The New York Racing Association on Wednesday announced a fall 2018 stakes schedule for Belmont Park encompassing 44 races worth more than $10 million.

Eighteen of the races are graded and seven races are part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” program through which race winners gain automatic fees-paid entry plus travel expenses to designated Breeders’ Cup races. Churchill Downs hosts the 2018 Breeders’ Cup, the first time since 2015 the event has been held outside California, and New York races could play a more prominent role this year.

One potentially important BC Challenge race, the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup, has been moved up a week this year to September 29 and now is positioned five weeks from the Breeders’ Cup Classic rather than four.

The Sept. 29 program is one of three important multi-stakes programs early in the meeting and in addition to the Gold Cup features the Grade 1, $500,000 Turf Classic over 1 ½ miles, the Grade 1, $350,000 Vosburgh over six furlongs on dirt, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim for 2-year-olds on turf.

The Oct. 6 program includes the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne, the Grade 1, $400,000 Beldame, and the Grade 2, $500,000 Kelso. The Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl and the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette anchor the Oct. 7 card.

The schedule includes three more stakes than were run during fall 2017; gone from the schedule is the $100,000 Seattle Slew, but new for 2018 are the $100,000 Royal Delta (fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles dirt) on Sept. 9, the $100,000 Floral Park (fillies and mares, six furlongs turf) on Oct. 13, the $100,000 Point of Entry (3-year-olds and up, 1 ½ miles turf) on Oct. 14, and the $125,000 Zagora (fillies and mares, 1 ½ miles turf) on Oct. 28.

The $100,000 Futurity on Oct. 7 and the Grade 3, $100,000 Matron on Oct. 8, both 2-year-old races, have been changed from six furlongs on dirt to six furlongs on turf and are Breeders’ Cup Challenge races for new 2-year-old turf-sprint stakes.

The other change from 2017 lengthens the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie (fillies and mares) on Oct. 28 from six to seven furlongs.

Eight New York-bred stakes, headlined by the $300,000 Empire Classic, are set for the Oct. 20 card.