Belmont reduces stakes purses for 25-day spring/summer meet

Belmont Park will re-open for an abbreviated 25-day spring/summer meet on June 3, the New York Racing Association announced on Tuesday. The entire race meet will be held without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NYRA also revealed Tuesday that the $1 million Belmont Stakes (G1) would kick off the 2020 Triple Crown series on June 20, but at the reduced distance of 1 1/8 miles.

After a five-day opening week, Belmont will hold racing on a Thursday through Sunday basis through July 12. The daily post time will be 1:15 p.m. ET.

The Belmont meet will offer at least one stakes a day, though stakes purses for many races have be cut. The Belmont Derby (G1) and Belmont Oaks (G1) have been postponed until later in the year.

"Without the casino operating and without on-track attendance, we've had to make significant purse cuts," said Martin Panza, NYRA's Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. "The purse cuts to the stakes schedule are much more dramatic than the overnight schedule and we've tried to help the everyday horsemen as much as possible through these trying times by writing a rich and varied condition book, offering a daily opportunity for black type, that will support horsemen at all levels of the game."

The full stakes slate is listed below: