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Horse Racing Belmont Stakes 2027

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Updated on: Oct 6, 2026

The oldest of the Triple Crown races, the Belmont Stakes is the traditional final and longest leg of thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown. A horse capable of thriving over the Belmont’s demanding distance after the Kentucky Derby and Preakness is worthy of the greatness that being a Triple Crown winner brings with it.

The unique stature of the Belmont Stakes also makes the race a great betting option at online sportsbooks. What follows is the most complete resource for betting on the Belmont Stakes. You can wager with confidence at any of our recommended operators listed below.

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Where to bet on the Belmont Stakes

When looking to place a bet on Belmont Stakes horses, it starts with deciphering the online betting sites that are trustworthy and reliable. To assist in achieving that objective, we list the best sportsbook reviews for betting on the Belmont right here on this site. On this page, you will find the definitive guide to horse racing betting sites in the USA for August 2027.

Horse-racing-winner-in-Belmont-Stake

Every one of the online sports betting sites we recommend here accepts eligible US bettors, although licensing and availability vary by operator and location. They all offer the range of markets you'd expect to be covered by a horse racing betting site, including win, place, show, exotic wagers, multi-race bets, and live betting. The picks on these sites are updated ahead of every major race day and festival. You can compare the sites on our ranked list below.

Features of the best Belmont Stakes betting sites

Not all online betting sites are created equal. After doing the research, we only recommend the best Belmont Stakes betting sites. These are the betting sites that offer guarantees that you'll always be given the best odds available on the Belmont. They will offer plenty of Belmont Stakes-specific promotions. Live streaming of the race will be accessible directly from the betting site's web page or mobile site.

Best odds guaranteed

Belmont stakes promotions

Live streaming

A popular promotion with horse racing betting sites is to offer the Best Odds Guaranteed. That means no matter what the betting line was when you placed your fixed odds wager, you'll get the best number that's out there. So if a bettor accepts a price early and the starting price ends up higher, the best odds guaranteed assures you that any winning wagers will be paid out at the better price.

That can make a big difference when betting on a major stakes race such as the Belmont Stakes. With so many elite horses in the race, expect that the odds can shift significantly in the lead-up to the race.

The gambling world is ultra-competitive, so that's why online sports betting sites are always dangling sports betting bonuses to encourage players to sign up at their site. When there's a major race afoot such as the Belmont Stakes, expect there to be Belmont-specific promotional offers available.

Offers that bettors can expect to see include free bets, deposit bonuses, and enhanced odds, and explain. A race of this stature consistently attracts more aggressive promotional activity from sportsbooks than a standard race card, since it attracts the casual bettor as well as the hardcore horse bettors. Accessing a bonus or promotional package can enhance your Belmont Stakes payouts.

One of the useful perks some online sportsbooks offer is the ability to live stream the Belmont Stakes. Live streaming is a key feature for Belmont Stakes bettors. Access requirements vary by operator and may include holding a funded account or placing an eligible wager. The race broadcasts through FOX Sports in the US, but streaming through a betting site can keep the odds, markets, and race itself in one place.

 

Types of Belmont stakes bets

The simplest and easiest method for Belmont Stakes betting is betting on Belmont Stakes winners. But that's far from the only wager available on the Belmont. Betting on the Belmont Stakes goes beyond merely picking a winner. Understanding the available bet types is a key aspect of getting the most out of race day.

Win / place / show

These are the three foundational horse racing bets. A win is as straightforward as it gets. This wager requires the horse to finish first in the race. With a place bet, the horse you back can finish first or second. Make a show wager, and all you need to cash a winning bet is for the horse to finish in the top three. While the further down this ladder you go, the better your chances of winning are, the flip side is that payouts decrease as your safety net widens. Weighing when each option makes sense always depends on the bettor's confidence in the horse they're betting.


 

Across the board

An across-the-board wager is a method to combine all three of the above categories into one bet. When you bet a horse across the board, you are placing a win, place, and show bet on a horse. A $2 across-the-board bet would cost you $6 because there are three potential outcomes. If your horse wins the race in this scenario, you cash all three bets. Should the horse finish second, you cash place and show bets. And a third-place finish is a show bet winner.

