The Belmont Stakes is the culmination of the Triple Crown season series. Even when the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes crown different champions, as they did this year, the Belmont still commands attention, especially from New York state horse racing fans.
Winning the “Test of a Champion,” as the Belmont Stakes is commonly known, resonates with racing fans for generations and secures a place in history for the horse, jockey, trainer and owner, with the latter three never forgetting the accomplishment.
Our guide to this major horse race will spotlight the top betting sites for Belmont Stakes wagers. We’ll break down the key horse racing betting options available for the race and explain some of the intricacies. Read on to discover more about online horse racing betting on the Belmont Stakes.
When is the Belmont Stakes?
The 2024 Belmont Stakes takes place on Saturday, June 8. The race is traditionally held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
- Track: Saratoga Race Course*
- Race: 13
- Post Time: 7:01 PM ET
- Race Status: Grade 1
- Distance: 1-1/4 miles*
- Conditions: Dirt
- Purse: $2,000,000
- Track: Left-handed
2024 Belmont Stakes Best Bets
The Belmont Stakes presents an intriguing paradigm shift in 2024 and 2025. As avid long-time followers of the sport know, the long-revered Belmont’s 12-furlong marathon, a grueling test of stamina for even the most seasoned contenders, will not be in play for the next two years.
The upcoming relocation of the Belmont festivities is to Saratoga Race Course. This will result in a reduction of distance to 10 furlongs (same as the Kentucky Derby). This will undoubtedly rub some folks the wrong way, yet, in truth, that only matters if a horse captures the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Luckily, that’s not the case this year.
| 2024 Belmont Stakes Best Bets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Top Win Candidates | Top Exacta, Trifecta and Superfecta | Top Longshot to Win |
| Sierra Leone | Seize the Grey | Antiquarian |
| Mindframe | Antiquarian | |
| Mystik Dan | The Wine Stewart | |
Where to Bet the Belmont Stakes
SELECT SCORE:
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- Dynamic Betting Variety
- User-Friendly Interface
- Daily Odds Boosts
- Multilingual Support
SELECT SCORE:
5
SELECT SCORE:
5
- Dynamic Betting Variety
- User-Friendly Interface
- Daily Odds Boosts
- Multilingual Support
SELECT SCORE:
5
SELECT SCORE:
5
- Lucrative Rewards Program
- Exciting Odds Boost Promotions
- User-friendly Interface
- Depth of sports coverage
Be sure to review the Preakness Stakes betting options available in your state, as they can vary by location. For example, Bet365 offers fixed odds in Colorado (see our Bet365 Review), so it’s crucial to explore what your local providers are allowed to offer.
2024 Belmont Stakes Probable Starters
The “Test of a Champion” phrase won’t be on full display for the Triple Crown race because Saratoga is not configured to run horses for one and a half miles and will instead use 10 furlongs, just like the Ky Derby.
With no Triple Crown possible, the field is as good as it seemingly could be, with the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner ready to run. In all, five horses that ran at Churchill five weeks ago are in the race.
Here is a betting tip to follow, the favorite finished first or second in the last seven years. Here is the field:
| Post | Horse | Rating | Jockey | Last Start | W-P-S Record | ML Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seize The Grey | 7.87 | Jaime Torres | 1st, 2024 Preakness Stakes G1 | 10: 4-0-3 | 8-1 |
| 2 | Resilience | 7.46 | Junior Alvarado | 6th, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 | 7: 2-1-1 | 10-1 |
| 3 | Mystik Dan | 7.98 | Brian J. Hernandez, Jr. | 2nd, 2024 Preakness Stakes G1 | 8: 3-2-1 | 5-1 |
| 4 | The Wine Steward | 6.35 | Manuel Franco | 2nd, 2024 Peter Pan G3 | 6: 3-3-0 | 15-1 |
| 5 | Antiquarian | 6.45 | John R. Velazquez | 1st, 2024 Peter Pan G3 | 4: 2-1-0 | 12-1 |
| 6 | Dornoch | 7.17 | Luis Saez | 10th, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 | 7: 3-2-0 | 15-1 |
| 7 | Protective | 0.00 | Tyler Gaffalione | 3rd, 2024 Peter Pan G3 | 4: 0-1-2 | 20-1 |
| 8 | Honor Marie | 6.80 | Florent Geroux | 8th, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 | 6: 2-2-0 | 10-1 |
| 9 | Sierra Leone | 7.90 | Flavien Prat | 2nd, 2024 Kentucky Derby G1 | 5: 3-2-0 | 9-5 |
| 10 | Mindframe | 6.87 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 1st, CD AlwOC (5/4/24-R3) | 2: 2-0-0 | 7-2 |
2024 Belmont Stakes Early Preview
Top Win Candidates
Sierra Leone (9-5 odds) is the early favorite and it is easy to understand why. In five races he’s won three times and finished second by a nose on the other two occasions, which happened at the Kentucky Derby. With five weeks between races, SL should be fresh and eager and trainer Chad Brown and the ownership group made a change in jockeys to Flavien Prat. We are not expecting Sierra Leone to be on the lead coming off the second turn, but expect him to be in a stalking position to pounce and go for the lead. A deserving win contender.
