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2025 Belmont Stakes Betting Guide
The Belmont Stakes, a prestigious horse racing event that draws the best 3-year-old horses from across the country, is held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. This exciting race spans 1½ miles and traditionally takes place on either the first or second Saturday of June, occurring three weeks after the Preakness.
The following page provides an overview of the Belmont’s prestigious status, the various betting factors, and the event’s trends, solidifying New York as the epicenter of the horse-racing realm.
Best Belmont Stakes betting app in New York
2025 Belmont Stakes odds and betting favorites
FanDuel Racing has provided the horses, pole positions, and morning line odds for the 2025 Belmont Stakes.
| Post Position | Horse | Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | We The People | Flavien Prat | 2/1 |
| 2 | Skippylongstocking | Manuel Franco | 20/1 |
| 3 | Nest | Jose Ortiz | 8/1 |
| 4 | Rich Strike | Sonny Leon | 7/2 |
| 5 | Creative Minister | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | 6/1 |
| 6 | Mo Donegal | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 5/2 |
| 7 | Golden Glider | Dylan Davis | 20/1 |
| 8 | Barber Road | Joel Rosario | 10/1 |
How to bet on the Belmont Stakes in NY
If you are a bettor in New York eager to participate in the Belmont Stakes, the ideal choice for you is the FanDuel Racing horse betting app.
Users can place bets using their cell phones, computers, or tablets on the platform.
Additionally, if spectators are permitted, racetracks across the Empire State will undoubtedly make arrangements to accommodate them. Simulcasting facilities will also do the same.
As the event date approaches, bettors can refer to and/or visit the tracks in New York for their betting needs.
| Facility | Address | City |
|---|---|---|
| Aqueduct | 11000 Rockaway Blvd | Ozone Park |
| Belmont Park | 2150 Hempstead Turnpike | Elmont |
| Buffalo Raceway | 5600 McKinley Parkway | Hamburg |
| Finger Lakes | 5857 NY-96 | Farmington |
| Monticello Raceway | 204 NY 17 B | Monticello |
| Saratoga Race Course | 267 Union Ave | Saratoga Springs |
| Tioga Downs | 2834 W. River Rd | Nichols |
| Vernon Downs | 4229 Stuhlman Rd | Vernon |
| Yonkers Raceway | 810 Yonkers Ave | Yonkers |
Common types of bets
The New York racing industry has consistently set the bar high when it comes to generating betting excitement. One of the key factors behind this success is their ability to offer reasonable takeout percentages. These percentages indicate the portion of each wagered dollar that the track retains. The New York Racing Association, in particular, stands out as a top-notch organization for win, place, and show bets.
- 15%: Pick 5
- 16%: Win, Place, Show
- The following betting options are available: Exacta, Quinella, and Daily Double, all with an 18.5% chance of winning.
- 20%: Empire 6
- 24 percent of the available betting options include Trifecta, Superfecta, Grand Slam, Pick 3, and Pick 4.
Gamblers will find the win bet more appealing due to its enhanced playability. Numerous types of bets are readily available for exploration.
- To secure a victory, place your bet on the horse that is most likely to win. The odds for any potential winner in this race are favorable, considering the strong competition. The minimum bet required is typically $2.
- Requirement: A horse must come in second place or above.
- Exhibition: The horse should finish in third place or higher. Place and show bets yield lower payouts compared to win wagers but provide additional chances to win a prize.
- Exactas: Choose the order in which the top two finishers will place. It is recommended to box them for added assurance. It would be disappointing to have the correct two horses but in the incorrect order.
- Trifectas are bets where you predict the top three finishers in a race, in the exact order. There are different ways to place this bet, such as a straight bet, a box bet with three or more horses, or a partial wheel. <br><br>If you choose to place a $1 trifecta box bet with three horses, it will cost you $6. With this type of bet, any combination of these three horses finishing in the top three positions will make your ticket a winner. <br><br>On the other hand, you can also place a $1 trifecta key bet for the same $6. This involves selecting one horse to win, followed by three other horses to fill the second and third positions. For example, a $1 trifecta key with the “1” over the “2-3-4” means that the 1 horse must win, and any combination of the “2-3-4” in the next two slots will result in a winning ticket. <br><br>If you want to increase your chances of winning, you can spend $12 to include the 1 horse in both the first and second positions, along with the other three horses. The same principle applies if the 1 horse finishes second, where the others must fill in the first and third positions.
- The Superfecta entails selecting the top four horses in their precise order. Trifecta combinations can be utilized interchangeably. Achieving a Superfecta is challenging yet potentially profitable. However, the strategy of keying a horse can also prove advantageous, as exemplified in the 2019 Belmont event.
Handicapping the Belmont Stakes
Pedigree is the primary factor when considering a horse’s potential. A horse that has triumphed in both the Derby and Preakness will be given top priority.
However, horses that emerge from the Derby and Preakness races should be given extra attention. These races filter out the weaker contenders. Nonetheless, it is worth noting the horses that solely participate in the Belmont without competing in the previous two races. These horses might be more rested, which has caused frustration among trainers who subject their horses to all three Triple Crown events.
The aspect of training holds significant importance as well. Take, for instance, the noteworthy achievements of Bob Baffert, who successfully trained two previous Triple Crown champions, namely American Pharoah and Justify. Additionally, Todd Pletcher has also demonstrated his expertise by training three winners at the Belmont Stakes throughout his career.
