When Is the 2015 Belmont Stakes?

The Belmont Stakes is almost here, and the highly touted American Pharoah will have an opportunity to accomplish something no race horse has done in 37 years and that is win the coveted Triple Crown. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978.

The 2015 Belmont Stakes is this Saturday, June 6th, from Belmont Park in New York and will be broadcast on NBC in prime time.

Horse Racing’s Triple Crown season is set up so that the Kentucky Derby is run on the first Saturday in May, the Preakness Stakes is two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes is three weeks after the Preakness Stakes — normally on the first Saturday in June. The entire season is set up by an eight-month Derby Prep Schedule leading to the three races, which span a total of just five weeks in comparison.

This year’s Belmont Stakes Day card features five other Grade 1 races worth almost $5 million combined.

In response to last year’s controversy when it came to accommodating the crowd that came close to 110,000 in total attendance, the track will dramatically reduce its capacity for this year’s race — NYRA (New York Racing Association) has made the decision to limit this year’s expected crowd to 90,000 instead; a decision that will benefit those in attendance by better accommodating food and drink needs and traffic reduction getting to and from Belmont Park.

For the 2nd consecutive year, a horse has won the first two races of the Triple Crown and is looking to make history at the Belmont Stakes. Last year it was California Chrome.

This year jockey Victor Espinoza tries again, but this time riding American Pharoah. This is the 3rd time Espinoza has ridden a horse to Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes wins with an opportunity to win the Triple Crown; the other (and first) time Espinoza tried was in 2002 when he rode War Emblem.

Post time for the race is scheduled for approximately 6:30 p.m. ET.

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