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NYRA has released the first condition book for Belmont Park’s winter meet, covering Dec. 10–31, 2026, with more than $26 million in overnight purse money on offer for the meet. Racing will take place exclusively on the newly installed Tapeta surface.
According to NYRA, the winter meet is slated to continue into March. The opening condition book includes the first legs of the Empire Trillium Series, a stakes program for horses foaled in New York or Canada.
Belmont winter purses increase
NYRA says overnight purses for the winter meet have increased by 23%, while the average overnight purse will rise by nearly 10% per race.
Those purse figures accompany a winter schedule conducted entirely on Tapeta. The first condition book provides the opening portion of that schedule, including a Dec. 26 program featuring stakes and maiden races for New York- and Canada-bred horses.
Four $200,000 stakes anchor Dec. 26
The Empire Trillium Series comprises 14 stakes races at Belmont Park and Woodbine Racetrack, with total purses of $3.2 million. Its opening legs include four $200,000 races for 2-year-olds on Dec. 26:
- Tiz the Law: Six furlongs for juveniles.
- Gander: 1 1/16 miles for juveniles.
- Bar of Gold: Six furlongs for juvenile fillies.
- Saratoga Dew: 1 1/16 miles for juvenile fillies.
The same day’s undercard will include four named maiden events, each carrying an $85,000 purse. These races are also restricted to horses foaled in New York or Canada, with preference given to Empire Trillium Series nominees.
The Channel Maker and Fanfreluche maiden races will be run at six furlongs. The Overskate and Hard Not to Like maiden races will cover 1 1/16 miles.
Winter meet dates and stall deadline
Stall applications for the Belmont Park winter meet are due Nov. 13.
NYRA will announce the meet’s definitive end date before the 2027 Wood Memorial, in conjunction with its 2027 race dates.
More from playny.com – Belmont Park to run winter meet entirely on Tapeta, with Gotham and Suburban moved to synthetic – Belmont Park reopens Friday after $450 million rebuild – Phileas Fogg pointed to G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park
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Source: As reported by nyra.com.
