2025 Belmont Stakes betting guide

Every year in June, horses thunder down “the Championship Track” at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY.

The Belmont Stakes is a Grade 1 race of 1.5 miles (or 12 furlongs). It is also the third jewel in the glittering Triple Crown series. In fact, the Belmont Stakes is the final test for competitors going for the coveted Triple Crown.

The Stakes’ run date is normally either the first or second Saturday in June, which is five weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes.

The 157th running of the Belmont Stakes is June 7, 2025.

The Belmont Stakes is the final “Test of the Champion” that has had many legendary horses run on its historic track over the years. Nearly every American champion horse in the history of US racing has competed on the legendary Belmont Track.

In the tradition of the names for its Triple Crown predecessors, the Belmont Stakes is also known as “the Run for the Carnations,” following the Kentucky Derby’s roses and the Preakness Stakes’ black-eyed Susans.

 

2025 Belmont Stakes odds

The Belmont Stakes is the most grueling horse race of all the Triple Crown races. For that reason, you can expect the betting field to be fierce. Helping you make heads or tails of what’s happening, make sure you check out what’s below before you place a bet.

Here’s a look at this year’s early odds:

Post	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Current Odds
1	Hill Road	Chad Brown	Irad Ortiz Jr.	10-1
2	Sovereignty	Bill Mott	Junior Alvarado	2-1
3	Rodriguez	Bob Baffert	Mike Smith	6-1
4	Uncaged	Todd Pletcher	Luis Saez	30-1
5	Crudo	Todd Pletcher	John Velazquez	15-1
6	Baeza	John Shirreffs	Flavien Prat	4-1
7	Journalism	Michael McCarthy	Umberto Rispoli	8-5
8	Heart of Honor	Jamie Osborne	Saffie Osborne	30-1

Belmont Stakes traditions

The Belmont Stakes is known to be the most difficult of the Triple Crown races.

The winning horse of the Belmont Stakes is draped with a blanket of white carnations upon victory. The “blanket” is approximately 700 carnations and weighs around 40 pounds. The carnations are imported from Columbia.

Also, the winner is presented with the famous trophy designed by Paulding Farnham and Tiffany & Co.

The Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes have traditions more or less set in stone. The Belmont Stakes, on the other hand, is a little more lax when it comes to fanfare.

The post-parade song for the race was “Sidewalks of New York” until 1996. The following year, it was “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra.

In 2010, the parade song was changed once again, this time to Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind,” which was not well-received, and so “New York, New York” made a comeback.

No race in the Triple Crown has a more modern feel than the Belmont Stakes. However, don’t let the 21st-century edge of this race fool you. The race is as grueling as it gets.

How to bet on the Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes is a big deal, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It might not be quite as prominent as the Kentucky Derby, but it’s no less action-packed. With a race as big as this one, there are several ways to get in on the action.

Here’s how you can lay down a wager on the most challenging race in the Triple Crown:

Online betting

Since horses were domesticated, humans have raced and placed bets on horse races.

The tradition and culture of horse racing have ancient roots, and major racing events are in almost every part of the world. The US boasts a rich history of horse racing, with the Triple Crown series being the oldest sporting event in the country’s history.

In 41 states, online betting on horse racing is legal, while betting at a racetrack is legal in all states.

FanDuel Racing is our top choice for making bets on the Belmont. With an easy-to-understand interface and enticing welcome bonus, FanDuel Racing has all you’ll need to get in on the action this year.

Betting at a teller

The most traditional way to bet the Belmont is at a teller window.

Newcomers may be self-conscious or take too long to place a bet; however, there’s an easy way around this. When you’re placing a bet at the teller at Belmont or at another track, follow this formula so that the transaction is quick and easy.

Give the teller the following information:

• First, the racetrack (if you’re not at the racetrack in question) and race number.
• Then, your bet amount and what type of bet you’re wagering.
• Lastly, the horse’s program number.

Follow that order, and you can’t go wrong when betting on the Belmont Stakes.

Most importantly, keep your bet slip safe in your pocket or hatband, as you cannot collect any winnings without it.

