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Belmont Stakes Officially Shifts To Saratoga In 2024, Run At 1 1/4 Miles

New York Governor Kathy Hochul made it official that the 2024 GI Belmont S. will be held for the first time at Saratoga Race Course and be run at 1 1/4 miles to allow for the uninterrupted construction of a new and re-imagined Belmont Park, the governor said in a release Wednesday.

“As part of the exciting modernization of Belmont Park, Saratoga now adds to its storied history by hosting the third leg of the Triple Crown,” Governor Hochul said. “It's a win for horse racing and for the Capital Region to have the excitement and the ability to host the four-day Festival in June at America's most historic track. As I said during the 2023 Saratoga Meet, 'Let's do it.'”

Highlighted by the 156th edition of the Belmont S. on Saturday, June 8, the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will begin on Thursday, June 6 and continue through Sunday, June 9. The four-day Festival at Saratoga Race Course will include 23 stakes races in total with purses totaling $9.7 million, the highest purse levels and number of stakes offered since the launch of the multi-day event in 2014.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) will increase the purse of the Belmont S. from $1.5 million to $2 million in 2024, which is the first significant increase since 2014. In addition, pending the approval of the North American Graded Stakes Committee, the race will be contested at 1 1/4 miles in 2024 rather than the traditional 1 1/2 miles due to the configuration of Saratoga's main track.

“Thanks to Governor Hochul's support for a new and modernized Belmont Park, NYRA will soon be able to bring the Belmont S. to Upstate New York for the first time in history. Beyond the excitement and energy around a Triple Crown event at the sport's most beloved venue, the Belmont S. at Saratoga Race Course will generate important economic impact and drive tourism throughout the Capital Region,” said NYRA's President and CEO David O'Rourke. “We are thrilled to add a new chapter to the story of Thoroughbred racing in Saratoga Springs this June.”

Earlier this year, Governor Hochul's Executive Budget included a proposal for NYRA to build new Thoroughbred racing facilities at Belmont Park; the FY2024 Enacted Budget granted that approval. This project will transform the 117-year-old track, bringing the modern hospitality offerings fans expect while generating $1 billion in construction-related impacts, 3,700 construction jobs, $155 million in annual economic activity, and 740 new full-time jobs. Upgrading Belmont, which sustains 19,000 jobs across the state and a $3-billion annual economic impact, will also dramatically expand the amount of open space available to fans and the surrounding community.

Following the conclusion of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga, the NYRA circuit will return to Aqueduct Racetrack for the remainder of the spring meet before racing shifts to Saratoga for the annual 40-day summer meet beginning Thursday, July 11. Prior to the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the Belmont Spring/Summer meet will be conducted at Aqueduct. The fall meet customarily held at Belmont Park will again be shifted to Aqueduct Racetrack in 2024 while construction of a new Belmont Park continues.

While 2024 will mark the first time the Belmont S. unfolds at Saratoga, the race was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack from 1963-1967 when Belmont Park last underwent significant renovations, and the distance has been adjusted throughout history, with the most recent change coming in 2020 when the Triple Crown was modified because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional information and details on hospitality offerings, ticket packages and pricing for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course will be available in early 2024.

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A Classic Season for Castellano

ARCADIA, CA – As Javier Castellano gets ready to ride three mounts on Breeders' Cup Saturday, the recently turned 46-year-old is amidst one of the best years of his career. And it almost never happened.

A pair of Breeders' Cup wins at the 2019 Championships put an exclamation point on the Hall of Famer's eighth straight season with more than $20 million in earnings. But, the year 2020, like it was for so many, was more about overcoming adversity for the native of Venezuela.

Castellano was the first jockey to test positive for COVID-19–he wasn't symptomatic, thankfully–during the beginning of the pandemic in March and was on the sidelines again after undergoing hip surgery at the end of the year.

“It was tough, not just for myself, but for everybody in the world in 2020,” Castellano said. “I only missed three months. And it seemed like it was forever.”

