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.
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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 |
Belmont Stakes FAQ
The 2025 Belmont Stakes is on Saturday, June 7.
While the Belmont Stakes has a maximum capacity of 16 horses, usually just half of that race each year. Because of the long length of the track (1-1/2 miles), many owners choose to opt out of the Belmont. In some years, only five or six horses have competed in the race.
The 2024 winner of the Belmont Stakes, Dornoch, collected $1.2 million, which was 60% of the $2 million purse. The second-place horse collected $360,000, and the third-place horse received $200,000.
Post time for the 2025 Belmont Stakes is 6:50 p.m. ET.
The legendary Secretariat is the fastest horse to win the Belmont on its 1-1/2-mile track. Considered the greatest thoroughbred of all time, Secretariat ran the 1973 race in 2:24 flat, outpacing the second-place horse by a staggering 31 lengths. In winning the Triple Crown that year, Secretariat also set the track records at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.