Belmont Stakes To Run June 20 As First Race in Triple Crown

ELMONT, NY — The New York Racing Association announced Tuesday that the 152nd Belmont Stakes will be run on Saturday, June 20 — making it the first race in the Triple Crown for the first time. The race will be broadcast; no spectators will be allowed at the racetrack.

The new date is a few weeks later when the race is usually run. Last year, it happened June 8. This year, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the other major races in the Triple Crown — The Kentucky Derby and The Preakness Stakes — are happening later in the year, making Belmont the first race in the series. Historically, the race is the final in the series.

"The Belmont Stakes is a New York institution that will provide world-class entertainment for sports fans during these challenging times," said NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke. "While this will certainly be a unique running of this historic race, we are grateful to be able to hold the Belmont Stakes in 2020."

The race will be broadcast on NBC and will include three hours of live coverage from the race grounds.

The race will also be shorter than usual. The Belmont Stakes is usually 1 1/2 miles. This year's race will be 1 1/8 miles.

The Kentucky Derby was rescheduled from May 2 to Sept. 5 and the Preakness Stakes was rescheduled from May 16 to Oct. 3.

All Belmont Stakes tickets are subject to refunds. Fans who purchased directly from the NYRA Box Office or a NYRA sales representative are asked to fill out this web form to request a refund or account credit. Fans who purchased BSRF tickets through Ticketmaster will receive an email directing them to log in to their Ticketmaster account to request a refund or credit.