Off-track betting

Off-track betting (OTB) facilities are great if you can’t get to the physical track and don’t want to bet online. OTBs allow you to place your bet on your favorite horse to win, place, or show — or whatever bet you fancy — at the Belmont Stakes.

Off-track betting takes place at secure locations, no matter if you’re gearing for a big win at Belmont or just an everyday bet on a track somewhere in the world.

Types of bets at the Belmont Stakes

There are a few types of bets you can place in the Belmont Stakes and on horse racing, in general.

The three straight bets are win, place, and show.

A win bet is picking the horse that will win, a place bet is a bet on a horse to finish first or second, and the show bet is a bet on a horse to finish third or higher.

Exotic wagers can get you a bigger payout, but the chances of winning them are lower. The exotic bets are where things get interesting, as the odds can skyrocket in a flash.

Placing an exacta bet means betting on two horses to win in the correct order. A trifecta bet is the same wager with three horses. A superfecta bet is betting on four horses in the correct order. The super high five bet is, you guessed it, wagering on five horses in the correct order. That one has a substantial payout but is very hard to hit.

There is a world of bets beyond this that a little research will uncover.

Racing at Belmont

Belmont Park, home of the Belmont Stakes, hosts a dirt track that measures 1.5 miles. The race is precisely one lap around the track.

It is also one of the fairest tracks, although the inside lane seems the most favorable. Since 2013, most of the winners of the Belmont Stakes have started in the rail position.

The Triple Crown races are a formidable test for only the best racehorses. All three legs are run over five weeks. While Belmont Park keeps its track in pristine condition, the track, nicknamed “Big Sandy,” has foiled many would-be winners, many times because the track is wet from rain.

Because Belmont is the longest track of the three Triple Crown races, it can be tiring for the horses and drives home the intensity of the race. Winning the Belmont Stakes is not an easy feat.

How to watch the Belmont Stakes

Since 2023, the Belmont Stakes is broadcast on Fox TV.  The race can also be livestreamed on the Fox Sports app.

The race can also be viewed on several subscription services, including Hulu+ Live TV and YouTube.

Coverage of the 2025 race begins at 3 p.m. ET.

History of the Belmont Stakes

The inaugural Belmont Stakes race was run in 1867. It was won by Ruthless. The horse was one of only 24 fillies that have competed in the Belmont, and one of only three ever to win it. The other two are Tanya in 1905 and Rags to Riches in 2007.

The Belmont Stakes is named for New York businessman August Belmont. His son, August Belmont Jr., built Belmont Park in 1905 in honor of his father, where the race has found its home, other than a brief time at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The three races — the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes — became known as the Triple Crown in 1930 after Gallant Fox won all three of them. The order of the races was established the next year. There have been times when the Belmont occurred before the Preakness, but it has never been run before the Derby.

The largest crowd to attend the Belmont Stakes was in 2004, when Smarty Jones was attempting to capture the Triple Crown. He was defeated by Birdstone.

Here are all the winners of the Belmont Stakes:

