The 2024 Saratoga Belmont Stakes Was Even Better Than Advertised

Saratoga Racecourse did an excellent job hosting the 2024 Belmont Stakes.  It could not have gone any better for everyone involved.  There were so many people and the atmosphere was so electric and the greatest I have ever seen.  It is so great to see such a big event right here in our backyard at Saratoga Race Course.  It was quite the upset when 17-1 morning line odds Dornoch won the Belmont.  He is owned by former Major League Baseball player Jayson Werth who went ballistic as you could imagine after winning.  I felt for Mechanicville trainer Chad Brown and his horse Sierra Leone as he finished third.  It would've been a great local story.  Below is my quick take on this as seen in The Times Union:

The atmosphere on Saturday for the Belmont Stakes was nothing like I have ever experienced in the 38 years covering horse racing at Saratoga Racecourse and that's saying something. There have been so many big moments and sensational crowds at Spa but none like Saturday. NYRA capped the attendance at 50.000 but there more fans than that in the house I guarantee you that and no one is complaining. The whole four-day festival was a huge success and Saratoga was a great host from start to finish. Saratoga was rocking in June ahead of the summer meet in July. It gets no better.

Get our free mobile app

Now it is on to the 40 day racing season starting on Thursday July 11th at Saratoga Racecourse.  The Belmont in Saratoga was an incredible success and it will be back here in 2025.