The Ghost of Big Sandy: Why You Can’t Find Racing Results Belmont Park Right Now
If you’ve been scouring the internet for recent racing results Belmont Park, you’ve probably run into a bit of a brick wall. It’s frustrating. You want to see who hit the wire first at the legendary Elmont oval, but all you're getting are results from Aqueduct or Saratoga.
Here’s the deal. There hasn't been a horse hoof on the Belmont dirt for a while.
Right now, Belmont Park is basically a massive, $455 million construction zone. They tore down the old, cavernous grandstand—the one where Secretariat basically broke the laws of physics in '73—and they're replacing it with something sleeker and way more modern. Because of that, the "Belmont" meets have been nomadic.
If you're looking for the winners of the big races that should have been at Belmont, you have to look at the "Belmont at the Big A" results from Aqueduct or the summer festival results from Saratoga.
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Where the Winners Are Hiding: 2025 and 2026 Shifted Results
Since the heavy machinery moved in, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) had to get creative. The 2025 Belmont Stakes didn't happen in Elmont. It happened in Saratoga Springs.
Honestly, it was a weird vibe for traditionalists, but the racing was top-tier. Sovereignty, a beast of a colt trained by Bill Mott, took the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes on June 7, 2025. He edged out Journalism—the Preakness winner—in a finish that looked like a carbon copy of the Kentucky Derby.
That's where your racing results Belmont Park are actually living for the last year.
- 2025 Belmont Stakes Winner: Sovereignty (Jockey: Junior Alvarado)
- Time: 2:00.69 (Note: This was at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga, not the usual 1 1/2 miles at Belmont).
- Runner up: Journalism
- Third Place: Baeza
If you're looking for the most current results today, in January 2026, you're looking at the Aqueduct winter meet. Horses like Mad Banker and Smilensaycheese have been cleaning up at the "Big A," but these aren't "Belmont" results in the legal sense—they're the placeholder for a circuit in transition.
The 2026 Timeline: When the Real Results Return
We’re getting close. The final steel beam went up in October 2025. Governor Kathy Hochul and NYRA President Dave O’Rourke have been pretty vocal about the schedule.
Basically, the "Belmont at the Big A" era is ending this summer. Aqueduct is scheduled to host its final races on June 28, 2026. After that, the focus shifts entirely.
The new Belmont Park is slated for a "soft opening" on Friday, September 18, 2026.
That is the day you will finally see legitimate racing results Belmont Park appearing on the charts again. The new building is much smaller—about a third of the size of the old one—but it’s built for the 21st century. Think luxury suites (31 of them, actually), better sightlines, and a brand-new one-mile synthetic track to complement the traditional dirt and turf.
What to expect from the new circuit
- Year-round racing: The synthetic track means Belmont can handle the brutal New York winters better than the old "Big Sandy" dirt could.
- The Return of the Breeders' Cup: Because of the upgrades, the Breeders' Cup is already booked for Belmont in 2027.
- A New Distance Reality: While the main track remains 1 1/2 miles, the way races are carded might feel different with the new surfaces.
How to Read the Current "Belmont at the Big A" Charts
Until the September reopening, you’re stuck reading Aqueduct charts for your Belmont fix. It can be confusing if you’re trying to track trainer patterns or horse for course stats.
When you see a result listed as "Belmont at the Big A," remember that the track configuration is totally different. Aqueduct is a 1 1/8-mile oval. The real Belmont is the "Test of the Champion," a massive 1 1/2-mile circumference.
A horse that wins a 1 1/16-mile race at the Big A might struggle when they finally get back to the sweeping turns of Elmont later this year. Handicappers are already speculating on which "Aqueduct specialists" will fail the transition when the new Belmont opens in the fall.
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Actionable Steps for Tracking Results
If you want to stay ahead of the curve before the grand reopening, here is what you need to do:
- Check the NYRA "Belmont at the Big A" Portal: Don't just search for "Belmont results." Specifically look for the Aqueduct spring/summer meet results through June 2026.
- Watch the 2026 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga: For the final time, the third leg of the Triple Crown will be in Saratoga on June 6, 2026. The results will be officially listed under the Belmont Stakes festival banner.
- Mark September 18 on your calendar: This is the literal "Day 1" of the new era. Results from this day forward will be the benchmark for the next 50 years of New York racing.
- Monitor the Synthetic Surface Stats: Once the new one-mile synthetic track opens for training and racing, pay close attention to which trainers (like Todd Pletcher or Linda Rice) adapt their winning percentages to the new footing. It will change the game.
The drought of real racing results Belmont Park is almost over. We’ve had a few years of nomadic racing, but the return to Elmont is going to reset the entire New York circuit. Keep your eyes on the Saratoga results this June—it’s the last time the "Belmont" winner will be crowned in the North Country before the king returns to its proper home.