.

Hardly surprising this 8-year-old bay gelding is owned by JP McManus. Reputed billionaire businessman and fearless professional gambler. Any horse racing fan worth their salt knows that earlier statement was said tongue in cheek because this horse was formerly owned by Claudio Michael Grech until the 22^nd March 2023. However, I still think the name is fitting for the Irishman who is synonymous with high-profile horses.

They don’t come any bigger than the Grand National 2024.

Those familiar green and yellow silks with white cap.

I feel like running onto the course on the Saturday 13^th April [4:00 Aintree] and shouting: ‘I am Maximus’ then quickly disappearing into the crowd to place a bet. If I see McManus with a wad of cash…

It’s a similar story for these connections. Willie Mullins is the a consummate professional bringing unbounded fear to English bookmakers. The Luck of the Irish. Are you kidding. They need no luck.

Just ask the Cheltenham Crowd!

Ask the bookmaker.

You always have to respect an Irish radar.

For a pot worth £1000,000 there are plenty.

I Am Maximus has been in good form. This son of Authorized is lightly raced with just 14 starts but a consistent sort with 5 wins. In fact, he’s never been out of the first four. This horse, formerly with Nicky Henderson, is untested over this extended trip of 4m 2 1/2f, having won at 3m 5f at Fairyhouse (IRE) on the 10^th April 2023 to take the Irish Grand National Chase. He’s been prepared well, winning on the 24^th February on testing ground (soft/heavy).

J P McManus had to wait for his first Grand National victory back in 2010. Don’t Push It (10/1JF) made it a day to remember for him and Tony McCoy. That was with trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

McManus struck again in 2021 with Minella Times. Another groundbreaking day with Rachael Blackmore prevailing for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

A special moment in time.

It has been a good few years since Willie Mullins tasted victory in the greatest steeplechase of them all. Readers will remember the noble Hedgehunter (2005) for the Closutton, Bagenalstown, Carlow handler. The utter joy of owner Trevor Hemmings.

However, there may be some competition for the number one slot at this year’s Grand National as Willie Mullins and J P McManus come with numbers. They have 4 horses in the last 51 entrant with a maximum field of 34 (from 40 due to animal welfare concerns).

Meetingofthewaters, a 7-year-old son of Court Cave is fancied to go well at odds of 9/1.

Capodanno (40/1) and Janidil (100/1) may also make the line-up.

McManus has Limerick Lace trained by Gavin Cromwell who is presently 20/1.

It will be interesting to see if the going remains heavy. However, rain or shine J P McManus will be heading to Aintree, Liverpool.

He has a strong hand.

It will be no easy feat to cover this 4m 2 1/2f on testing going. If it is battle of attrition I can’t see many of the 34 runners finishing. However, it would be no surprise to see J P McManus with a smile on his face come the finishing line.

Good luck to all.

Come home safe.