Derby winner Mystik Dan (5-1) will try to make two out of three for the Triple Crown this year. He showed at the Preakness he’s more than a mudder finishing a valiant second, and has more versatility than presumed by the horse racing community. Trainer Ken McPeek didn’t have to run MD in this race to prove anything, but his horse has responded in training and he knows he can handle this distance. When watching the Belmont, the expectation is jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will get Mystik Dan to the rail and if that works, this colt could win again.
Seize the Grey (8-1) seized the moment at the Preakness, going gate to wire for the win. It was a brilliant strategy move by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, as nobody other than him and his jockey thought that could work. Racing reports have StG training well and with lots of energy, which is normally a good sign that a horse wants to run. The pedigree suggests the modestly longer distance won’t matter. He’s one of only three horses with a triple-digit speed rating in the race (Mystike Dan and Mindframe are the others). A legit contender and fits on exacta and trifecta cards.
The current second choice by betting odds is Mindframe (7-2). This horse has only raced twice, but went to the winners’ circle each time, winning by 21 1/4 total lengths. Nobody is questioning the talent of Mindframe, yet there are doubters about his lack of experience and he’s not only racing in his first stakes race but against G1 competition for the first time. Mindframe’s current odds don’t make him much of a play to win, thus, wait until Saturday and see if he drops, offering more value on what is a talented horse that reminds many of last year’s Belmont winner, Arcangelo.
Top Longshot to Win
The top pick in this category by most horse experts is Antiquarian (12-1). A month ago he put together a winning effort at the Peter Pan (G2) and looked the part of a strong stalker who made a move and took over. Having a jockey like veteran John Velazquez is a big plus along with trainer Todd Pletcher, who is a four-time Belmont winner. A firm contender and fits all the exotic wagers.
Honor Marie (12-1) was highly regarded coming into the Derby as a long shot but was bounced around earlier and did not respond afterward. There is talent as was proven at the Louisiana Derby, just might not have enough late closing speed.
Resilience (10-1) was a respectable 6th at the KY Derby and trainer Bill Mott decided this was the best spot for his thoroughbred. The training has gone well since, nevertheless, at best a Show bet and probably superfecta tickets.
The Wine Stewart (15-1) has a catchy name and above-average ability. He’s been held back by allergies, which cost him trips for last November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and also at Gulfstream this spring. He made his three-year debut in April at the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, finishing second. Later, at the Peter Pan, TWS was nicely positioned until Antiquarian ran him down, losing by three-quarters of a length. He’s never finished lower than second in six starts (3-Win & 3-Place) and will show up on exotic tickets.
Belmont's Historical Legacy is Often Unforgettable
For horse racing handicappers, delving into the Belmont’s rich history evokes a profound sense of reverence. Dating back to 1867, this storied race predates its Triple Crown counterparts, serving as a beacon of tradition and excellence in the sport.
Iconic moments like Secretariat’s awe-inspiring dominance in 1973 are still regularly watched on YouTube by fans of the sport.
The unforgettable duel between Affirmed and Alydar in 1978 exemplifies the timeless allure of the Belmont Stakes, especially with the Triple Crown on the line as it was that day.
More modern race fans saw something in 2015 that had not occurred in a generation of watching Triple Crown races when American Pharoah won the Belmont Stakes, ending a period of 37 long years of one horse winning all three major races.
Belmont Stakes Fascinating Facts
- The Belmont Stakes is older than the Kentucky Derby or Preakness
- The Belmont Stakes (1867) is the fourth oldest stakes race in North America, originally the Phoenix Stakes, at Keeneland (1831); the Queen’s Plate in Canada (1860); and the Travers at Saratoga (1864).
- The original Belmont Stakes was even longer at a mile and 5/8 and was not reduced to a mile and ½ until 1927.
- From its origin until 1921, the Belmont was run counter-clockwise (like various non-North American race tracks do).
- The winner of the 1999 Belmont Stakes was a name for the ages: Lemon Drop Kid, owned by Jeanne Vance, and the future winner of the Travers, Whitney and Woodward. The Lemon Drop Kid is a 1951 comedy film starring Bob Hope as a racetrack tout; it is based on the short story of the same name by Damon Runyon.
- After the 2018 Belmont Stakes, Justify was retired to follow Seattle Slew as the only Triple Crown winners to take the title without having lost a race. Justify won all six of his career starts.
- Trainer Jena Antonucci when Arcangelo stormed up the rail to capture the 2023 Belmont Stakes, marking the first time in history that a female trainer had won a Triple Crown race.