Year	Horse	Jockey	Time
2024	Dornoch	Luis Saez	2:01:64
2023	Arcangelo	Javier Castellano	2:29:23
2022	Mo Donegal	Irad Ortiz Jr.	2:28:28
2021	Essential Quality	Luis Saez	2:27.11
2020	Tiz the Law	Manny Franco	1:46.53 (1-1/8 mile)
2019	Sir Winston	Joel Rosario	2:28.30
2018	Justify	Mike Smith	2:28.18
2017	Tapwrit	Jose Ortiz	2:30.02
2016	Creator	Irad Ortiz Jr.	2:28.51
2015	American Pharoah	Victor Espinoza	2:26.65
2014	Tonalist	Joel Rosario	2:28.52
2013	Palace Malice	Mike Smith	2:30.70
2012	Union Rags	John Velazquez	2:30.42
2011	Ruler on Ice	Jose Valdivia Jr.	2:30.88
2010	Drosselmeyer	Mike Smith	2:31.57
2009	Summer Bird	Kent Desormeaux	2:27.54
2008	Da'Tara	Alan Garcia	2:29.65
2007	Rags to Riches	John Velazquez	2:28.74
2006	Jazil	Fernando Jara	2:27.86
2005	Afleet Alex	Jeremy Rose	2:28.75
2004	Birdstone	Edgar Prado	2:27.50
2003	Empire Maker	Jerry Bailey	2:28.26
2002	Sarava	Edgar Prado	2:29.71
2001	Point Given	Gary Stevens	2:26.56
2000	Commendable	Pat Day	2:31.19
1999	Lemon Drop Kid	Jose Santos	2:27.88
1998	Victory Gallop	Gary Stevens	2:29.16
1997	Touch Gold	Chris McCarron	2:28.82
1996	Editor's Note	Rene R. Douglas	2:28.96
1995	Thunder Gulch	Gary Stevens	2:32.02
1994	Tabasco Cat	Pat Day	2:26.82
1993	Colonial Affair	Julie Krone	2:29.97
1992	A.P. Indy	Ed Delahoussaye	2:26.13
1991	Hansel	Jerry Bailey	2:28.10
1990	Go And Go	Michael Kinane	2:27.20
1989	Easy Goer	Pat Day	2:26.00
1988	Risen Star	Ed Delahoussaye	2:26.40
1987	Bet Twice	Craig Perret	2:28.20
1986	Danzig Connection	Chris McCarron	2:29.80
1985	Creme Fraiche	Eddie Maple	2:27.00
1984	Swale	Laffit Pincay Jr.	2:27.20
1983	Caveat		2:27.80
1982	Conquistador Cielo		2:28.20
1981	Summing	George Martens	2:29.00
1980	Temperence Hill	Eddie Maple	2:29.80
1979	Coastal	Ruben Hernandez	2:28.60
1978	Affirmed	Steve Cauthen	2:26.80
1977	Seattle Slew	Jean Cruguet	2:29.60
1976	Bold Forbes	Angel Cordero Jr.	2:29.00
1975	Avatar	Bill Shoemaker	2:28.20
1974	Little Current	Miguel A. Rivera	2:29.20
1973	Secretariat	Ron Turcotte	2:24.00
1972	Riva Ridge		2:28.00
1971	Pass Catcher	Walter Blum	2:30.40
1970	High Echelon	John L. Rotz	2:34.00
1969	Arts and Letters	Braulio Baeza	2:28.80
1968	Stage Door Johnny	Heliodoro Gustines	2:27.20
1967	Damascus	Bill Shoemaker	2:28.80
1966	Amberoid	William Boland	2:29.60
1965	Hail To All	Johnny Sellers	2:28.40
1964	Quadrangle	Manuel Ycaza	2:28.40
1963	Chateaugay	Braulio Baeza	2:30.20
1962	Jaipur	Bill Shoemaker	2:28.80
1961	Sherluck	Braulio Baeza	2:29.20
1960	Celtic Ash	Bill Hartack	2:29.20
1959	Sword Dancer	Bill Shoemaker	2:28.40
1958	Cavan	Pete Anderson	2:30.20
1957	Gallant Man	Bill Shoemaker	2:26.60
1956	Needles	David Erb	2:29.80
1955	Nashua	Eddie Arcaro	2:29.00
1954	High Gun	Eric Guerin	2:30.80
1953	Native Dancer		2:28.60
1952	One Count	Eddie Arcaro	2:30.20
1951	Counterpoint	David Gorman	2:29.00
1950	Middleground	William Boland	2:28.60
1949	Capot	Ted Atkinson	2:30.20
