All articles tagged with #horse racing
The New York Racing Association plans to run Opening Day at Saratoga on Friday despite scorching heat, following New York State Gaming Commission heat guidelines. Horses are inspected by NYRA veterinarians, cooling stations and hydration measures are in place, and real-time weather monitoring is used to adjust conditions as needed. The 11-race card starts at 1:10 p.m., with a forecast for milder temperatures over the weekend.
The Royal Ascot festival opened with a strong royal presence—William and Catherine arrived in sunlit yellow, and King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Zara Tindall, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Amelia and Eliza Spencer, and Carole Middleton joined in, signaling a full family turnout as the event runs through June 20.
A barn fire at Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs destroyed a single barn, killing 17 horses owned by two trainers (Robyn Mangiardi with 11 horses and Timothy Benson with 6). One horse escaped with minor injuries; no people were hurt. The fire was contained to the barn, and Tuesday’s race card was canceled. Investigators are determining the cause as grief counseling and a memorial service are arranged for the backstretch community. A GoFundMe was set up to assist the horse owners and staff.
At the Royal Ascot horse races in England, spectators wear extravagant, colorful hats that steal the show, turning the event into a vivid fashion moment captured by photographers alongside the racing spectacle.
Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to win multiple Triple Crown races as Golden Tempo edged to victory in the Belmont Stakes (after winning the Kentucky Derby), skipping the Preakness due to timing and health considerations; the win marks a historic milestone for DeVaux and a notable achievement for women in horse racing, with the Saratoga Springs trainer celebrated in a race that featured a championship-driven late bid.
Golden Tempo, with Jose Ortiz, won the 2026 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga in 2:03.49, holding off Commandment and becoming the 13th horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont, though the Preakness was skipped; trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to train a Derby winner.
Golden Tempo, fresh off his Kentucky Derby win, edged Commandment by 1¼ lengths to win the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, with Jose Ortiz aboard for trainer Cherie DeVaux. The victory makes DeVaux the first woman to win two Triple Crown races, and it marked the second straight year a Derby winner has captured Belmont after skipping the Preakness.
Golden Tempo, with jockey Jose Ortiz and trained by Cherie DeVaux, won the 158th Belmont Stakes in Saratoga Springs, continuing momentum after their Kentucky Derby victory.
The 2026 Belmont Stakes will be held June 6 at Saratoga Race Course (not Belmont Park due to construction) with an approximate 7:04 p.m. ET start. FOX will broadcast the race, and streaming options include a five-day free DirecTV trial that covers FOX and Sling TV’s FOX-access plan. Golden Tempo is among the favorites at 9-2, with Renegade (2-1) and Chief Wallabee (3-1) also prominent; the full field features Vitruvian Man, Powershift, Ottinho, Growth Equity, Commandment, Emerging Market, and others, with morning-line odds listed by Twin Spires as of publishing. The article notes Belmont Park’s return to its home once construction completes in fall 2026.
HRN’s racing experts publish Belmont Stakes betting tips and odds, outlining likely contenders and value bets to guide bettors ahead of the race.
Nine 3-year-olds will contest the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 5, 2026, in a New York rematch of the Derby’s top two finishers after Derby winner Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness. Renegade is the 2-1 morning-line favorite, with Vitruvian Man, Powershift, Chief Wallabee, Ottinho, Growth Equity, Commandment and Emerging Market also in the field. The race is shortened to 1 1/4 miles due to Saratoga’s track configuration. Notable connections include Irad Ortiz Jr. on Renegade, Jose Ortiz on Golden Tempo, John Velazquez on Commandment, Junior Alvarado on Chief Wallabee, and trainerst Todd Pletcher and Cherie DeVaux among others. Belmont Park’s return to Belmont Park in 2027 after redevelopment is also noted.
Cherie DeVaux becomes the Kentucky Derby’s first female winning trainer, steering 23-1 underdog Golden Tempo to a dramatic late surge in her Derby debut, while managing intense media attention and setting up a Belmont Stakes bid as she continues to run her barn.
SportsLine handicapper Gene Menez tosses Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo, predicts the Belmont winner will sit a perfect trip, and flags a double-digit longshot to upset the nine-horse field. The piece lists the top odds (Renegade 2-1, Chief Wallabee 3-1, Golden Tempo 9-2, Commandment 6-1, Emerging Market 6-1) ahead of post time at 7:04 p.m. ET and promotes viewing his full bets on SportsLine.
Belmont Stakes fair odds are shifting as a new entrant labeled 'Emerging' threatens the Derby exacta, prompting bookmakers to adjust the wagering lines. The piece also notes Met Mile analysis as part of the broader betting coverage surrounding the event.
This Belmont Stakes 2026 preview highlights the latest odds and analysis, with Golden Tempo identified as the top win bet alongside insights on other contenders and factors to watch for race day.