Heavy rains force weekend cancellation at Belmont Park; 6 stakes rescheduled for Thursday

Live racing scheduled for Saturday and Sunday has been canceled in anticipation of severe weather and heavy rain; October 1 will feature an eight-race program headlined by the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes, anchoring a card offering US$ 1.9 million in graded stakes purses

ELMONT, New York (Special for Turf Diario).— Weather forced a complete shift in plans at Belmont Park. Facing forecasts of a severe storm packing extreme winds and heavy rainfall across Long Island, live racing cards scheduled for Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, were canceled. The decision triggered a high-impact reschedule, concentrating all weekend stakes on Thursday, October 1, for an extraordinary afternoon of racing.

The rescheduled eight-race card will kick off at 2:10 p.m. Eastern Time, featuring six graded stakes boasting a combined purse structure of US$ 1.9 million. The marquee event will be the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1), contested over 2,400 meters on the turf for US$ 500,000, flanked by key preparatory stakes along the trail to the Breeders’ Cup.

The severe weather pattern stems from a nor'easter, the violent coastal storms typical of the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. Faced with those conditions, Belmont remains dark through the weekend, though the revised schedule allows the track to recover its black-type commitments just a few days later.

The shift also necessitated reopenings of entries, resulting in several adjustments to fields and jockey assignments. In the Joe Hirsch, carded as the seventh race, the original seven-horse field remained intact, led by key attraction El Cordobes. The son of Frankel, racing for Godolphin under the care of trainer Charlie Appleby, will be ridden by Flavien Prat, who guided him to victory in last season's Sword Dancer Stakes (G1).

The chestnut returns to action following a fifth-place effort in February's H. H. The Amir Trophy (G2) in Doha, Qatar. Third in both the Joe Hirsch and the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) in 2025, he brings world-class credentials into a field that also features Far Bridge (English Channel) and Program Trading (Lope de Vega), among others.

The finale will feature the Flower Bowl Stakes (G2), offering US$ 500,000 for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up over 2,000 meters on the grass. Beyond the prize money, the race serves as a automatic "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). The eleven-horse field features Sunlit Uplands (Sands of Mali), recent runner-up in the Ballston Spa Stakes (G2), alongside proven performers such as Gezora (Almanzor), Fionn(Twirling Candy), and Kathynmarissa (American Pharoah).

Another direct ticket to the World Championships will be up for grabs in the Vosburgh Stakes (G3), slotted as race six with a US$ 250,000 purse over 1,400 meters. A "Win and You're In" berth for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), it retained nine of its original ten entries after Ignite the Light (Into Mischief) was not re-entered. Contenders include Buttah (Leofric), with Javier Castellano aboard, Crazy Mason (Coal Front), Senior Officer (Into Mischief), and El Grande O (Take Charge Indy).

The stakes action opens in race three with the Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2), run over 1,300 meters for US$ 250,000. All six original runners held their ground, headlined by Beauty Reigns (Into Mischief), third in the Ballerina Stakes (G1), who faces off against R Disaster (Awesome Slew) and Senza Parole (Gun Runner).

Following that is the Winter Memories Stakes (G3), a US$ 200,000 contest for 3-year-old fillies over a mile on the turf. Victory Hall (Independence Hall) was withdrawn, while Hand Over Heart (Constitution) was supplemented into an eleven-horse field that includes Queen of Hawaii (Kingman).

The Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes (G3), also offering US$ 200,000, rounds out the graded action over 1,200 meters on the grass.

Belmont must wait out the storm. The sporting reward arrives Thursday, when much of the weekend's promise coalesces into a single afternoon.