FOX Sports injects cinematic tech into Belmont Stakes production at Saratoga

Broadcasters are increasingly maturing their tech stacks by blending cinematic hardware with enterprise-grade IP routing. By adopting the ARRI Alexa 35 Live for horse racing, FOX is signaling that high-fidelity 'cine-live' aesthetics are no longer reserved for halftime shows or trophy presentations but are now viable for primary action capture. This shift toward ST2110-based infrastructure allows for the high-bandwidth data requirements of cinematic sensors while maintaining the low-latency demands of gambling-centric broadcasts. Watch for early performance data from the upcoming move back to Belmont Park in 2027 to see if FOX further scales this cinematic approach across its primary NFL and MLB properties.

The 2026 Belmont Stakes marks a transitional period for both the venue and the broadcast rights holder. Per NYRA and Google Search data from June 2026, this was the third and final consecutive year the race was held at Saratoga Race Course during the $455 million reconstruction of Belmont Park. While the event is expected to return to its Long Island home in 2027, the Saratoga tenure has served as a live laboratory for FOX Sports and NYRA to test high-end production tools, including the use of 4K cinematic sensors in a traditional sports environment.

Technologically, the integration of ARRI’s Alexa 35 Live reflects a broader trend of cinematic manufacturers moving into the B2B broadcast space. As reported by Y.M. Cinema in May 2026, the Eurovision Song Contest recently deployed 24 Alexa 35 Live systems, highlighting the camera's ability to fit into complex multicam environments using dedicated fiber adapters and base stations. This follows ARRI's strategic move to partner with specialized integrators like The Helm to bridge the gap between cinema-grade image quality and the rigorous tally and return-feed requirements of live sports.

Furthermore, the production highlights the continued reliance on ST2110 IP standards within mobile units. Per Game Creek Video's technical specifications for the Ovation unit, the platform is built on 400G Lawo/Arista networks and Calrec ARGO consoles, allowing for nearly unlimited signal routing flexibility. This infrastructure is critical as horse racing broadcasts lean more heavily on data-intensive visualizations for sports betting, a sector FOX has reinforced by including analysts like Chris Fallica in its core coverage.