Belmont Park Resumes Live Racing After Air Quality Improves Ahead of Belmont Stakes

The sun is obscured by haze caused by northern wildfires as horses are bathed ahead of the Belmont Stakes horse race in Elmont, N.Y., on June 8, 2023. John Minchillo/AP Photo

NEW YORK—Live racing resumed at Belmont Park on Friday following significant improvement in air quality conditions in New York state.

Both Belmont and Saratoga reopened for training Friday morning, and the 11-card race started at 12:50 p.m. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) said in a statement that it will actively monitor air quality conditions and forecasts to ensure the environment remains safe for racing participants and fans ahead of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.