June 8, 2026 by Olivia Howe (‘26)
Our historic Saratoga Springs Race Course has just wrapped up the final day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, one of the most influential and prestigious horse racing gatherings in the industry. 2026 marked the last year that the Belmont would be held in Saratoga before returning to a newly renovated Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
This year, Golden Tempo, a three-year-old Thoroughbred racehorse, won the 158th Belmont Stakes race with a 6-1 victory. The dramatic success marked the second win for the colt within the Triple Crown qualifying races after winning the 2026 Kentucky Derby, where he ran an almost identical race. Ridden by José Ortiz and trained by Cherie DeVaux, Golden Tempo secured a 1.5-million-dollar purse with a time of 2:03:49 over a 1 ¼ distance on our dirt track. Starting out in last place within the first few seconds of the race, Golden Tempo managed to rally to first place, closing strong on the outside turn to win with a 1 ¼ length lead over Commandment. Renegade finished in third place, and Chief Wallabee won fourth. Trainer Cherie DeVaux has become the first female trainer to not only win one but two Triple Crown races in her career, which is an important milestone in racing history.
Although Golden Tempo won both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont this year, he is not eligible to be a Triple Crown winner, as he skipped the Preakness Stakes race due to concern regarding the horse’s recovery. This decision by DeVaux and the team supporting Golden Tempo parallels a rising trend of prioritizing the short (and long)-term wellbeing of racehorses over racing tradition.
Golden Tempo is an American racehorse bred through Phipps Stable. Born out of Carrumba and sired by Curlin, he has gained popularity for his stunning pedigree and success on the racetrack. Descended by famous racehorses like Seattle Slew, Smart Strike, and Secretariat, he boasts similar victories across racetracks such as Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds, and now our beloved Saratoga Springs Race Course!