In what will surely go down in racing annals as a “most unusual” year, the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, will now be the first leg of the famed series when run on Saturday, June 20. In addition, this year’s Belmont Stakes will be run at 1 1/8 miles and not at its usual distance of 1 ½ miles.
 
The Triple Crown will continue following the Belmont Stakes with the Kentucky Derby, September 5 and the Preakness Stakes October 3. It’s a juxtaposed Triple Crown due to the impact of the Coronavirus.
 
In addition to the $1,000,000 Belmont, five other stakes will be on the card, including the $300,000 Acorn, the Jaipur and Wood Stephens, each worth $250,000 and two stakes of $150,000 each, The Pennine Ridge and Wonder Again.
 
Early bird wagering on track will open at 8:00 am.  Belmont Park’s first race is 8:45 am (MST). The Belmont Stakes will go as the 10th of 12 races with a post time of 2:42 pm (MST).
 

Turf Paradise Race Course announced its plans for a 133-day live race meet to start October 30 and to run thru May 5, 2021.
 
Racing will be conducted primarily on a 5-day a week schedule, Saturday thru Wednesday. Live racing will also be conducted on the following Fridays: Opening Day, October 30; first day of Breeders’ Cup, November 6; the day after Thanksgiving, November 27 and Kentucky Oaks day, April 30.
 
Post time will be 12:40 pm.

SIMULCAST TRACKS FOR JUNE
 
ARAPAHOE PARK, ASSINIBOIA,BELMONT PARK, BELTERRA PARK, CANTERBURY, CHARLES TOWN, CHURCHILL DOWNS, DELAWARE PARK, DELTA DOWNS, EMERALD DOWNS, EVANGELINE DOWNS, FAIR MEADOWS, FAIRMOUNT PARK, FORT ERIE, GRANTS PASS, INDIANA GRAND, LONE STAR PARK, LOUISIANA DOWNS, LOS ALAMITOS, MOUNTAINEER, RUIDOSO DOWNS, THISTLEDOWN, WOODBINE, AUSTRALIA.
 
 
OTBs OPEN AS OF JUNE 5
 
AMERICAN LEGION, ANTELOPE LANES, APACHE GREYHOUND, ARENA SPORTS, ARMADILLO GRILL (BRENDA’S INFERN0), AZOOL GRILL, BEVVY, BLEACHERS, BOSTON’S, BROOKSIDE BAR, CASEY JONES, GALLAGHER'S BASELINE, GALLAGHERS’S 16TH STREET, HAROLD’S, JJ MADISON, K O’DONNELL’S, MAX’S SPORTS BAR, O’KELLY’S, PADRE MURPHY’S, QUALITY INN (LAKE HAVASU), ROMAN’S COUNTY LINE, ROMAN’S OASIS, R.T.O. SULLIVAN’S (Scottsdale & Mesa), SHOWCASE,
STINGERS, TAVERN GRILL, THE BURG, THE IVY, THE NEST, THIRD BASE.
 
IN TUCSON
FAMOUS SAM’S EAST, MIDTOWN TAVERN, OLD FATHER INN,
TUCSON GREYHOUND PARK,

Belmont Park’s opening day on June 3 will be simulcast Wednesday at Turf Paradise and at its 25 OTB sites in the Valley and in Tucson. Belmont’s first of ten races gets under way at 10:15 am (MST). On track will open at 9:30 am.
 
In addition to Belmont Park, simulcast wagering will also be available on Lone Star Park.
 
Because of Governor’s Ducey’s curfew of 8:00 pm currently in effect all OTBs will close at 7:00 pm.
 
In addition to the 25 OTBs already operating the following will come on line with their opening days and towns in parenthesis: Quality Inn & Suites (June 3, Lake Havasu); Third Base (June 4, Chandler); Apache Junction Greyhound Park (June 5, Apache Junction); Max’s Sports Bar (June 5, Glendale); Roman’s Oasis (June 5, Goodyear).