Belmont Stakes Betting Advice
The Belmont Stakes was inaugurated in 1868 and held at the now-defunct Jerome Park. The race moved to Belmont Park in 1095 and has been held there ever since save for when it was canceled in 1911 and 1912. It is famous not only the Test of the Champion with its long-distance and extra-long stretch drive but also as the final leg of the Triple Crown.
1 1/2 miles is a distance very few American horses run unless they are making their careers on grass, and seldom as a three-year-old. That is why winning the Belmont is so difficult, especially after running in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in the last five weeks.
There have been 13 Triple Crown winners to date: Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah (2015), and Justify (2018). Trainer Bob Baffert won the last two Triple Crowns.
The 1920 Belmont Stakes was won by the mighty Man o’ War, considered by some to still be the greatest racehorse of all time. He took the race by 20 lengths and set a new track record.
More recently, the filly Rags to Riches won over future superstar racehorse and stallion Curlin in 2007. She was the third and most recent filly to win after Ruthless in 1867 and Tanya in 1905. Trainer Bob Baffert brought Triple Crown prospects Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and War Emblem in with a chance to win the Triple in 1997, 1998, and 2002, but all three horses just missed in their bids. Since then, Baffert has won the Triple Crown twice.
Other horses who got close to winning the Triple Crown but fell short include Funny Cide (2003), who lost to Empire Maker, Smarty Jones (2004), who lost to Birdstone, and Big Brown (2008), who lost to Da’Tara. I’ll Have Another had a chance to win it in 2012 but was scratched the morning before the race.
Blowout wins of late have included Point Given by 12 1/4 lengths in 2001, and Afleet Alex by seven lengths in 2005. Both of them had won the Preakness impressively, with Point Given finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby and Afleet Alex third.
The trainer with the most wins in James Rowe, Sr. Jim McLaughlin, and Eddie Arcaro each have six wins as jockeys. The record for the race is still Secretariat’s 2:24 flat.
The winner of the Belmont is draped in carnations, and the pre-race song is Frank Sinatra’s “Theme from New York, New York,” which is popular for the crowd to sing before the horses go to the gate.
Belmont Stakes Races
There are a total of eight major stakes races on the Belmont Stakes program on June 5. Aside from the Belmont Stakes itself, there are the $1,000,000 Metropolitan Handicap (G1), the $750,000 Manhattan (G1), the $500,000 Just a Game (G1), the $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1), the $400,000 Jaipur (G1), the $400,000 Woody Stephens (G1), and the $400,000 Brooklyn (G2).
The Woody Stephens has produced many future top sires, such as Munnings in 2009 and Bayern in 2014. The latter went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) over Shared Belief and California Chrome.
The Jaipur was won last year by Oleksandra, a filly who beat the boys. One of the most important turf sprint races of the year, the Jaipur offers its winner a free berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), as part of the Win and You’re In program.
The Ogden Phipps is another Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In race, offering its winner a place in the Breeder’s Cup Distaff (G1). Recent stars who have won the Ogden Phipps include Midnight Bisou, Songbird, Close Hatches, and Ashado.
The winner of the Metropolitan Handicap colloquially called the Met Mile, wins a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). The Met Mile is also known as a sire-making race, and its winners in recent years have included star and strong sires like Frosted, Palace Malice, Quality Road, and Ghostzapper.
The Belmont Stakes is the final leg of the Triple Crown and the resting place of attempts to capture all three of these prestigious events. As a result, the Belmont has earned the nickname “The Test of the Champion”, as the entire field gets a final chance to deny the crown to winners of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. In fact, a total of 23 have won the first two legs of the triple crown before faltering at the Belmont.
Part of the difficulty is the length of this race. At 1 1/2 miles (twelve furlongs) on the dirt track, the Belmont tests the endurance of even the most formidable racehorses, most of whom cannot rely solely on raw speed to win. The purse of this Grade One race is $1.5 million, with $800,000 going to the winner. This race takes place at Belmont Park. five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and is open to three-year-old colts, fillies, and geldings.
Similar to the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes race is a historic event that started during the 19th century. Since its inception in 1867, this competition has taken place every year with the exception of 1911 and 1912 when the state of New York briefly banned gambling activities such as horse racing. All-time greats like Ruthless, Man o' War, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and American Pharoah have won the race: keep reading to find out who may be next on Saturday, June 10, 2023.
Belmont Stakes Betting Sites
Placing a smart wager on your favorite to win makes the Belmont Stakes that much more exciting, especially when a Triple Crown favorite attempts to sweep the final leg. Plenty of racebooks provide smooth gambling services that make it easy to enjoy playing the race. Playing online is more convenient than playing at the racetrack, too, since you can do it from anywhere with an internet connection.
Check to see what sort of deposit bonuses, betting bonuses, wagering rebates, and other lucrative promos that these companies offer. Signing up with the racebook that works best for you can increase the odds of taking home a nice payday.
