If you’re planning to catch the horse racing Triple Crown this year, don't just put "Baltimore" and "Elmont" into your GPS and assume you’re good to go. Honestly, 2026 is one of the weirdest years in the history of the sport. For the first time ever, two of the three legs aren't even happening at their "permanent" homes.
The Triple Crown is basically the Holy Grail of horse racing. Three races. Five weeks. One massive test of endurance. But while the Kentucky Derby is staying put under the twin spires in Louisville, the rest of the schedule looks like a game of musical chairs.
The First Jewel: Churchill Downs (Louisville, KY)
The Kentucky Derby is the only race in the series that has never moved. Since 1875, it's been at Churchill Downs in Louisville. This is the "Run for the Roses." It’s happening on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
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The atmosphere there is pretty much incomparable. You’ve got 150,000 people wearing hats the size of satellite dishes and drinking mint juleps that cost more than a decent steak. It's the most stable part of the Triple Crown, a 1 1/4-mile dirt sprint that usually lasts about two minutes. If you’re going, just know that traffic around Central Avenue is basically a nightmare starting at 8:00 AM.
The Second Jewel: Laurel Park (Laurel, MD)
Here is where things get trippy. Usually, the Preakness Stakes is held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. But right now, Pimlico is essentially a massive construction site. They’re completely rebuilding the historic track to bring it into the 21st century.
So, for the 151st Preakness Stakes on May 16, 2026, the party is moving to Laurel Park.
Laurel is about 20 miles south of Baltimore. It’s a totally different vibe. Because the track is smaller and the layout is different, they aren't even doing the famous "InfieldFest" tickets this year. It's a tighter squeeze. The race itself stays at 1 3/16 miles, but seeing the "Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" at Laurel is a once-in-a-lifetime (hopefully) pivot while Pimlico gets its facelift.
The Third Jewel: Saratoga Race Course (Saratoga Springs, NY)
The "Test of the Champion" is usually at Belmont Park on Long Island. But just like in Maryland, New York is in the middle of a massive $455 million renovation of Belmont Park. They literally tore the old grandstand down.
Because of that, the Belmont Stakes on June 6, 2026, is being held at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York.
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This is actually the third year in a row Saratoga has filled in. Most fans kinda love it because Saratoga is arguably the most beautiful track in the world. However, there is a huge catch. Saratoga’s main track isn't big enough to run the traditional 1 1/2-mile distance safely. So, the 2026 Belmont Stakes will be shortened to 1 1/4 miles.
Purists hate it. They say it’s not a true "Test of the Champion" if it’s the same distance as the Derby. But honestly? The energy in downtown Saratoga during Belmont weekend is electric, and the shorter distance actually makes for a more competitive, faster race.
Why the locations matter for your bets
If you're a bettor, these venue changes are a huge deal. You can't just look at historical data for Pimlico or Belmont and apply it here.
- Laurel Park’s Surface: It plays differently than Pimlico. Some horses that hate the "old" Maryland dirt might thrive on Laurel’s more modern drainage and composition.
- The Saratoga "Graveyard": Saratoga is famously known as the "Graveyard of Champions" because so many favorites lose there. The tighter turns can trip up a horse that is used to the massive, sweeping turns of the regular Belmont Park.
- Distance Fatigue: Since the Belmont is shorter this year (1 1/4 miles instead of 1 1/2), horses with high-end speed have a much better chance than the "plodders" who usually win by out-staying everyone in the final quarter-mile.
Real Talk: Is it worth going this year?
If you want to see history, 2026 is the year to do it. By 2027, the Preakness should be back at a brand-new Pimlico, and the Belmont will return to the "New Belmont Park." This is the last call for the "temporary" Triple Crown.
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You've got the classic Kentucky experience, a "boutique" Preakness at Laurel, and a summer-vibe Belmont in the Adirondacks. It’s a weird, disjointed, and totally unique version of the series.
Your Triple Crown Checklist
- Book Saratoga NOW: Hotel rooms in Saratoga Springs for the first weekend of June are already disappearing. If you wait until May, you’ll be staying an hour away in Albany.
- Check the Laurel Dress Code: Unlike the Churchill Downs infield where anything goes, Laurel Park’s temporary setup for the Preakness is expected to be a bit more formal in the clubhouse sections.
- Watch the Belmont Distance: Remember, if a horse wins the first two legs, they only have to go 1 1/4 miles to clinch the Triple Crown this year. That makes the sweep much more likely than when they have to face the 1 1/2-mile "Monster" at Elmont.
If you're looking to attend, start by securing your Kentucky Derby tickets through the official Churchill Downs portal, as those are the only ones guaranteed to be at the same place they were last year.