Exacta

With an exacta bet, you are selecting the horses that will finish 1-2 in the race. On a straight exacta play, they must finish in the order that you bet. In a major race like the Belmont, there can be a prohibitive favorite. A win bet isn't going to pay out much. However, an exacta combining the favorite with a longer shot can pay handsomely. You can even box the exacta, enabling the horses to finish 1-2 in either order. You'll just need to cover both outcomes when you place your exacta box bet.


 

Trifecta

The most popular of the exotic bets, the trifecta takes the exacta one step further. Now you are picking the horses that will finish 1-2-3 in the race. An exacta is basically the parlay of the horse betting world. For a small stake, you can win a big payout if all the legs come in for you. Boxing trifectas are popular plays. However, you must cover every possible outcome. A $2 three-horse exacta box will cost you a $12 stake, because there are six potential outcomes.


 

Daily double

Traditionally, the first two races of any card combine to form the Daily Double. You are seeking to select the winner of each race and package them into one bet. While the Belmont Stakes race isn't going to be part of the Daily Double, this bet does give you an exotic wager to play while waiting for the big race. And it's always possible that the Belmont may be included in the late Daily Double of that day's race card.


 

Pick 3, pick 4, pick 6

Taking the Daily Double even further, the Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 6 wagers are basically Daily Doubles on steroids. As the numbers suggest, you are seeking to pick the winners of three, four, or six races in a row. With multi-race sequence bets, the difficulty of winning directly impacts the payout potential of the wager.


It's also possible to play box bets on the Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 6 wagers. The Pick Six is a very popular wager, partially because it can pay out well, and also because racetracks offer huge carryover pools when the Pick 6 doesn't go. It's almost a certainty that the Belmont will be included in the Pick 6 on Belmont race day.


 

Quinella

The Quinella is, in essence, an either-way exacta. You pick two horses in a Quinella wager. To win the bet, these horses must finish 1-2 in the race. However, with a Quinella, it doesn't matter which horse wins the race. As long as the other horse in your Quinella finishes second, your bet wins and pays out in cash. This is a great bet to play when there are two horses in a race that you like as being stronger than the rest of the field.


 

Horse matchup wagering

Match racing, pitting two horses against each other in head-to-head competition, rarely happens in the sport. However, at online betting sites, matchup wagering is a popular play. On a race like the Belmont, oddsmakers will select two horses in the race and set odds on both. You bet on which of these two horses you believe will reach the finish line before the other. If there's one horse you really like in the Belmont, bet that horse in matchup wagering against another top contender, and you could earn a healthy payout.


 

Futures

Long before the Belmont goes to the post, before the official Belmont entries are determined, online sports betting sites will offer futures wagering on the Belmont Stakes. With futures odds, your task is simple. You must pick the horse that you think will win the Belmont. The earlier you place a Belmont futures wager, the longer price you're likely to get. The downside is that there's no guarantee the horse you back will enter the starting gate on Belmont Day for the big race.

How to bet on the Belmont Stakes

We've covered the types of bets you can make on Belmont Stakes horse racing. However, knowing your bet types means nothing if you do not know how to actually place a wager at Belmont Stakes time. This section walks you through the full process of opening an online betting account, from choosing a site to confirming a bet, so that you can place your first horse racing wager with confidence. Simply follow the ensuing step-by-step process, and you'll be wagering on the ponies like a pro in no time at all.

Step 1: choose an online sportsbook

Step 2: open a new sports betting account

Step 3: fund your sports betting account

Step 4: place your first belmont stakes bet

It all starts with the selection process. There are several online sportsbooks out there waiting to be chosen by you. Certainly, any of our recommended sites will supply you with what you need. Naturally, since you're looking to bet on the Belmont Stakes, the first order of business is to ensure the site you choose offers extensive horse racing betting markets.

 

You've chosen a sportsbook. Now, let's get you signed up for a new account. First, click on the join button in the top right-hand corner of the site's web page. Next, you'll be asked to fill in some personal information. This will include first name, surname, phone number, email address, home address, and perhaps a Social Security Number. You'll also be required to verify your account by inputting a code that will be sent to you via text or email.

