Belmont sacrifices quantity but not quality during fall meet

ELMONT, N.Y. – A little later than usual and with fewer race days than has been typical, Belmont Park’s fall meet, chock full of important stakes races, gets underway Friday with a 10-race card.

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In a pre-COVID-19 world, Belmont would have opened on Sept. 11 – four days after the end of Saratoga – and the meet would have consisted of 35 days. In a move designed in part to stretch purse money out beyond the fall, the New York Racing Association opted to start a week later and conduct a 27-day meet with racing mostly conducted four days a week, as was the case during the abbreviated Belmont spring meet. The fall session will run through Nov. 1.

As was the case during the spring season, Belmont will operate without fans ontrack – at least at the start but most likely throughout the meet. This is a restriction put in place by the state in May when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that racetracks could begin operating in June following an 80-day shutdown of the industry.

Unlike the spring, a limited number of owners will be permitted onsite when they have a horse running – a maximum of 10 state-licensed owners per horse. Owners will be permitted in designated areas including the apron, backyard, and areas surrounding the paddock. Owners will be subject to health screening prior to entry, including a temperature check. Facial coverings must be worn and social distancing will be required.

Also, ontrack wagering will be available for owners through self-service terminals and a limited number of mutuel clerks.

NYRA received some good news when the state reopened casinos beginning Sept. 9, albeit at 25 percent capacity. NYRA receives revenue from the Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct that helps fund purses and capital projects.

“Owners on track, casino’s opening, so hopefully we’re starting to see some daylight at the end of this,” NYRA president and CEO Dave O’Rourke said at the end of Saratoga.

At Saratoga, jockeys were restricted from riding elsewhere or risk not being able to return to ride. During the Belmont fall meet, a New York-based jockey may ride out of town but must produce two negative COVID-19 tests in a five-day span in order to return.

Despite the shortened meet, Belmont will run 38 stakes worth $5.58 million. Of the 22 graded stakes offered at the meet, 17 will run from Oct. 3-12, many with implications for the Breeders’ Cup, to be held Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland.

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Purses on those stakes have been greatly reduced in order to free-up purse money for overnight races. The seven Grade 1 stakes at the meet will each be worth $250,000, the minimum allowed by the American Graded Stakes Committee in order for a race to retain Grade 1 status.

The Oct. 3 card features five graded stakes topped by the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and the Belmont Derby, both at 1 1/2 miles on turf. The Belmont Derby is restricted to 3-year-olds and is one of seven Win and You’re In races for the Breeders’ Cup offered at the meet. A trio of graded stakes will be run on Oct. 4, including the $150,000 Beldame.

On Oct. 10, four Grade 1 staples – the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Flower Bowl, Champagne, and Frizette – highlight a card that also includes the Grade 2 Sands Point.

Belmont’s races will again be shown on Fox Sports 1 and 2 as well as the MSG network and other regional cable stations.