The distance angle poses a challenge due to the distinctiveness of the 1½-mile route. Horses seldom have the opportunity to regularly compete in races of this distance. Consequently, on occasion, such as in 2019, victory may favor the horse that manages to navigate the course most advantageously.
Despite his previous failures in Grade 3 events earlier in the year, Sir Winston managed to triumph in this Grade 1 event by combining his determination and strategic positioning. Throughout the race, he cleverly navigated the inside track, saving ground and ultimately seizing the lead in the final moments. Despite Tacitus’ previous victory over Sir Winston, he was unable to close the gap after taking a wider path in this race.
Take into consideration the speed factor. The distance is often too demanding for a horse to take an early lead, fend off competitors, and emerge victorious. Instead, many successful contenders utilize the initial mile and a quarter to stay within reach of the leading pack, make their move towards the outer track, and triumph over the frontrunners in the final stretch.
The outcome is often determined by a well-timed move, as the eventual winner may not be leading at the top of the stretch.
Prestige of the Belmont
With its inaugural race dating back to 1867, the Belmont holds a renowned status within the industry.
Not only is it the oldest Triple Crown competition, but it also ranks as the fourth-oldest race in North America, preceded only by the Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland (1831), the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine (1860), and the Travers at Saratoga Springs (1864).
Throughout its history, the Belmont has served as the venue for 36 attempts to achieve the coveted Triple Crown Sweep. Out of these attempts, thirteen horses emerged victorious in the Belmont Stakes after securing wins in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes earlier that year.
A $5 million bonus at the time for a Triple Crown winner led to increased efforts in several of the 23 failed bids. There were instances where the $5 million payouts were narrowly missed, with one being denied by the closest of margins – a nose.
Belmont positioning as Triple Crown third leg
The Belmont, as the third leg of the Triple Crown, offers two different perspectives.
In the event that neither the Kentucky Derby nor the Preakness Stakes is won by a single horse, the Belmont transforms into an independent, prestigious occasion, renowned for its substantial prize money of seven figures ($1.5 million purse in 2019).
However, when a horse manages to triumph in the first two Triple Crown races, the Belmont stakes transforms into a captivating global betting attraction, amplified by three weeks of widespread publicity.
In 2004, a staggering 120,194 fans flocked to the Belmont, hoping to witness Smarty Jones’ triumphant Triple Crown victory. However, in 2015, the number of spectators was limited to approximately 90,000 due to parking and logistical considerations.
American Pharoah’s victory in that particular year marked the end of the Triple Crown’s longest dry spell of 37 years. If there hadn’t been a limit on attendance, the event could have potentially attracted a crowd of around 150,000 people.
The race at hand is the lengthiest among the three Triple Crown races, surpassing the 1¼-mile Kentucky Derby and the 13⁄16-mile Preakness Stakes.
After being run at a unique distance of 1⅛ miles last year and being the first instead of the final Triple Crown leg, the race returns to its original 1½-mile length. This marks the end of an almost century-long period where the Belmont was not run at its grueling 1½-mile distance since 1925. It is worth noting that the main track is the largest dirt thoroughbred racecourse in North America.
The race pays tribute to August Belmont, a prominent banker and influential figure in the horse racing scene during the 19th century. Additionally, he served as the inaugural president of the Jockey Club in 1867. Two years later, in 1869, August Belmont achieved a remarkable feat by securing both first and second place prizes with his own horses, Fenian and Glenelg.
There have been 13 Triple Crown champions among the famous winners of the Belmont Stakes.
| Horse (Year) |
|---|
| Sir Barton (1919) |
| Gallant Fox (1930) |
| Omaha (1935) |
| War Admiral (1937) |
| Whirlaway (1941) |
| Count Fleet (1943) |
| Assault (1946) |
| Citation (1948) |
| Secretariat (1973) |
| Seattle Slew (1977) |
| Affirmed (1978) |
| American Pharoah (2015) |
| Justify (2018) |
Since 1990, there have been a total of 23 near-misses, with nine of them involving horses that won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes but fell short in capturing the Belmont.
Regarding the most significant surprises in terms of odds:
- 2002: Sarava, 70-1
- 1961: Sherluck, 65-1
- 1980: Temperence Hill, 53-1
- 2004: Birdstone, 36-1
- 1971: Pass Catcher, 34-1
It would be a mistake to overlook the significance of 1973, the year that witnessed the extraordinary triumph of Secretariat. In an astonishing display of talent, this remarkable thoroughbred dominated the racing scene for six consecutive weeks, ultimately conquering the Belmont Stakes with an unprecedented 31-length lead, a record that still remains unbroken. Moreover, Secretariat set a new world record for completing the 1½ mile distance on dirt, clocking in at an impressive 2:24, a record that stands to this day.
Belmont Stakes FAQ
The number in 2004 was 120,139.
Last year, the Belmont Stakes reduced its purse from $1.5 million to $1 million due to COVID-19 concerns that prevented spectators from attending. However, this year, in 2021, the purse has been restored to its original amount of $1.5 million.
The percentage of the overall amount for the purse varies depending on the specific event. However, typically, it is around 53%. In 2019, Sir Winston’s connections earned $800,000 out of the $1.5 million purse. Similarly, Tiz The Law won $535,000 out of the $1 million purse last year.
Repeatedly in the 1st position, 23 times.
In 1867, Ruthless became one of the three fillies to win this event. The other two were Tanya in 2005 and Rags to Riches in 2007.
In 1973, Secretariat triumphed with a time of 2 minutes and 24 seconds, securing the most significant lead in history with a margin of 31 lengths.