By the time the weekend rolls around, we know where the eyes of the sporting world will be. The Belmont Stakes is in the unfamiliar position of kicking off the Triple Crown series this season, and it’ll be coming our way on Saturday from Elmont, NY.
Since the Belmont is going first this time around, it’s also serving as a prep race for the Kentucky Derby with the top four finishers receiving points on a scale of 150-60-30-15. In addition, the length of the race has been reduced from the traditional 1 ½ miles to 1 ⅛ for this year’s edition.
The official field and post positions will be unveiled on Wednesday, but here’s what we know for now. There are at least eight runners expected with another two considered probable. Tiz the Law is looking like the top selection for the time being.
We’ll have to see what the draw looks like on Wednesday, and patiently wait to see how the betting action shakes out on Saturday. Either way, we can safely expect this highly-anticipated event to attract tons of volume and attention.
The week ahead in horse racing
The Belmont Stakes will be the icing on the cake for what shapes up to be a very busy week of racing. Here are the cards scheduled to run — as of this writing — over the next few days.
Monday, June 15
Arapahoe – 8 races at 4 pm ET
Assiniboia – 6 races at 7:35 pm ET
Fair Meadows – 12 races at 6 pm ET
Fairmount Park – 7 races at 4:30 pm ET
Fort Erie – 7 races at 1:20 pm ET
Indiana Grand – 11 races at 2:20 pm ET
Lone Star – 9 races at 1:35 pm ET
Louisiana Downs – 7 races at 3:05 pm ET
Mountaineer – 8 races at 7 pm ET
Tampa Bay – 8 races at 12:27 pm ET
Thistledown – 8 races at 12:50 pm ET
Tuesday, June 16
Arapahoe – 8 races at 4 pm ET
Assiniboia – 6 races at 7:35 pm ET
Belterra Park – 8 races at 12:35 pm ET
Canterbury Park – 11 races at 4:35 pm ET
Fair Meadows – 12 races at 6 pm ET
Fairmount Park – 12 races at 6 pm ET
Fort Erie – 8 races at 1:20 pm ET
Grants Pass – 8 races at 4 pm ET
Indiana Grand – 12 races at 2:20 pm ET
Lone Star – 9 races at 1:35 pm ET
Louisiana Downs – 7 races at 3:05 pm ET
Mountaineer – 8 races at 7 pm ET
Thistledown – 8 races at 12:50 pm ET
Wednesday, June 17
Ajax Downs – 7 races at 12:55 pm ET
Arapahoe – 8 races at 4 pm ET
Assiniboia – 6 races at 7:35 pm ET
Belterra Park – 8 races at 12:35 pm ET
Canterbury Park – 11 races at 4:35 pm ET
Delaware Park – 10 races at 1:15 pm ET
Delta Downs – 9 races at 5:15 pm ET
Evangeline – 9 races at 5:50 pm ET
Grants Pass – 8 races at 4 pm ET
Gulfstream Park – 10 races at 12 pm ET
Indiana Grand – 11 races at 2:20 pm ET
Lone Star – 9 races at 1:35 pm ET
Louisiana Downs – 7 races at 3:05 pm ET
Tampa Bay – 8 races at 12:27 pm ET
Thistledown – 8 races at 12:50 pm ET
Thursday, June 18
Belmont Park – 10 races at 1:15 pm ET
Belterra Park – 8 races at 12:35 pm ET
Canterbury Park – 9 races at 4:40 pm ET
Charles Town – 8 races at 7 pm ET
Churchill Downs – 9 races at 1 pm ET
Delta Downs – 9 races at 5:15 pm ET
Evangeline – 9 races at 5:50 pm ET
Indiana Grand – 11 races at 2:20 pm ET
Friday, June 19
Belmont Park – 10 races at 1:15 pm ET
Churchill Downs – 9 races at 1 pm ET
Delta Downs – 10 races at 6:15 pm ET
Evangeline – 9 races at 5:50 pm ET
Gulfstream Park – 9 races at 12 pm ET
Prairie Meadows – 9 races at 6 pm ET
Ruidoso Downs – 11 races at 1 pm MT
Santa Anita Park – 9 races at 1 pm PT
Carryovers to watch
We begin the week with a number of growing carryover pools to keep on the radar. Here are the biggest of the bunch with the next racing day for each.
Santa Anita Park Pick 6 – $924k – Friday, June 19
Assiniboia Downs Pick 5 – $256k – Monday, June 15
Belmont Park Pick 6 – $122k – Thursday, June 18
Charles Town Pick 6 – $111k – Thursday, June 18
Churchill Downs Pick 6 – $95k – Thursday, June 18
Lone Star Pick 6 – $38k – Monday, June 15
Tampa Bay Pick 6 – $36k – Monday, June 15
Gulfstream Park Pick 6 – $27k – Wednesday, June 17
Louisiana Downs Pick 5 – $18k – Monday, June 15
Best of luck and enjoy the week!
