The 2026 Jockey Club Gold Cup marks the highly anticipated return of racing to the brand-new Belmont Park, with international superstar Forever Young headlining the $1 million Grade 1 showdown.
Forever Young, the reigning Breeders’ Cup Classic champion, comes to New York looking to secure an automatic spot in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic with a victory in this prestigious 1¼-mile test. The race also gives fans their first look at the newly rebuilt Belmont Park after a three-year transformation.
We break down Forever Young, the key contenders, the pace and distance, and whether the international star can make a winning debut at the new Belmont Park and continue his quest for another Breeders’ Cup Classic title.