Belmont Stakes Winners
Considering the number of horses who have won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, it's always a risky proposition to bet on a horse to complete the feat at the Belmont Stakes. 2014 provided a fine example of this axiom, as heavy 3-5 favorite California Chrome faded to finish fourth behind Tonalist at 8-1 and Commissioner and Medal Count at 20-1.
American Pharoah proved the exception to the rule, completing his sweep of the Triple Crown in 2015, becoming the first since Affirmed in 1978 to do so. Justify followed suit in 2018, running to favoritism to clinch the Triple Crown.
Only nine foreign horses have won the Belmont Stakes, with Canadian thoroughbred Victory Gallop becoming the last non-U.S. winner in 1998. Filly winners are also rare at the Belmont. In 2007, Rags to Riches became the first filly to win in over a century, the previous being Tanya in 1905.
Secretariat, king of Triple Crown races, holds the speed record for all three events. In 1973, he flew across the finish line 31 lengths ahead of the competition, finishing with a time of 2:24.00. The next fastest time belongs to Easy Goer, who finished a full two seconds behind Secretariat in 1989.
Belmont Stakes Odds
The Belmont Stakes betting odds will take clearer shape closer to the race, as the field is finalized. On Tuesday, June 6, the field will be drawn and the track will publish post positions, trainers, jockeys, and morning-line odds. You are not guaranteed these odds at the track, though they can be interesting guides to which horses are expected to take money and which are expected to go ignored in the wagering.
Odds at the track will not be final until post time. Your Belmont Stakes best bet is to play the race at an online sportsbook. They offer fixed-odds wagering on major races, so you can lock in the best price on a Belmont Stakes contender without having to weather a late price drop closer to post time.
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mage | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Tapit Trice | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Arcangelo | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Bishops Bay | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Kingsbarns | TBA | TBA | TBA |
2023 Belmont Stakes Betting Picks
The field for the Belmont Stakes will be drawn on Tuesday, June 6. Until then, you can get a leg up on other Belmont bettors and perhaps even find a live longshot by keeping track of the contenders. Some of the major Belmont Stakes contenders will have run in the other Triple Crown races, while others rise to prominence through other races and try to take the spotlight in the final jewel of the Triple Crown.
Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes horses
If Kentucky Derby winner Mage wins the Preakness Stakes and still has a chance to be a Triple Crown winner, he will be the favorite in the Belmont. He will have to make sure he breaks well: he has tactical speed, which often wins Belmonts, but needs to make sure he comes away well enough to use it. However, if he can, he has a good chance given his talent, good form, and deep stamina breeding.
Make sure to pay attention to whoever Todd Pletcher sends to the Belmont Stakes. He ran 1-2 last year with Mo Donegal and Nest, and he has a good touch for who can run well in the Belmont. Likely candidates from his barn in 2023 include Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns, both of whom ran in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Tapit Trice is by Tapit, whose progeny have won four Belmonts, while Kingsbarns also has Tapit in his pedigree through his dam. Kingsbarns has tactical speed that could suit him well in the race, while Tapit Trice will have to run on a bit later, though the smaller field in the Belmont compared to the Kentucky Derby could help Tapit Trice get a better trip.
New Belmont Stakes contenders
Often a new contender for the Belmont arises from the Peter Pan Stakes four weeks before the test of the champion. Though winner We the People only finished fourth behind Mo Donegal in the Belmont last year, Peter Pan winners have been strong in the Belmont in years past and it makes sense to look at them seriously.
Archangelo and Bishops Bay ran 1-2 in the Peter Pan in 2023, far clear of the rest of the field, and both could be interesting if they press on to the Belmont. They are both up-and-coming horses with a lot of upside: neither had tried a stakes race before trying the Peter Pan, and both handled the sandy Belmont footing nicely.
Archangelo looks like the stronger of the two, as he was able to outslug Bishops Bay in the lane in the Peter Pan, and he has a more appealing pedigree for the stretch out to the mile and a half.
Belmont Stakes FAQ
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When is the Belmont Stakes?
The Belmont Stakes is traditionally run five weeks after the Kentucky Derby. That means in 2021, the Belmont will be run on Saturday, June 10, 2023.
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Where is the Belmont Stakes?
The Belmont Stakes will be run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
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Will the Belmont Stakes be on TV?
Yes! The Belmont will be televised live on NBC.
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How many horses compete in the Belmont Stakes?
Up to fourteen horses can run in the Belmont Stakes. The race does not always fill up, but it is always an excellent betting opportunity due to the classy runners and the fact that no one in the field has ever tried a mile and a half before.
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How many people attend the Belmont Stakes each year?
Up to 120,000 people have attended the Belmont Stakes. However, due to COVID-19 safety regulations, only 11,000 people will be allowed to attend the 2021 Belmont Stakes in person.
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Where does the Belmont Stakes traditionally fall in the Triple Crown order?
