FOX Returns to Saratoga Race Course for 158th Running of Belmont Stakes

For the race's third year at the historic racetrack, the broadcaster has added cameras and will incorporate multiple drones

The 158th edition of the Belmont Stakes will run tomorrow at Saratoga Race Course for the final time before the third leg of the Triple Crown heads back to its traditional Belmont Park venue following renovations.

Live race-day coverage across FOX's platforms begins at 10:30 a.m. ET, with the Belmont Stakes race starting around 6:30 p.m.

We're excited for our final race up at the historic Saratoga Racetrack, says Brad Cheney, VP, field operations and engineering, FOX Sport. It has been an amazing three years hosting the Belmont Stakes in such a beautiful venue.

The onsite compound will house Game Creek Video Ovation, which made its debut on FOX's NFL coverage in 2025. The truck will house two control rooms for the broadcaster's Belmont Festival and Belmont Stakes shows, according to Cheney.

For 2026, FOX has added RRI Alexa 35 Live cameras for the main stage and one camera on the front stretch of the course to capture the racing action, and the team will continue its use of the Canon 122 Novel lens. The broadcaster plans to incorporate multiple drones into its coverage to provide more vantage points on the race.

We continue to build on the beauty and majesty of the horses and the fans with super-slow-motion cameras and cinematic ENG roving throughout the grounds, says Cheney.

On the audio effort, he says FOX's team continues to dial up the sound coverage with additional mic operators covering the course, new surround mics, and consoles all based on an IP core. FOX's graphics department, he adds, has been working with SMT (SportsMEDIA Technology) to provide additional data visualization leading up to and during the Belmont Stakes race.

Host Curt Menefee will anchor coverage from Saratoga alongsidetrainer Tom Amoss and retired jockey Richard Migliore. Providing analysis and betting insightswill be Charissa Thompson, handicapper Jonathon Kinchen, and FOX Sports betting analyst Chris The Bear Fallica. In addition, racing analyst Maggie Wolfendale will provide coverage on horseback throughout Saturday's undercard races, and veteran broadcaster Tom Rinaldi will offer human-interest stories. Frank Mirahmad will serve as play-by-play voice for the Belmont Stakes.

Among key FOX personnel leading the production are Executive Producer Bill Richards, producer Eric Mandia, and director Bryan Lilley, with Dave Jones, Rob Mikulicka, Casey McKee, and David Zulauf heading up technical and operations in Saratoga. Technology producers include Bill Moore, Brian Obert, Michael Vaughan, and Pete Chalverus;the operations group features Amanda McGowan, Jaime Necrason, and Matt Tapper.

In addition to Game Creek Video, the following vendors support FOX's Belmont Stakes coverage: Sunbelt Power, PSSI, Beagle Networks, SMT, Thumbwar, Lumen, All-Mobile Video, Helivision, and The Helm. Also contributing to the overall production are CP Communications and Beverly Hills Aerials, both of which will be using equipment supplied by Wave Central.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/06/05/fox-returns-to-saratoga-race-co...
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