 

You've chosen a sports betting site and opened a new account. But you can't make a bet until you fund that account. Select the banking page and choose the payment method you'd like to use. Be certain that the banking option you choose is valid for both deposits and withdrawals. You'll also want to be certain that your first deposit meets the minimum requirement to activate the site's welcome bonus offer so you can take advantage of this promotion.

 

Okay, the moment of truth has arrived. The site is chosen, the account opened and funded. It's time to place that Belmont Stakes wager. Open the Belmont betting markets and choose the bet you'd like to make. Once it populates on the site's bet slip, enter your stake. Double-check the information and then hit enter. That's it. Your bet is down.

 

Belmont Stakes odds and how to read them

When betting on the Belmont Stakes, you can expect to experience two types of betting lines expressing the Belmont Stakes odds. Fractional odds are the standard approach at racetracks. Meanwhile, online sports betting sites prefer American odds.

Let's look at fractional odds first. You may see a horse listed in the Belmont Stakes odds and picks listed in the morning line odds at 5/1. With fractional odds, you calculate your winnings by multiplying the first number by the second number. At 5/1, that means you will win $5 for every dollar you bet.

Now let's suppose the odds are 7/2 on another Belmont horse. With this betting line, it's telling you that you'll pocket $7 for every $2 you bet.

Moneylines work based on mythical $100 wagers. A horse listed at an online sports betting site to win the Belmont is set at +400. At that betting line, a $100 bet would win you $400.

However, the Belmont favorite is showing a different line with odds of -200. With a minus number for American odds on a moneyline, you calculate how much you'll need to bet to win $100. In this case, that amount is $200.

Tips for betting on the Belmont Stakes

Knowing how to bet and understanding how to read the odds is only half the battle when betting on the Belmont Stakes. The other part of the equation involves putting your nose to the grindstone and doing the work. Long-term success involves studying the Belmont Stakes results. A Belmont success story may come down to how well a bettor does their research before placing a wager. Follow the Belmont betting tips listed below to head in the right direction.

Check their Kentucky Derby pedigree

Nearly 70% of all Belmont Stakes winners previously raced in the Kentucky Derby. In 2026, Derby winner Golden Tempo also won the Belmont. You should study the Derby lines closely. Look for late closers who might benefit from that extra bit of distance in the Belmont to get up and close the deal.

Did they skip the Preakness?

A total of 73% of Belmont Stakes winners had skipped the Preakness. The Triple Crown is demanding, and fresh horses in the long distance of the Belmont can find that extra gear to get up for a victory. In 2026, Golden Tempo won the Derby, skipped the Preakness, and won the Belmont.

Triple Crown experience provides an edge

Seven out of 10 Belmont winners had raced in at least one of the other two Triple Crown races. But you want to look for more than just being in the race. No horse in the last 30 years (2023) has finished outside of the money in the Preakness and the Derby, and then gone on to win the Belmont.

Check the track conditions

Is it going to be sunny and warm on Belmont Day? Might there be rain in the forecast? Horse racing is one of those sports where the weather can be a vital factor in the outcome. Some horses are mudders. That means they like to run on a sloppy track.

Horse-Racing-Image-in-Preakness-Stakes

Significance of the Belmont Stakes

The Belmont is known as The Test of the Champion. It's the longest race of the Triple Crown series. That fact alone sets it apart from the other major stakes races. For young horses, it can be a grueling test and will overwhelm some of them.

As the final and most demanding race of the Triple Crown, horses need great stamina and speed to finish this test of endurance. The main dirt track at Belmont Park is also known by the nickname "Big Sandy" because of its huge size and deep sand. It's wise to keep all of these factors in mind when you are making your Belmont Stakes picks.

Contested since 1867, it's also the oldest of the three Triple Crown races. Winning the Belmont itself is a masterful accomplishment for a racehorse. Winning the Belmont to complete the Triple Crown will elevate a horse to mythical, legendary status.

