The GI Belmont Stakes may not return to its 1 1/2-mile distance when it returns to its traditional home at the newly reconstructed Belmont Park next June, according to a report in Daily Racing Form. New York Racing Association president and CEO Dave O'Rourke told DRF's Dave Grening the Classic race could instead be run at 1 1/4 miles.“If you're looking at modernizing the whole thing, do you contemplate the 1 1/2 miles as well for the Belmont at some point here,” O'Rourke said. “I think that will be contemplated, whether it's next year or in the future. I think the 1 1/2 miles, while it is traditional and it is the historic test of champions, it's not what folks are breeding for and it seems to be a headwind on the race to a certain degree. And how relevant is that distance now for breeding?”The Belmont Stakes has been held at Saratoga Race Course and over 1 1/4 miles for the past three years as Belmont Park has undergone reconstruction.The post Report: NYRA May Shorten Belmont Stakes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.