The 2020 Belmont Stakes will be run on Saturday, June 20th as the 1st Triple Crown Race. Its distance was shortened from 1-1/2 miles to 1-1/8 miles. No spectators, including owners, are allowed to be at Belmont Park. The television coverage will be one of the first and only sports events broadcast live that day. Off-track spectatorship and gambling should be heavy. The 1-1/4 mile Kentucky Derby, which is usually the first race run on the first Saturday in May, was postponed until September 5th. The 1-3/16 mile Preakness Stakes, usually the middle jewel, will run on Saturday, October 3rd. The CV-19 Pandemic significantly changed this year’s racing schedule. Great interviews were given by Trainers Todd Pletcher, Billy Mott, Linda Rice; HOF Jockey & Agent Angel Cordero; NYRA Racing Secretary Martin Panza; Distinguished Racing Historian and retired Executive Leonard Hale; and expert Daily Racing Form analyst and handicapper David Grening.
