Saturday’s Belmont Stakes prize money reaches $125 million

It was a historic day Saturday for Saratoga Raceway and the Capital Region as the Belmont Stakes was run in Saratoga Springs for the first time.

New York Racing Association officials have now announced how much money was wagered on the event.

Saturday’s haul totaled more than $125 million, marking a NYRA record in a year without a Triple Crown winner. The old record was around $118 million. Nearly $61 million was wagered on the Belmont Stakes alone.

A crowd of 50,000 was present to witness Dornoch’s distant victory.

The races continued on Sunday. Ten races were on the schedule for a special showcase in New York featuring horses bred in the state.

The Velmont will return to Saratoga next year and opening day for the 2024 Saratoga regular season is set for July 11.