NYRA Expands Fall Starter Championships to 11 Races at Belmont Park
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has significantly increased the scope of its Fall Starter Championships Day, transforming it into an impressive showcase of 11 starter allowance events. These races, collectively boasting a purse of $1.085 million, are slated to take place on Saturday, October 17, at the redeveloped Belmont Park. This expansion underscores NYRA's commitment to recognizing and celebrating the careers of claiming horses that have become fan favorites, offering them a premier platform to compete.
Each of the Fall Starter Championships contests is dedicated to a renowned claiming horse from the NYRA racing circuit. Eligibility for these races is open to horses aged three and older that have raced for a specific claiming price since July 1, 2025. Entries for this highly anticipated race card will be accepted starting Sunday, October 11, setting the stage for a competitive day of racing.
The program is highlighted by six races, each valued at $110,000, catering to horses that have competed for a claiming price of $55,000 or less. These events offer a diverse range of distances and track surfaces, ensuring opportunities for various types of thoroughbreds. Honored in these top-tier races are legendary names such as Tiffany's Taylor, Silver Timber, Be Bullish, Evvie Jets, and Voodoo Song. A notable addition for the 2026 series is the Cross Border race, further enhancing the prestige of the championships.
Among the featured races, the Tiffany's Taylor, designated for fillies and mares, will be run over six furlongs on the inner turf course. This race pays homage to the multiple graded stakes-placed New York-bred mare who triumphed in the 1995 Mount Vernon at Belmont. Another event for fillies and mares, the Evvie Jets, covers 1 1/16 miles on the Widener turf, celebrating a mare who climbed from claiming status to secure two graded stakes victories in New York.
Beyond these, four other high-value events span from sprint distances to a marathon. The Silver Timber, also on the inner turf at six furlongs, acknowledges a distinguished multiple graded stakes-winning New York-bred. The Be Bullish, contested at a mile on the main track, honors a popular New York-bred who amassed over $1 million through various claiming and stakes races within the NYRA circuit. The Voodoo Song, over 1 1/16 miles on the Widener turf, is named after the New York-bred victor of the 2018 Fourstardave (G1). Completing this group is the Cross Border, a marathon event spanning 1 1/2 miles on the Widener turf, celebrating a New York-bred who earned more than $1.3 million and claimed five stakes wins.
The race day also includes three $90,000 races on the main track, open to horses that have raced for a claiming price of $32,000 or less. The Glass Ceiling, a 6 1/2-furlong race for fillies and mares, commemorates a dual Grade 3 winner with earnings exceeding $675,000. Distance specialists will vie in the 10-furlong Lone Rock, named after the 2021 Brooklyn (G2) winner at Belmont, while sprinters will compete in the six-furlong Creme de La Fete, honoring a horse with an impressive 40 wins from 151 starts.
Rounding out the starter races are the $80,000 Battle Bling and the $75,000 Royal Posse. The Battle Bling, a one-mile main-track event for fillies and mares who started for $20,000 or less, pays tribute to the 2022 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) winner at Aqueduct. The seven-furlong Royal Posse, for horses with a claiming price of $16,000 or less, is named after a seven-time stakes-winning New York-bred. This extensive lineup promises an exhilarating day of horse racing, celebrating both equine talent and the rich history of claiming races.