In a departure from tradition, the third leg of the horse racing Triple Crown will see a tonality shift in the venue slated to ensue next year, in 2024. The Belmont Stakes, which usually take place at the iconic racecourse in Belmont Park, will move upstate in New York to the Saratoga Race Course.

This shift in venue is due to the ongoing construction of the $455 million project to transform Belmont Park. While this change appears to be part of a more extended time frame, in the latest news, the NYRA president has issued a vociferous statement regarding the same.

NYRA president makes an audacious statement

According to News 12 Long Island, the 2024 Belmont Stakes are scheduled to take place on June 8, 2024. After the North American Graded Stakes Committee gives a green flag, the course of the race will also be reduced from the race’s traditional 1 1/2 miles due to the shape of Saratoga’s dirt track. The race also might not be a one-off occurrence, as it could extend into 2025, aligning with the completion of the new and improved Belmont Park.

The venue change was long anticipated and even drew commentary from the president and CEO of NYRA, David O’Rourke, who said the alignment of many situations allowed the Belmont Stakes to shift to Saratoga. He also remarked, “It’s the most historic venue in the country. It’s one of the coolest sporting venues on the planet, and it’s one of the greatest tourist towns in the nation. Everyone’s excited.” But do the rest of the horse racing community and locals at Belmont feel the same, given that the change is most likely to affect their businesses?

How do the horse racing community and locals feel about the change?

Every year, thousands of horse racing enthusiasts line up in Belmont to witness the historic races. This year, however, the local businesses could see a major drop due to the race shifting to Saratoga. One local, Buddy Moore, shared, “It’s a great time. I hate to see them go to Saratoga, but we do understand that they have to rebuild Belmont, and it’s a work in progress.”

Javier Castellano, the Venezuelan jockey who won the stakes last year, also spoke about the major shift, saying that it was a huge project for the community and the future of racing. He also added, “We sacrifice a little bit in the short term, but in the long term, it’s going to pay off.”

Read more: “It’s a Win for Horse Racing”: NY Governor Applauds as Final Leg of American Triple Crown Shifts to Premier Racecourse

With the race set to return to the new Belmont Park in 2026, fans wait with bated breath for the new change with heightened anticipation and tempered expectations simultaneously.

Watch this story: Best Dressage Horse Whose Movements Could Even Compete With Ballerina’s Elegant Moves