Belmont Park Live Horse Racing returns on Friday, September 6, 2019

Following the conclusion of the 2019 meet at Saratoga Race Course, live racing will return to Belmont Park on Friday for the 37-day fall meet offering 45 stakes worth $11.525 million in purse money and eight Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" qualifiers held over two weekends.

Opening Weekend is highlighted by a blockbuster day of racing on Saturday, September 7, including the inaugural edition of the $1 million Jockey Club Derby, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race offering a berth in the Longines Turf, which will complete the Turf Trinity.

The card will also include the first-ever $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks to conclude the Turf Tiara. Additionally, the stakes-laden card will feature the first running of the $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles on Big Sandy.

Opening Day on Friday is headlined by the 5th running of the $100,000 Christiecat where a field of nine sophomore fillies will assemble for the six-furlong turf sprint. The Christiecat is slated as Race 7 on Friday's Opening Day card. First post is 3 p.m.

NYRA reminds fans of a series of adjustments to the Belmont Park fall meet in light of the construction of a new arena at Belmont Park for the New York Islanders.

As previously announced, the first 23 days of the 37-day fall meet will be held at Belmont Park before the action shifts to Aqueduct Racetrack for Belmont at the Big A beginning on October 11 and continuing through October 27. The traditional Aqueduct fall meet then picks up on Friday, November 1 and continues through Sunday, December 1.

Beginning on September 6 at Belmont Park, weekday live racing will feature a first post time of 3 p.m. to ensure the continuity of racing operations during arena construction. On weekdays, the Belmont Café will open for simulcasting at 12 p.m. with all entry gates open to the public at 2 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays at Belmont Park will feature a first post of 1 p.m.