2023 Belmont Stakes Betting – Horses, Odds and Predictions

The final race of the 2024 Triple Crown takes place on Saturday, June 11 – the Belmont Stakes. Check out the latest Belmont Stakes betting details, the best wagering sites to use, our predictions, Belmont Stakes horse odds and much more.

Belmont Stakes Betting Sites

Check out the Belmont Stakes betting odds at any of these top wagering sites.

Belmont Stakes Betting Information

We have all the information you need about the ‘test of the champion’ coming up in June.

When is the Belmont Stakes?

The 2024 Belmont Stakes takes place on Saturday, June 11.

Post time for the main event is 6.45pm ET. The race is one of nine Grade I races at the track over what is a phenomenal weekend.

Where is the Belmont Stakes?

Home of the third leg of the Triple Crown is the amazing Belmont Park. Located in Elmont, New York, just to the east of the NY city limits, Belmont is a world-famous thoroughbred horse racing venue.

The main track is known as “Big Sandy” and it’s a moniker it fully deserves. Each of the Belmont hopefuls will need to cope with Big Sandy’s deep surface and mile-and-half circumference, also the overall distance of this tiring race. Up to 50,000 racing fans can attend Belmont this time to watch another sophomore champion be crowned.

Race Type

The Belmont Stakes is a thoroughbred race for three-year-olds only. It is run at Grade I level, the top level within the sport. The race distance is 1½ miles, making it the longest in the Triple Crown series after the 1¼ miles of the Kentucky Derby and the 1 3/8-mile distance of the Preakness at Pimlico.

Run always on dirt, the Belmont competitors carry weight only according to sex. Colts and geldings carry a total of 126 pounds, with the fillies carrying 121. No Lasix is allowed to be given to runners within 48 hours of post time.

When is the Field Draw for the Belmont Stakes?

The post position draw for the 2024 Belmont Stakes takes place on Tuesday, June 7. The draw for the race and the morning line odds will be announced live from New York at 11am ET. At this point, we get to see who is the likely favorite for the race and who gets the dreaded outer gates, meaning their stamina will be tested to the extreme as they attempt to get round the field over Big Sandy’s 1½ miles.

Where Can I Watch the Belmont Stakes?

Full coverage of Belmont Stakes day 2024 is available. You can watch live on TV, or via online streaming. Coverage is available on NBC, Peacock, NBCSports.com and also the NBC Sports app. From 3pm to 5pm ET coverage of the undercard is shown on CNBC, while the main coverage kicks off on NBC at 5pm ET, running through to 7pm.

Some online wagering sites, especially overseas, can show streaming coverage of the race. Check out your online sportsbook to see if they are showing the big event.

Belmont Stakes Predictions

Assuming the contenders we know about now are not joined by a last-minute superstar, we have some reliable form and times to read through which helps us make our predictions. Here’s how the big-hitters shape up.

Barber Road

Barber Road has done little wrong as a three-year-old. Second in the GIII Southwest, third in the GII Rebel, second in the GI Arkansas Derby and sixth in the Kentucky Derby shows off a consistent colt.

He does keep losing though, so why would that stop now in such a big race?

Creative Minister

After impressing clock-watchers in an allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs in early May, much was expected of Kenneth McPeek’s runner in the Preakness. He finished third at Pimlico which is a good result, but it also showed that he may just be behind some of the very best colts around this season.

That said, he is out of a Tapit mare so there is encouragement in his breeding.

Mo Donegal

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Mo Donegal has some of the strongest form on offer. In a Kentucky Derby run at a break-neck speed, the son of Uncle Mo was out in rear early on. He was stuck on the inner from gate 1, but was gradually switched to the outside by jockey Irad Ortiz.

With just a quarter-mile to go, Mo Donegal had to race wider than ideal and was also bumped by some of his rivals which didn’t help his cause at a crucial stage of the race. Nevertheless, he was never nearer that right at the end. He stayed on well to finish a 3¼-length fifth in the Derby, this race being on the radar since.

What is also important is that before the Derby, he beat subsequent Preakness winner Early Voting in the Wood Memorial. His form is solid and while his pedigree doesn’t scream 1½ miles, there is some stamina on the dam’s side.

Rich Strike

The shock 80/1 Kentucky Derby winner was a bargain buy and a great story. He skipped the Preakness to stay fresh for this race and that could count for a lot. What is also prevalent is that he won the race partly based on the extraordinary pace.

When that collapsed, he was able to stay on past tired horses to win. That would suggest this mile-and-a-half distance will be great for him. His breeding offers some encouragement for that too.

We The People

We The People has only run four times in his life, so is fresher than most contenders. He is by Constitution, which makes Tapit his granddaddy and that is so important here. Tapit is easily the most important stallion in the context of the Belmont Stakes.

