The Belmont Stakes runs tonight at Saratoga Race Course, with post time set for 7:04 p.m. ET. Post time is 7:04 p.m. ET on FOX.

For horse racing fans, this is more than the final leg of the Triple Crown. It is the final Belmont Stakes at Saratoga before the race returns to its rebuilt home at Belmont Park in 2027. Saratoga has hosted this historic temporary chapter while Belmont Park has been under reconstruction, and tonight closes that run at one of America’s most beloved racing venues.

For BourbonBlog.com, that makes this a race worth watching with the right glass in hand.

For starters, our own Bourbon expert Tom Fischer was recently in Saratoga Springs at Cooperstown Distillery Beverage Exchange at Saratoga with Andrew Gilchrist, co-owner of Cooperstown Distillery. (See photo below).

It was a perfect place to toast the sports and bourbon connection. Thus, we recommend a toast for Belmont with Cooperstown whiskeys including Beanball Bourbon, Doubleday Bourbon, Doubleday American Whiskey, Hall of Champions American Single Malt, Cooperstown Select Bourbon, and other New York-made spirits available at the tasting room.

The Official Cocktail of The Belmont Stakes 2026

The official cocktail is the Belmont Jewel, and this year the drink is built around Redemption Bourbon. NYRA’s official recipe calls for Redemption Bourbon Whiskey, lemonade, pomegranate juice, and a lemon twist. At the track, the Belmont Jewel is being presented with special collectible cup imagery, giving the drink a proper race-day look for this final Saratoga edition.

Belmont Jewel Recipe

• 1.25 to 1.5 oz Redemption Bourbon Whiskey
• 2 oz lemonade
• 1 oz pomegranate juice
• Lemon twist for garnish

Shake or stir over ice, pour into a rocks glass or race-day cup, and garnish with a lemon twist.

It is bright, easy to make, and built for a long summer afternoon. Compared with the Kentucky Derby’s Mint Julep and the Preakness’ Black-Eyed Susan, the Belmont Jewel is a little lighter and fruitier, with bourbon still doing the work underneath.

Why This Belmont Feels Different

Saratoga was never supposed to be the permanent home of the Belmont Stakes, but it has given the race a special setting these last few years. The old trees, the grandstand, the paddock, the summer crowd, the history, and the slightly different 1 1/4-mile distance have all made this version of the Belmont feel like its own thing.

Tonight is the last pour of that chapter.

The 2026 Belmont logo even leans into the moment, with Saratoga’s Marylou Whitney Entrance featured in the design and three flags marking the third and final Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

The Horses to Watch

The headline matchup is easy: Renegade versus Golden Tempo.

Renegade is the favorite and comes into the Belmont after finishing second by a neck in the Kentucky Derby. He has Todd Pletcher and Irad Ortiz Jr. behind him, which makes him dangerous in any major race, especially at Saratoga.

Golden Tempo is the Kentucky Derby winner and carries the biggest story. Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by Jose Ortiz, he won the Derby with a late-running move and now gets another shot at proving he is the top 3-year-old in the country. He starts from the outside post, which adds another layer to the race.

Chief Wallabee is another major contender. He finished fourth in the Derby and has Bill Mott and Junior Alvarado, the same trainer-jockey team that won last year’s Belmont with Sovereignty. That is not a bad Saratoga calling card.

Commandment may be the most interesting value horse. He had trouble in the Derby, but before that he won the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby. John Velazquez gets the mount, and when Johnny V is riding at Saratoga, you pay attention.

Emerging Market is also worth watching. He is trained by Chad Brown, ridden by Flavien Prat, and already owns a win over Golden Tempo from the Louisiana Derby. If the pace sets up right, he could be right there late.

For casual fans, the race comes down to this: Renegade may be the most obvious winner, Golden Tempo has the Derby story, Commandment has the bounce-back angle, Chief Wallabee has consistency, and Emerging Market has the upset feel.