Forever Young to take New York route to Breeders’ Cup in G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup

The connections of globetrotting superstar Forever Young today announced that the Japanese and American champion will be coming to New York to compete in the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at the new Belmont Park on Friday, September 18 as he as he prepares for a title defense in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.

To help unveil the new Belmont Park to a national audience, FOX will present live coverage of the Jockey Club Gold Cup on its broadcast network.

“We are thrilled to welcome Forever Young to the Jockey Club Gold Cup at the new Belmont Park,” said Andrew Offerman, SVP of Racing and Operations for The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). “NYRA is deeply appreciative of the Breeders’ Cup for their partnership and support in helping make this possible, and we look forward to celebrating Forever Young, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and the return to Belmont Park on Friday, September 18.”

NYRA will celebrate the beginning of a new era for Belmont Park on Friday, September 18, with a program anchored by the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Established in 1919 and captured by the likes of Man O’ War, Forego and Cigar, among others, the Jockey Club Gold Cup will return to Belmont Park after being held at Saratoga Race Course from 2021-25. The Jockey Club Gold Cup, a 10-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up, provides an automatic berth to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.

“Forever Young has captured the hearts of racing fans around the globe, and we are delighted his connections are targeting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships as the culmination of his 2026 season,” said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders' Cup Limited. “We thank them for their commitment to elite international competition and extend our appreciation to the great team at NYRA for their partnership in hosting and supporting his return to the United States via the Jockey Club Gold Cup. We eagerly anticipate welcoming Forever Young to Keeneland this fall to defend his title in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic."

The presence of Japanese superstar Forever Young is sure to add to the fanfare expected with a return to racing at Belmont Park, with the 5-year-old son of Real Steel making his anticipated return to the races following a runner-up effort to Magnitude in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 28. Trained by Yoshito Yahagi for owner Susumu Fujita, Forever Young was named the Eclipse Award Champion Older Dirt Horse in 2025 following his half-length victory over Sierra Leone in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.

A back-to-back winner of the Group 1 Saudi Cup in 2025-26, Forever Young has won 11-of-15 starts with four additional on-the-board efforts and is a perfect 6-for-6 in his home country. An earner of more than $31.7 million in total purses, Forever Young was named the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2025, while also receiving the Japanese Racing Association (JRA) awards as Best Older Male Horse and Best Dirt Horse. Limited tickets remain for the October 30-31 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland, and fans looking to watch Forever Young’s title defense in person should visit breederscup.com/tickets for more information. 

The new Belmont Park features a five-story grandstand complete with an array of fan amenities and hospitality offerings, along with an expanded paddock and four newly constructed racetracks including the main dirt track, two turf courses and a one-mile synthetic oval. In addition, NYRA has unlocked the Belmont Park infield to provide fans and the surrounding community with more generally accessible green space than ever before.

In addition to the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the September 18 festivities are slated to include a morning ribbon-cutting ceremony, with additional details to be announced at a later date.

The new Belmont Park will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2027 as the two-day international festival of racing, slated for October 29-30, returns to New York for the first time since 2005. 2027 will mark the sixth time the World Championships will be held in New York, joining the 1985 running at Aqueduct Racetrack, and Belmont Park editions in 1990, 1995, 2001, and 2005. For information on ticket sales, visit breederscup.com/2027. 

For additional information about the new Belmont Park, please visit nyra.com/belmont.