His last start was a win in the Grade III Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont over 1 1/8 miles. That could be important form, as he beat fellow competitors Golden Glider and Wester River that day. He has the breeding to last out in this race, he handles Belmont and he won his GIII by more than 10 lengths, so he has the class too. He is very interesting indeed.

Top Predictions

As always in American Grade I races, speed remains important despite the testing nature of the Belmont Stakes. Given the way the race was run, the speed shown by those in the Kentucky Derby was dragged out of them. Rich Strike boats the best figures, naturally, while more can be expected now of Mo Donegal with an easier trip.

Barber Road too may be getting closer in these big races, but has to turn around some losses. We The People is the most interesting horse. He was a wide margin winner of the Peter Pan and has so much more improvement left in him. His grandsire is Tapit, he has already handled Belmont and he is the most likely to peak on the day.

Here’s our 1-2-3-4 to use for win, place, show and exotic Belmont best bets:

• We The People
• Mo Donegal
• Barber Road
• Rich Strike

Odds for the Belmont Stakes

Current Belmont odds are mostly approximations at this stage. As the likely final field becomes apparent when we get closer to June 11, Belmont Stakes live odds will give us a much better idea of who may go off favorite for the 154^th running of the great race.

Two of the best three-year-olds around, Preakness winner Early Voting and Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter, look very unlikely to make the race. With that in mind, Belmont Stakes current odds look like this:

Horse	Odds
Mo Donegal	2/1
We The People	3/1
Rich Strike	5/1
Creative Minister	7/1
Nest	8/1
Barber Road	12/1
Ethereal Road	12/1
Skippylongstocking	15/1

Naturally, the Belmont Stakes odds will fluctuate between now and June 11. The schedule makes it tough for those coming from the Derby and/or the Preakness to take part. This means the fresher horses are often more seriously bet.

Belmont Stakes Payouts

There is no standardization of payouts in this race. So much depends on the Belmont Stakes live odds; how many bets are going onto each horse and how many eventually turn up to the race.

For information, here are the payouts for the 2021 Belmont Stakes.

Horse	Win	Place	Show
Essential Quality (1st)	$4.60	$3.00	$2.60
Hot Rod Charlie (2nd)		$4.10	$2.90
Rombauer (3rd)			$3.50

The $1 Exacta in this case, horses 2-4, paid $7.50. The $1 Trifecta (2-4-3) paid $21.70 and the $1 Superfecta (2-4-3-6) paid out $60.70.

Belmont Stakes Horses

Only when horses are shipped to Belmont work on the track will we get a proper idea of who may take part. We’ll only know for sure on Tuesday, June 7, when the final post position draw takes place for the race.

Right now, these horses are the most likely runners in the race.

Horse	Trainer	Last Start
Barber Road	John Alexander Ortiz	Kentucky Derby, 6th, May 7
Creative Minister	Kenneth G. McPeek	Preakness Stakes, 3rd, May 21
Ethereal Road	D. Wayne Lukas	Sir Barton Stakes, 1st, May 21
Golden Glider	Mark E. Casse	Peter Pan Stakes, 2nd, May 14
Mo Donegal	Todd A. Pletcher	Kentucky Derby, 5th, May 7
Nest	Todd A. Pletcher	Kentucky Oaks, 2nd, May 6
Rich Strike	Eric R. Reed	Kentucky Derby, 1st, May 7
Skippylongstocking	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	Preakness Stakes, 5th, May 21
Western River	Rodolphe Brisset	Peter Pan Stakes, 4th, May 14
We The People	Rodolphe Brisset	Peter Pan Stakes, 1st, May 14

Although far less likely to run, it may be wise to keep an eye on these horses too, as they may yet turn up to take part in the Test of the Champion:

Horse	Trainer	Last Start
Charge It	Todd A. Pletcher	Kentucky Derby, 17th, May 7
Messier	Tim Yakteen	Kentucky Derby, 15th, May 7
Smile Happy	Kenneth G. McPeek	Kentucky Derby, 8th, May 7
Taiba	Tim Yakteen	Kentucky Derby, 12th, May 7

Where to Bet on Belmont Stakes Online

Finding the Belmont Stakes best odds shouldn’t prove to be too difficult. Odds will change in the days leading up to the race, never more so than in the moments before the gates open at Belmont Park.

Some excellent sportsbooks operate bets on the Belmont. This means it’s simple for you to join in the fun, feeling invested in the race just as much as the horsemen involved in New York.

Finding the winner of this race is a challenge you should enjoy. With our help, however, you won’t need to be a pro handicapper. Many bettors will be using the sign-up offers at sites such as:

• TVG
• AmWager Racebook
• DRF Bets
• TwinSpires Racebook
• 4NJBets

Other sites will, of course, be available. Once you have joined up with your favored site and looked up Belmont predictions, you will be able to see all the key details to help you pick out your all-important Belmont Stakes bets.

