Belmont Park will stage one of the strongest turf races of its opening fall stretch on September 26, when seven older runners meet in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.
The $500,000 race is contested over 1 1/2 miles on the Widener turf course and brings together an unusually international group. Godolphin runner El Cordobes leads three European based entrants into the field, giving the race a global profile at an important point of the autumn season.
El Cordobes returns to the United States
El Cordobes has already shown that he can compete at the highest level in North America. He finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar last year and now returns for another Grade 1 assignment.
His most recent start came in the Group 2 H. H. The Amir Trophy in Doha, where he finished fifth. The twelve furlong distance is familiar territory, with eight of his last nine starts coming at approximately this trip.
International depth shapes the race
The presence of three European based runners gives the Joe Hirsch a different tactical dimension from many domestic turf races. The seven horse field also arrives at a time when leading turf horses are trying to establish their autumn form ahead of major international targets.
There is an additional incentive attached to the result. The winner is eligible for a Japan Racing Association bonus if selected for and then competing in the 2026 Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse.
Why the Joe Hirsch matters
The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic has long been one of New York’s major tests for older turf horses. This year’s renewal also helps establish the new Belmont Park as a destination for international racing only days after the track reopened.
For OTB Bet readers following the wider championship picture, the race fits directly into the build toward the Breeders’ Cup and follows a Belmont opening weekend highlighted by Forever Young’s Jockey Club Gold Cup victory.
The Joe Hirsch is scheduled for September 26 on a Belmont card that also includes the Flower Bowl, Gallant Bloom and Vosburgh. OTB Bet will continue to follow verified developments as race day approaches.
Source information: New York Racing Association stakes advance and official Belmont Park stakes schedule. This article is original OTB Bet editorial coverage.
