Following the conclusion of the 2019 meet at Saratoga Race Course, live racing will return to Belmont Park on Friday for the 37-day fall meet offering 45 stakes worth $11.525 million in purse money and eight Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" qualifiers held over two weekends.
Opening Weekend is highlighted by a blockbuster day of racing on Saturday, September 7, including the inaugural edition of the $1 million Jockey Club Derby, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race offering a berth in the Longines Turf, which will complete the Turf Trinity.
The card will also include the first-ever $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks to conclude the Turf Tiara. Additionally, the stakes-laden card will feature the first running of the $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles on Big Sandy.
Opening Day on Friday is headlined by the 5th running of the $100,000 Christiecat where a field of nine sophomore fillies will assemble for the six-furlong turf sprint. The Christiecat is slated as Race 7 on Friday's Opening Day card. First post is 3 p.m.
NYRA reminds fans of a series of adjustments to the Belmont Park fall meet in light of the construction of a new arena at Belmont Park for the New York Islanders.
As previously announced, the first 23 days of the 37-day fall meet will be held at Belmont Park before the action shifts to Aqueduct Racetrack for Belmont at the Big A beginning on October 11 and continuing through October 27. The traditional Aqueduct fall meet then picks up on Friday, November 1 and continues through Sunday, December 1.
Beginning on September 6 at Belmont Park, weekday live racing will feature a first post time of 3 p.m. to ensure the continuity of racing operations during arena construction. On weekdays, the Belmont Café will open for simulcasting at 12 p.m. with all entry gates open to the public at 2 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays at Belmont Park will feature a first post of 1 p.m.
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