The upcoming holiday weekend in horse racing is highlighted by the official opening of Saratoga Race Course's elite summer meet, which this year includes the July 4th Racing Festival usually held at Belmont Park (which will return to the new Belmont in 2027). The stakes-rich three-day weekend at the Spa kicks off Friday, July 3, and is highlighted by the Belmont Derby (G1T) and Belmont Oaks (G1T), both on our nation's 250th birthday, Saturday, July 4.
NYRA's "Saratoga Live" begins another highly anticipated summer season of live racing broadcasts Friday on-site at the historic upstate New York track. "Saratoga Live" airs on FOX Sports all three days of the Racing Festival, ending Sunday, July 5—check the schedule below for channels and times. (Bonus coverage on FOX Sports Saturday evening covers harness racing from The Meadowlands.)
FanDuel TV ended June by winding down much of its programming featuring on-air hosts and analysts, but the network will continue to show live racing at a variety of tracks around the world through the rest of 2026. To start July, FanDuel TV will broadcast racing from tracks in North America including Ellis Park (which opens its summer meet Saturday), Gulfstream Park, Colonial Downs, Los Alamitos Race Course, and Woodbine.
Los Alamitos announced July 2 that the $200,000 Great Lady M Stakes (G2) and three other races on the 4th of July program will be featured on the "America's Day at the Races" telecast emanating from Saratoga on Saturday. The program will be available on Fox Sports 1.
The track's simulcast racing broadcast will be available on other ADW platforms, including Fanduel TV and Calracing.com, plus at satellite wagering locations nationwide.
Horse racing from tracks around the world is available to subscribers on Racetrack Television Network (RTN), which can be livestreamed on all devices (computer, tablet and smartphone) and on TV via DISH Network, Amazon Fire and Roku.
Here's a rundown of horse racing coverage for the July 4th holiday weekend:
Stakes Race Schedule
|
Stakes |
Date |
Post Time |
Channel(s) |
|
Sanford Stakes |
July 4 |
2:54 p.m. |
|
|
Belmont Oaks |
July 4 |
4:06 p.m. |
|
|
Suburban Stakes Presented by Subourbon Life |
July 4 |
4:42 p.m. |
|
|
Belmont Derby |
July 4 |
5:20 p.m. |
|
|
Great Lady M Stakes |
July 4 |
7:30 p.m. |
|
|
Kelso Stakes |
July 5 |
4:04 p.m. |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
TV/Livestream Schedule
|
Date |
Program |
Time |
Network/Social Media |
|
July 2 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
July 2 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
July 3 |
"Saratoga Live" |
1 p.m.-2 p.m. and 3 p.m.-6 p.m. on FS2, 6 p.m.-7 p.m. on FS1 |
|
|
July 3 |
"Daily Racing Form Weekend Preview" |
2:30 p.m. |
|
|
July 3 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
July 3 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
July 4 |
"Saratoga Live" |
12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. on FS2; 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on FS1 |
|
|
July 4 |
Live coverage of horse racing including opening day at Ellis Park |
post time varies |
|
|
July 4 |
Broadcast of harness racing from The Meadowlands |
7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. |
|
|
July 4 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
July 5 |
"Saratoga Live" |
1 p.m.-6 p.m. |
|
|
July 5 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
July 5 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
Radio Schedule
| Date | Program | Time | Network |
| July 2 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| July 2 | 1/ST BET Racing Show | 4 p.m. | HRRN |
| July 2 | Brisnet Call-In Show | 6 p.m. | HRRN |
| July 3 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| July 3 | Betting with Bobby | 4 p.m. | HRRN |
| July 3 | Trainer Talk Presented by Fasig-Tipton | 5 p.m. | HRRN |
| July 3 | AmWager Weekend Stakes Preview | 6 p.m. | HRRN |
| July 3 | Kentucky Racing Spotlight | 6 p.m. | ESPN 680/105.7 |
| July 4 | Equine Forum Presented by TwinSpires | 8 a.m. | HRRN |
| July 4 | Off to the Races Radio | 10 a.m. | ESPN Richmond |
| July 4 | Down the Stretch | 10 a.m. | Siriux XM |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
