Belmont Stakes Shortened, Top Contenders Announced

The 157th Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga Race Course on June 7, 2025, for the second consecutive year due to ongoing renovations at Belmont Park. The race distance has been shortened to a mile-and-a-quarter, matching the Kentucky Derby length. Top contenders include Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, who skipped the Preakness, and Journalism, who won the Preakness after finishing second in the Derby. The event features eight horses and is part of an expanded five-day festival, with celebrity events such as Sports Illustrated’s 'Revel at the Races' party headlined by rapper G-Eazy. FOX Sports will provide live coverage, and betting interest is boosted by promotions from platforms like FanDuel Racing. The festival highlights elite racing, prominent entertainment, and broad media attention, cementing its status as a 2025 sports highlight.