How to Bet on the Belmont Stakes

You can bet the Belmont Stakes with any of the sites we’ve mentioned. Simply make sure you do your research, pick out a quality sports or racebook, and look for the best possible odds and new player offer before you sign up.

Signing Up

These days, using an online sportsbook or betting app is so simple.

1. Just head to the main site of the brand you want to use, or download their app.
2. Hit ‘sign up’ and follow the instructions.
3. Be sure to claim your new player bonus.
4. Read all the terms and conditions, especially those connected with the bonus.
5. Deposit money to your account.
6. Use your betting cash and bonus bets to wager on the Belmont Stakes.

Available Bets

If you go deep into what’s involved, then each site may offer various different bets. The best, most familiar bets available on the Belmont Stakes are:

• Win. You bet one horse to win the race. They must win for you to get a return.
• Place. One horse, which must finish first or second for a return.
• Show. One bet on one horse, which this time must finish in the first three.
• Exacta. One bet naming two horses to finish 1^st and 2^nd in the correct order.
• Trifecta. One bet naming three horses to finish 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd in the correct order.
• Superfecta. As above, but this time with four horses.
• Box Exacta/Trifecta/Superfecta. The box version of these bets means you pay more, but your horses can finish in the correct positions in any order and you get a return.

States with Legal Belmont Betting

You can bet on the Belmont Stakes online in New York, as well as a number of other states. For the most part, horse racing runs via different rules compared to other online sports betting.

Sports betting is becoming more and more widely available across the States. As of now, you can take Belmont horse odds in 31 states. They are:

• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Idaho
• illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

If you’re in any of these states, you’ll have no problems. Simply check with the recommended betting sites we’ve listed above that they are offering the latest Belmont Stakes odds in your area.

Belmont Stakes 2021 Results

The 2021 Belmont was all about redemption for favorite Essential Quality. The Godolphin colt had already won the Breeders’ Futurity, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Blue Grass before looking like an unlucky loser in the Kentucky Derby.

Brad Cox’s sophomore covered 8½ lengths more than the winner at Churchill Downs for a 1¼-length defeat. Now a strong favorite, he was not to let his many supporters down. Full 2021 Belmont result.

Position	Horse	Jockey	Odds	Margin	Winnings
1st	Essential Quality	Luis Saez	1.30	–	$800,000
2nd	Hot Rod Charlie	Flavien Prat	4.80	1¼	$280,000
3rd	Rombauer	John R. Velazquez	5.70	12½	$150,000
4th	Known Agenda	Jose L. Ortiz	6.60	13¼	$100,000
5th	Bourbonic	Kendrick Carmouche	14.70	15½	$60,000
6th	Rock Your World	Joel Rosario	5.00	22	$45,000
7th	Overtook	Manuel Franco	19.00	25¼	$35,000
8th	France Go de Ina	Ricardo Santana Jr.	27.25	Eased	$30,000

Odds for the Belmont didn’t fluctuate too much in this case. Essential Quality was the morning line favorite at 2/1. The track was fast this time which helped matters, though the winner did show great battling spirit and no little stamina in coming away from Hot Rod Charlie by 1¼ lengths.

To illustrate how good the form was, Essential Quality went on to win the Travers. He was also third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Hot Rod Charlie subsequently won the Pennsylvania Derby and was second in the 2024 Dubai World Cup.

History of the Belmont Stakes

The inaugural Belmont Stakes was actually held in The Bronx at Jerome Park. The race was named for August Belmont Sr., who was also partly responsible for building the racetrack. The first race was in 1867, won by a filly called Ruthless. Remaining at Jerome Park until 1890, the Belmont was moved to Morris Park. This track had a fifteen-year run until the brand-new Belmont Park was opened in 1905.

Belmont saw Sir Barton become the first Triple Crown winner in 1919, although he was given the title retrospectively as this was not recognized as a series until later on. The ‘Triple Crown’ term wasn’t used until Gallant Fox won all three big races in 1930. The race was held at nearby Aqueduct from 1963 until 1967 while Belmont was being renovated.

Soon after in 1973, the great Secretariat won the Belmont by an unbelievable 31 lengths. He did so in a record time of 2:24 for the mile-and-a-half, becoming a Triple Crown winner. He was the first since Citation 25 years earlier, while we waited until 1977 to see Seattle Slew win the Belmont and the Triple Crown, becoming the first undefeated horse to do so.

The wins in this race of American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 ended more long waits to see Triple Crown champions, their victory’s showing breeders, owners, trainers and jockeys that the feat can still be achieved.

FAQ

Your 2024 Belmont Stakes questions answered.