The Belmont is traditionally the last Triple Crown race of the year. Though it was the first in 2020, due to COVID-19 related schedule changes, it is now back in its traditional spot: five weeks after the Kentucky Derby and two weeks after the Preakness.
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How long is the Belmont Stakes?
The Belmont Stakes is the longest race of the Triple Crown, at a mile and a half. Horses have almost certainly not tried a mile and a half before running in the Belmont, which makes it a test of stamina and pedigree.
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Where can bettors place Belmont Stakes bets?
Thanks to modern technology, bettors can play the Belmont Stakes from the comfort and safety of home. Racebooks are available on all internet-connected devices including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
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Is it possible to be the Belmont Stakes from a mobile device?
Yes! Bettors can use the browser on any smartphone to visit the website of their favorite racebook and play the Belmont that way.
Furthermore, many racebooks also offer mobile betting apps that give smooth, full-featured wagering experiences designed exclusively for mobile.
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What are the best sportsbooks for betting the Belmont Stakes online?
Selecting the right sportsbook can seem complicated at first, since there are so many different sportsbooks with so many different features.
Don't make that decision alone! Our expert sportsbook reviews give you trusted information about the features and incentives each sportsbook offers, so you can select the one that offers the best features, odds, and promotions for the way you bet.
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Do sportsbooks offer bonuses for betting the Belmont Stakes?
The best online sportsbooks offer a full range of promotions for betting the Belmont, including deposit bonuses and betting rebates. Horse racing rebates typically range from 7%-15% of daily betting volume, paid out every day whether you win or lose your wagers.
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Do sportsbooks offer a live stream of the Belmont Stakes?
Unfortunately, most online sportsbooks do not yet offer live streaming of the Belmont, though bettors are asking. However, it is worth checking your favorite sportsbooks closer to the race to see if they have arranged for a contract.
You can also watch the NBC broadcast of the Belmont Stakes, and enjoy the race live on your television while you wager on your computer or mobile device!
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What Belmont Stakes bets do online sportsbooks offer?
Online sportsbooks offer a full range of betting options on the Belmont. Those include traditional horse racing bets like win, place, and show as well as various prop bets and event bets that bettors previously had to travel to a casino to make.
Popular Belmont Stakes wagers include:
◦ Win
◦ Place
◦ Show
◦ Daily Double
◦ Pick 3
◦ Pick 4
◦ Exacta
◦ Quinella
◦ Trifecta
◦ Superfecta -
When and where is the 2023 Belmont Stakes?
The 2023 Belmont Stakes happens Saturday, June 10 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The post time will be finalized closer to the race, though expect the race to happen sometime between 6:45 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
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Can you bet the Belmont Stakes online?
You can bet the Belmont Stakes online from your computer, smartphone, or tablet, anywhere with an internet connection. Online betting sites offer the most convenient Belmont Stakes betting experience, and also offer great odds and bonuses on horse races and sports betting all year long. Take a few minutes to read our online betting site reviews, and they will help you find a site with market-leading odds, the best betting experience, and trusted deposits and payouts!
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What kinds of bets can you make on the Belmont Stakes?
You can make the same full range of bets on the Belmont Stakes as you can on horse races all year long. If you have a strong opinion on a single horse in the Belmont Stakes, you can do a win bet, place bet, or show bet. These are classics for a reason: if your horse runs well, you get paid. You can also go for a life-changing score by trying an exotic wager. They are harder to get right, but they pay even more if you cash! If you want to focus on just the Belmont Stakes, then bets like an exacta, trifecta, or superfecta mean you win if you get the first two, three or four finishers in exact order. If you have opinions in other races on the card, try a multi-race exotic like a Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, or Pick 6! Some online betting sites also offer prop bets and head-to-head bets, so make sure to explore the options on our recommended wagering sites!
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Do online betting sites offer bonuses for betting the Belmont Stakes?
Yes! In addition to offering the best odds, online betting sites offer bonuses for Belmont Stakes bettors including horse racing rebates, deposit bonuses, sign-up bonuses, and referral benefits. These can build your bankroll quickly, so let our expert reviews help you pick the best one for your betting style!
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Who won the 2022 Belmont Stakes?
Mo Donegal won the 2022 Belmont Stakes for trainer Todd Pletcher, beating his stablemate Nest. Mo Donegal, who had finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby, was the Belmont Stakes favorite ahead of the Derby winner Rich Strike.
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Who is the favorite for the 2023 Belmont Stakes?
If Mage wins the 2023 Preakness Stakes, he will be the Belmont favorite if since he will have a live bid to be the Triple Crown winner. If Mage does not win the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes betting board becomes more wide open, though it would be no surprise if a Todd Pletcher trainee like Tapit Trice or Kingsbarns goes off favored.
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Can you watch the Belmont Stakes online?
You can watch the Belmont Stakes on TV or online. Though not all online sportsbooks offer live streaming of races, if yours does not, you can watch the race on NBC, the NBC Sports app, or the Peacock streaming service.
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