The Belmont Still Matters Even Without a Triple Crown on the Line
In the history of horse racing and handicapping, there have only been 13 horses that won the Belmont after winning the Derby and Preakness.
That rarity is brought to life knowing there were 23 other instances of a three-year-old horse capturing the initial two races only to come up short in the longest and toughest one. Though we don’t know at the time this article was posted, the hope is the Kentucky Derby will join the Preakness winner to run at Saratoga generating the possibility of another head-to-head duel we saw in Baltimore.
If one of those champions would win the Belmont, he’s a contender for Horse of the Year.
Belmont Stakes Post Time
As of May 22nd, 2024, the post position for the 155th Belmont Stakes is yet to be officially announced, however, it’s believed that it will be the same as last year.
Nine horses vied for victory on the second weekend in June, with the Belmont Stakes starting at 6:50 P.M. local time (EST) on Saturday, June 10, 2023.
Track conditions for the 2023 Belmont Stakes were quite unusual. Belmont Park, located in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City, faced challenges due to smoke from Canadian wildfires, which resulted in potentially hazardous air quality. Racing was canceled on Thursday before the race due to air quality concerns, but conditions improved enough for the horses to run on time. On Thursday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) registered a concerning 155 (where the ideal range is 0-50), but it dropped to as low as 57 on Friday.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority mandates that if the AQI exceeds 100, officials must “monitor the facility daily if the AQI consistently reaches 100 and there is cause for concern in the local environment.” Governor Kathy Hochul announced that if the AQI surpassed 200 on Saturday, the event would need to be postponed.
Fortunately, the race proceeded as scheduled. It was broadcast on FOX Sports, with some online sports betting sites offering streams and replays of the event.
Belmont Stakes Betting Odds
Immediately following the post position draw, the track handicapper will release the Morning Line odds. These odds represent the handicapper’s best estimate of the pari-mutuel payout each horse will offer, and are only available for win bets.
Bets placed on race day will be settled based on the pari-mutuel dividends for each market, with the tote board displaying the payout for each $1, $2, or $0.50 wagered.
Types of Bets Available at Belmont Stakes
You can choose from a wide range of straight bets and exotic wagers on Belmont Stakes Day. Here are the key online betting options that racebooks release after the post positions are revealed:
- Win: A simple wager on the first horse past the post, the most popular horse racing betting option.
- Place: A wager on a horse to finish first or second.
- Show: A wager on a horse to secure a first-place, second-place, or third-place finish.
- Exacta: Predict the winning horse and the second-place horse in that exact order.
- Trifecta: A wager on the winner, runner-up, and third-place horse, in that order.
- Superfecta: A bet on the first four horses past the post.
- Pick 3: A bet on the horse that finishes first in three consecutive races. These types of bets can also be placed on up to six races.
Belmont Stakes Post Position Draw
The post position draw date for 2024 has not been announced yet. The post position draw for the 155th Belmont Stakes took place on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, with the race run on the following Saturday, June 10, 2023.
The Belmont Stakes is typically held on the first or second Saturday in June, five weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes. Starting gate assignments for the race are determined by a random selection process a few days prior to the event.
In this process, numbered tokens are placed into a machine, similar to a lottery or sweepstakes draw. Representatives for each horse then draw these tokens to determine the order in which horses will choose their starting positions.
The first horse to draw gets the first choice of starting gate, and this selection process continues until all participating horses have chosen their gates.
Belmont Stakes History
The inaugural Belmont Stakes took place in 1867, established by financier and sportsman August Belmont Sr. as a gathering point for New York’s elite society. Initially, the event was small-scale, featuring only a handful of competing horses.
However, over time, the race grew in prominence, drawing larger audiences and offering higher prize money. By the early 20th century, the Belmont Stakes had become one of America’s premier sporting events, attracting thousands of spectators from around the globe.
The race has developed several traditions over the years, such as its iconic white carnations, Belmont Jewel cocktails, and the playing of “New York, New York” before the start of each race.
Since its inception in the 19th century, spectators have placed bets on horse finishes. In the early years, betting was informal, with spectators wagering among themselves. By 1910, the need for a more structured system became apparent, leading to the introduction of the pari-mutuel betting system by the New York State Racing Commission.
Since then, betting on the Belmont Stakes has grown in popularity, with millions of dollars wagered each year. From traditional win, place, and show bets to more complex bet types like exacta and trifecta, a wide array of wagering options is available to horseplayers.
Today, comparing horse betting odds across multiple online racebooks is simple; modern horse racing betting sites offer extensive tools for handicapping races and provide attractive bonuses to retain their users.
The Belmont Stakes remains the final jewel in the Triple Crown, and it will be fascinating to see how the betting landscape evolves as these incredible races continue to captivate audiences each year.