Castellano returned to action in 2021, but wasn't exactly welcomed back with open arms. Competing in pound for pound the deepest jockey colony in the nation in New York, Castellano rode 105 winners that season, good for $9,804,024 in earnings. After going just 13-for-142 at the prestigious Saratoga meeting, Castellano's career was suddenly at a crossroads.

Javier Castellano entered the Hall of Fame in 2017 | Horsephotos

“I was devastated. I was ready to give up,” said Castellano, a winner of four straight Eclipse Awards as Outstanding Jockey between 2013-16. “I just came back from everything and people didn't give me an opportunity. One moment I thought, 'I think this is it. I can't keep doing what I'm doing.' I was really really depressed.”

He continued, “They didn't care about who you are or what you did in the past. It's amazing. I was a Hall of Fame rider, a four-time leading jockey in the nation in back-to-back years, had six Travers then, 12 Breeders' Cups and won more than 5,000 races. And it didn't mean anything. You have to prove yourself and that you belong.”

Castellano picked himself up off the mat and hired longtime former racing official P.J. Campo to handle his book. He began to right the ship with 163 victories in 2022. By comparison, Castellano rode a total of 212 winners combined the previous two years.

How did he power his way through?

“Mentally, I had to be strong,” said Castellano, a married father of three. “A lot of discipline and dedication. Do the homework every single day. Regroup and try to be very positive.”

The momentum began to build for Castellano after he won three races on Saratoga's opening day card that summer.

“In 2022, we started rolling a little bit in Saratoga,” Castellano said. “I also went out of town for the right people and won some races. I knock a little bit and the door began to open a little here and there.”

Castellano is no longer the one doing the knocking this year.

He put to bed an 0-for-15 mark on the first Saturday in May with a 15-1 upset aboard Mage (Good Magic) in the GI Kentucky Derby, and, just five weeks later, secured his first GI Belmont S. victory with Arcangelo (Arrogate). Castellano became the first jockey to win two Triple Crown races on two different horses in the same year since Calvin Borel did so in 2009. He's won 16 graded races so far this year, including seven at the top level.

“Thank God, I've been very blessed and very fortunate to have one of the best years of my career,” Castellano said. “It was a great achievement to win the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, two Triple Crown races in the same year. I was always missing something on my resume.”

With Castellano's two Classic winners on a collision course this summer, he stuck with the recently retired Arcangelo, who followed up with a convincing win in the GI Travers S., the rider's record seventh victory in the 'Mid-Summer Derby.' The gray, unfortunately, was scratched from the Breeders' Cup Classic–a race Castellano won aboard the sensational Ghostzapper in 2004–earlier this week after developing a foot issue.

Javier Castellano celebrates aboard Ghostzapper following the 2004 Classic | Horsephotos

“He gave me an opportunity to regroup in my career, and, in my life, and enjoy these beautiful moments with my family,” Castellano said.

As for Arcangelo missing the Classic and now off to begin his career at stud at Lane's End, he said, “This is hard, but one decision I fully support. Arcangelo is safe and sound and that's all I can really think about. He has given me so much and I'm so blessed to have been part of the team.”

Castellano's mounts on Saturday's Championship program at Santa Anita include: GI Beverly D. S. winner and E.P. Taylor S. winner Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf; GII American Turf S. winner and narrow GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. runner-up Webslinger (Constitution) in the GII Twilight Derby; and Time for Trouble (English Channel) in the 1 5/8-mile GII Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance S.

“It could be a good example for anybody,” Castellano concluded. “You never give up. When you want something in life, you have to work for it. When you work for it, you get it.”

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Arcangelo Scratched from Classic; Retired to Lane’s End

ARCADIA, CA — After missing the last three days of training with a foot issue, leading 3-year-old Arcangelo (Arrogate-Modeling, by Tapit) was withdrawn from Saturday's $6-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita and will be retired to begin his career at stud at Lane's End Farm in 2024.

A powerful winner of this year's GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S., the gray had a warm hind foot and had a shoe pulled on Saturday. He was listed as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line for the 1 1/4-mile centerpiece.

