Courtesy Discover Saratoga
By Paul Post
Return of the Belmont Stakes, a new July 4 Racing Festival and the traditional 40-day Saratoga meet are expected to generate an all-time high $450 million economic impact this summer.
Every day of racing has an estimated $9 million economic impact, said Greg Connors, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation president and CEO.
The Belmont Stakes and July 4 festivals add nine more days to the Spa Oval calendar.
“Do the math,” Connors said. “That’s $450 million just from world-class racing. From Albany to Lake George, hospitality and tourism industries reported an overwhelmingly positive impact resulting from NYRA’s 2024 Belmont Stakes and our Belmont on Broadway celebration.”
“From June 2023 to June 2024 revenue per available room increased 20 percent,” he said. “Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County enjoyed unprecedented national, and in some cases, international media attention and exposure. Television, traditional media and online communication encouraged visits and stays to not only our city and county, but the entire Capital Region.”
Discover Saratoga President Darryl Leggieri said, “Last year’s Belmont festival was a major success. It showcased the best of Saratoga, but it also created lasting memories for all who attended. I’m confident that this year’s will be even better.”
“There was a 10 percent bump in occupancy tax,” said Jeff Barrett, Clifton Park supervisor and county Board of Supervisors chairman. “We expect the same or perhaps more in 2025.”
The fun starts on Wednesday, June 4 with a Belmont on Broadway concert (7-10 p.m.) that kicks off the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival with performances by Gin Blossoms, an alternative rock band whose single, “Hey Jealousy,” went gold and became a Top 25 hit; and the Uprooted band featuring Michael Glabicki, original singer-guitarist with the former Rusted Root, which sold more than three million albums.
Broadway will be closed from Van Dam Street to City Hall, starting early in the morning to install the stage. Last year, a sea of people turned out and huge throngs are anticipated this year as well.
“It’s going to be a big party,” said David O’Rourke, NYRA president and chief executive officer. “This is the best place on the planet to hold an event. This community is built for this. It’s going to be one heckuva week.
There’s going to be a lot of people coming up. There’s something every single night. We’re going to be here for five days and coming back July 4 for another big weekend.”
The five-day Belmont festival will have 27 stakes races and purses totaling $11,275,000, the richest purses and highest number of stakes offered since the festival’s inception in 2014. The highlight is Saturday’s 157th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes, third leg of thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.
The Belmont is being held in Saratoga because of ongoing construction of a new and re-imagined Belmont Park, scheduled for completion next year.
The first-ever July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga from Thursday, July 3 to Sunday, July 6, will be a prelude to the regular 40-day meet that begins Thursday, July 10 and ends on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 1.
The Belmont festival will have numerous other off-track activities such as a downtown window decorating contest in which merchants dress up their storefronts.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, will unveil a new equine-themed mural facing Ludlow Street. Its Belmont Gala, at Canfield Casino, is scheduled for Thursday, June 5.
A Belmont Bites & Brews event in the museum parking lot will feature food trucks and a variety of beers to choose from on Friday, June 6.
The museum is offering free admission on Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8.
On Saturday, handicapping experts will help fans pick winning horses, artist Greg Montgomery will sign 2025 Belmont posters and free ice cream, coffee and donuts will be provided by Stewart’s Shops.
A children’s-oriented family fun festival will take place Sunday with a bounce house, magician, climbing wall, petting zoo and Upset the mini-horse in addition to cotton candy and ice cream treats.
“This Belmont festival is important for many reasons – economic, cultural, recreational,” Barrett said. “We certainly want to showcase Saratoga Springs and the entire county. We have another huge initiative coming up with 250th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga. That is something we want people to learn more about, too, as well as the incredible recreational opportunities throughout Saratoga County.”