1948	Citation	Eddie Arcaro	2:28.20
1947	Phalanx	Ruperto Donoso	2:29.40
1946	Assault	Warren Mehrtens	2:30.80
1945	Pavot	Eddie Arcaro	2:30.20
1944	Bounding Home	Gayle Smith	2:32.20
1943	Count Fleet	Johnny Longden	2:28.20
1942	Shut Out	Eddie Arcaro	2:29.20
1941	Whirlaway		2:31.00
1940	Bimelech	Fred A. Smith	2:29.60
1939	Johnstown	James Stout	2:29.60
1938	Pasteurized		2:29.40
1937	War Admiral	Charley Kurtsinger	2:28.60
1936	Granville	James Stout	2:30.00
1935	Omaha	Willie Saunders	2:30.60
1934	Peace Chance	Wayne D. Wright	2:29.20
1933	Hurryoff	Mack Garner	2:32.60
1932	Faireno	Tommy Malley	2:32.80
1931	Twenty Grand	Charley Kurtsinger	2:29.60
1930	Gallant Fox	Earl Sande	2:31.60
1929	Blue Larkspur	Mack Garner	2:32.80
1928	Vito	Clarence Kummer	2:33.20
1927	Chance Shot	Earl Sande	2:32.40
1926	Crusader	Albert Johnson	2:32.20
1925	American Flag	Albert Johnson	2:16.80
1924	Mad Play	Earl Sande	2:18.80
1923	Zev		2:19.00
1922	Pillory	Charles H. Miller	2:18.80
1921	Grey Lag	Earl Sande	2:16.80
1920	Man o' War	Clarence Kummer	2:14.20
1919	Sir Barton	Johnny Loftus	2:17.40
1918	Johren	Frank Robinson	2:20.40
1917	Hourless	James H. Butwell	2:17.80
1916	Friar Rock	Everett Haynes	2:22.00
1915	The Finn	George Byrne	2:18.40
1914	Luke McLuke	Merritt C. Buxton	2:20.00
1913	Prince Eugene	Roscoe Troxler	2:18.00
1912	N/A	N/A	N/A
1911	N/A	N/A	N/A
1910	Sweep	James H. Butwell	2:22.00
1909	Joe Madden	Eddie Dugan	2:21.60
1908	Colin	Joe Notter	N/A
1907	Peter Pan	George Mountain	N/A
1906	Burgomaster	Lucien Lyne	2:20.00
1905	Tanya	Gene Hildebrand	2:08.00
1904	Delhi	George M. Odom	2:06.60
1903	Africander	John Bullman	2:21.75
1902	Masterman		2:22.60
1901	Commando	Henry Spencer	2:21.00
1900	Ildrim	Nash Turner	2:21.25
1899	Jean Bereaud	Richard Clawson	2:23.00
1898	Bowling Brook	Fred Littlefield	2:32.00
1897	Scottish Chieftain	Joe Scherrer	2:23.25
1896	Hastings	Henry Griffin	2:24.50
1895	Belmar	Fred Taral	2:11.50
1894	Henry of Navarre	Willie Simms	1:56.50
1893	Comanche		1:53.25
1892	Patron	William Hayward	2:17.00
1891	Foxford	Edward H. Garrison	2:08.75
1890	Burlington	Shelby "Pike" Barnes	2:07.75
1889	Eric	William Hayward	2:47.25
1888	Sir Dixon	Jim McLaughlin	2:40.25
1887	Hanover		2:43.50
1886	Inspector B		2:41.00
1885	Tyrant	Patsy Duffy	2:43.00
1884	Panique	Jim McLaughlin	2:42.00
1883	George Kinney		2:42.50
1882	Forester		2:43.00
1881	Saunterer	Tom Costello	2:47.00
1880	Grenada	W. Hughes	2:47.00
1879	Spendthrift	George Evans	2:42.75
1878	Duke of Magenta	W. Hughes	2:43.50
1877	Cloverbrook	Cyrus Holloway	2:46.00
1876	Algerine	Billy Donohue	2:40.50
1875	Calvin	Robert Swim	2:42.25
1874	Saxon	George Barbee	2:39.50
1873	Springbok	James G. Rowe Sr.	3:01.75
1872	Joe Daniels		2:58.25
1871	Harry Bassett	W. Miller	2:56.00
1870	Kingfisher	Edward D. Brown	2:59.50
1869	Fenian	C. Miller	3:04.25
1868	General Duke	Robert Swim	3:02.00
1867	Ruthless	Gilbert Patrick	3:05.00