“We're just running out of time,” trainer Jena Antonucci said late Tuesday morning. “Horse first. Unfortunate to miss the opportunity, but to have a healthy horse is our priority, so we'll work through diagnostics the next couple of days and assess what is truly going on and make the right decisions for the horse.”

Arcangelo, an absolute steal for $35,000 as a KEESEP yearling by Jon Ebbert's Blue Rose Farm, retires with a record of 6-4-1-0 and earnings of $1,754,900. He also won this spring's GIII PeterPan S. One of five Grade I winners for the gone-too-soon Arrogate, Arcangelo is the most recent produce from the unraced Modeling, a $2.85-milllion purchase by breeder Don Alberto Corp. at the 2014 KEENOV sale. Arcangelo's third dam is the legendary broodmare Better Than Honour, who has produced Belmont winners Jazil and Rags to Riches.

“I made the owner's decision–I want to retire him,” Ebbert said. “You know how horse racing is. You don't want to keep pushing things.”

Antonucci became the first female trainer to saddle the winner of a Triple Crown race with Arcangelo's win in this spring's Belmont.

“We'll always be grateful to the horse,” Antonucci said. “He's a one of a kind, kind of guy, and a heart of a champion, obviously. Way overperforming to any expectations. We're eternally grateful for his honesty to us.”

Ebbert added, “We are absolutely so blessed. This ride has been amazing. It's been the most incredible year of my life. No worries, it just wasn't in the cards for us. That was it.”

Lane's End's Bill Farish added, “He was the exciting 3-year-old of the year. He certainly would have been a candidate for Horse of the Year had he won the Breeders' Cup Classic. To have him come to Lane's End is very exciting.”

“He's by Arrogate who has really emerged as a stallion that would have been very successful and we lost him too young.”

“We're thrilled to have him come to the farm. Obviously, we would have liked to have him come to us after running in the Breeders' Cup, but that's the way things go sometimes.”

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Arcangelo to Lane’s End on Retirement

Blue Rose Farm's Arcangelo (Arrogate–Modeling, by Tapit), a likely favorite for the upcoming GI Breeders' Cup Classic, will enter stud at Lane's End Farm at the conclusion of his racing career. The gray went to the head of the sophomore division with victories in the GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S. He also captured this year's GIII Peter Pan S.

“It has been a surreal experience to own a horse of this magnitude,” said owner Jon Ebbert. “The day I laid eyes on him at the yearling sale, I said to myself that this is the most beautiful horse I have ever seen. I'm so blessed the way everything unfolded and so appreciative of my team. To win the Belmont, the Travers and looking as the possible favorite in the Breeders' Cup is incredible. From the beginning of this journey, I tried to make every right decision for this horse, and now I have another important one to make. Upon his retirement, I've chosen Lane's End as the perfect fit for his stallion career.”

Trainer Jena Antonucci, who became the first woman to saddle the winner of a Triple Crown race when Arcangelo captured the Belmont, added, “Having the opportunity to steward Arcangelo thus far in his racing career has been the absolute blessing of a lifetime, for which I will be eternally grateful for. Watching him grow into his mental and physical greatness has been remarkable. We will be excited to see the talent of his progeny and watching Arcangelo pass along his innate ability, talent, and desire to be a champion.”

By champion Arrogate, the sire of five Grade I winners in his brief career at stud, Arcangelo was bred by Don Alberto Corporation. His dam Modeling, a $2.85-million Keeneland November broodmare purchase, is a half-sister to Streaming (Smart Strike), winner of the GI Hollywood Starlet S. She hails from the family of broodmare of the year and prolific producer Better Than Honour, the dam of back-to-back Belmont winners Rags to Riches and Jazil.

“Arcangelo's historic 3-year-old campaign fits a profile that we are very familiar with on our stallion roster,” said Lane's End's Bill Farish. “There's no doubt that Arrogate's brief career at stud has had a major impact on racing and the opportunity to stand a Classic-winning son of his with such a deep pedigree makes Arcangelo an exciting and unique prospect for Lane's End.”

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