The New York Racing Association announced April 15 the lucrative purse schedule for the four-day 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, slated for Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9.
"The 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will offer purse levels commensurate with the stature and importance of this historic event," said Andrew Offerman, NYRA senior vice president of racing and operations. "Beyond the appeal of Saratoga Race Course, these overnight purses should further incentivize participation in what is sure to be a thrilling edition of the Festival."
The following categories at the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will see an increased purse to that offered during the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet.
Open maiden special weights will feature a purse increase of $10,000 to $100,000, while New York-bred maiden special weights will also enjoy a $10,000 increase to offer a purse of $85,000. The open non-winners of two category will be increased by $13,000 to offer a purse of $115,000, while the non-winners of one category will be upped by $10,000 for a purse of $110,000. The New York-bred non-winners of one category will be boosted by $10,000 to $90,000.
For the condition book and complete purse schedule, please visit nyra.com/saratoga/horsemen/
NYRA previously announced the purse of the Belmont Stakes (G1) will increase from $1.5 million to $2 million in 2024. In addition, NYRA has increased the purse of the Manhattan Stakes (G1T) from $750,000 to $1 million and boosted the New York Stakes (G1T) from $600,000 to $750,000. Additional graded events enjoying purse increases are the Poker Stakes (G3T) from $200,000 to $350,000, along with $100,000 increases to the purses of the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1), the Jaipur Stakes (G1T), and the True North Stakes (G2). Accordingly, the Woody Stephens and Jaipur will offer a purse of $500,000, with the True North rising to $350,000.
Highlighted by the 156th edition of the June 8 Belmont Stakes, the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will include 24 stakes races with purses totaling $10.25 million, the highest purse levels and number of stakes offered since the launch of the multi-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in 2014.
The Oklahoma training track at Saratoga will open for the 2024 season April 18, with the barn area open to horsemen beginning April 15. As preparations continue for the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the main track at the Spa will open roughly one month earlier than is customary on May 6.
For more information on the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, please visit BelmontStakes.com
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