Belmont Stakes history

At its 1.5-mile distance, the Belmont Stakes is the ultimate test of horse racing endurance. The Belmont draws its roots back to 1867, when the first race was held at Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx. In 1905, the race was moved to its current home, the new track in Elmont, New York near Long Island known as Belmont Park. In 2007, Rags to Riches became the first filly to win the Belmont since Tanya in 1905.

Historic wins and races

The history of the Belmont Stakes always begins with Secretariat's astonishing 1973 victory to clinch the Triple Crown. Big Red won the race by 31 lengths in a time of 2:24. Secretariat's record still stands as the fastest Belmont Stakes time and an American record for a 1.5-mile track. The 1920 win by Man o' War set new stakes and American records, as the legendary horse won by 20 lengths. Count Fleet won by 25 lengths to complete his 1943 Triple Crown triumph.

At the other end of the spectrum was the classic showdown between Affirmed and Alydar. They finished 1-2 in all three 1978 Triple Crown races as Affirmed won the Triple Crown with his Belmont victory. Alydar is the only horse in Triple Crown history to finish second in all three races.

Triple Crown winners

Winning three races in the span of a month at three different distances against the best three-year-old thoroughbreds in the world, it's easy to argue that winning the Triple Crown is among the greatest accomplishments in sports. Only 13 horses have managed to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont to earn the right to be called Triple Crown winners.

That group includes 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).

The difficulty of the feat, the challenge put forth by the short turnaround between races, and the daunting distance of the Belmont have caused 23 other horses to fall short at the final hurdle. In recent years, California Chrome (2014), Orvle (2012), Big Brown (2008), and Smarty Jones (2004) all came to the Belmont with a chance to win the Triple Crown and couldn't close the deal.

Belmont Stakes records

A race with a history stretching back to 1867, the Belmont Stakes is naturally an event that has produced moments and performances that have never been matched. So many great horses, from Man o' War to Citation to Secretariat and American Pharoah, have won the Belmont. Then there was 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, the only unbeaten Triple Crown champion.

Speed record

The greatness of Secretariat could be summed up in his record-breaking 1973 Triple Crown win. Big Red not only won all three races; the horse set track and stakes records in each race that continue to stand today. That includes the Belmont Stakes. Secretariat's 2:24 victory in the race remains the stakes and track record and the fastest time ever in America on a 1.5-mile dirt track. He was the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. Secretariat also holds the fastest 1⁄2-, 3⁄4-, 1- and 1+1⁄4-mile fractions in Belmont history.

Largest margin of victory

If you've never watched the video of the 1973 Belmont Stakes, make a point to YouTube it today. It's one of the greatest performances in the history of sport. Winning the Triple Crown, Secretariat romped to victory by an astonishing 31 lengths. Sham and Secretariat were neck-and-neck for the first half of the race. Then Big Red took off, leaving Sham and the rest of the field in his dust. He was so far ahead that the TV coverage struggled to get the other horses in the camera shot.

Most successful jockey

Two jockeys from the long-ago Belmont Stakes past share the mark for the most winning mounts in the race. Both Jim McLaughlin and Eddie Arcaro rode six Belmont winners. McLaughlin's victories came in the early years of the race. He won in 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, and 1888. Eddie Arcaro also won six Belmonts in 1941, 1942, 1945, 1948, 1952, and 1955. Arcaro's triumphs included Triple Crown wins aboard Whirlaway (1941) and Citation (1948).

Most successful trainer

Long before there was a Triple Crown winner, trainer James G. Rowe Sr. was sending out Belmont Stakes winners like no one before or since. Rowe conditioned eight Belmont winners in 1883, 1884, 1901, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1910, and 1913. Rowe's 1908 winner, Colin, was unbeaten (15-0) in his career. As a jockey, Rowe also won the Belmont twice. Rowe and George M. Odom are the only men who've won the Belmont Stakes as both a jockey and a trainer.

Belmont Stakes FAQ

Meet the author

Dean Etheridge

Sports betting analyst with 15+ years running a football betting platform. Covers multiple sports including football, golf, tennis, F1, boxing, and US leagues. Published with The Sun, TalkSPORT, and CricketTimes. Focuses on betting picks, previews, and sport analysis...

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