The early-October horse racing calendar features an exceptionally active slate of marquee stakes races across North America and internationally, anchored by Fall Stars opening weekend at Keeneland. According to America’s Best Racing, the schedule runs from Sept. 30 through Oct. 4, 2026, and includes eight “Win and You’re In” qualifying races for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup scheduled for Oct. 30–31. The heavy volume of fixtures is further bolstered this year by the postponement of racing at the new Belmont Park due to weather, adding even more high-stakes contests to the early-October window.
Keeneland Fall Stars Weekend Schedule
Fall Stars opening weekend at the Lexington track begins Friday, Oct. 2, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 4, kicking off a month-long regular meet. Viewers can watch the “Broadcast of Fall Stars Friday” on NBCSN and Peacock from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 2. Live coverage of opening day at Keeneland is also available on FanDuel TV, while SportsGrid airs the “Daily Racing Form Weekend Preview” at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, NBC and Peacock broadcast the “Fall Stars Saturday” action from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern. Supplementary broadcasts run on FS1 and FS2 via “America’s Day at the Races,” spanning 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on FS1 and 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on FS2. Sunday, Oct. 4 features the “Broadcast of Fall Stars Sunday” on NBCSN and Peacock from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Stakes Racing and Rescheduled Events
The shifted calendar brings notable stakes action forward from earlier fixtures. The NYRA YouTube channel streams a quartet of major races on Thursday, Oct. 1, starting with the Gallant Bloom Stakes at 3:14 p.m. Eastern. That lineup continues with the Winter Memories Stakes at 3:46 p.m., the Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes at 4:17 p.m., and the Vosburgh Stakes at 4:48 p.m. Eastern.
International competition enters the television window on Sunday, Oct. 4, when FS1 broadcasts international races from Longchamp between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Eastern. FanDuel TV and the Racetrack Television Network provide continuous supplemental coverage throughout the week with post times varying by track.
Keep reading