Horse Betting
Belmont Stakes Betting in 2026 – Everything You Need to Know
If you are into horse racing, then you surely must have at least heard of the Belmont Stakes. For those who might be new in horse racing, the Belmont Stakes is the oldest and longest of the Triple Crown horse races, and it has been performed for over a century and a half at this point, first starting all the way back in 1867.
The event is traditionally held at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY, and the race is popularly called the Test of the Champion. The reason for such a name is the fact that it truly pushes the horses to their limits over a dirt course that is 1.5 miles (12-furlong) long.
Now, one thing to note is that this extra distance does make a difference, and in fact, it also makes betting on the Belmont Stakes a bit trickier than what betting on other similar events has been like. So, if you already have experience with betting on the Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes, understand that that will help, but that things will be different with Belmont Stakes.
Another thing that makes Belmont stand out is the fact that there is a possibility of a Triple Crown contender being in the running. If there is a Triple Crown Winner, the Belmont becomes one of the biggest horse racing events of the season, and so betting on it can carry tremendous potential.
But, even if there is no horse qualified to win the top prize in the Thoroughbred racing, the Belmont betting traditionally turns a rather large handle.
Belmont Stakes Past Races and Odds
The 2023 Belmont Stakes meeting was the 56th consecutive Belmont Stakes to be held at the 2nd Belmont Park, and was won by Arcangelo in 2:29.23. Before the race, Trapit Trice was the favorite, at odds of 3/1, with Angel of Empire in close second at 7/2. Arcangelo was priced at 8/1, and this was the American thoroughbred’s first Graded stake race, which he won against the odds.
In December of that year, the New York Racing Association decided that the following Belmont Stakes meeting would be hosted at the Saratoga Race Course. And in the meantime, Belmont Park would undergo a $455 million renovation. In early 2024, the association also announced that the 2025 Belmont Stakes would be held at Saratoga, with the famous race possibly heading back to Belmont Park by 2026.
The 2024 Belmont Stakes had a slightly shorter course, with a distance of 1 1/4 miles as opposed to 1 1/2. It was the first ever Belmont Stakes to be held at Saratoga, and 10 horses entered the race. The favorite was Sierra Leone, at odds of 9/5 at the morning line. Sierra Leone had a strong year in 2024, winning the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and also finishing second in the Kentucky Derby. But he finished third at the 2024 Belmont Stakes, with 3-year-old Dornoch blazing down the course to win in 2:01.64. If you had bet on Dornoch that morning, you would have walked away with a 15/1 winning ticket.
Belmont Stakes: A Goldmine for Underdog Betting?
- 2023 Winner: Arcangelo @ 8/1
- 2024 Winner: Dornoch @ 15/1
It is always a thrilling race to behold, and quite often underdogs can sneak in to cross the finish line first. Therefore, when placing your racing bets on the next Belmont Stakes, be sure to use Each Way or try full cover horse racing bets. Just bear in mind that this race is not always a given for any strong favorites.
What is the Belmont Stakes?
As mentioned earlier, the Belmont Stakes is known as the last entry of the Triple Crown of American Thoroughbred racing. It typically takes place on the first or second Saturday of June every year, and it only takes place after the Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby are concluded.
The first Belmont Stakes race took place in 1867, which makes it the oldest major horse race in the US. Now, speaking of the Triple Crown Winner, there have only been 13 horses in the history of the event to carry this title by winning Belmont after previously winning Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The winner from 1973, known as Secretariat, still owns the course record to date.
It is unlikely that another Secretariat will emerge and set a new record in the race, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a great time and win a significant amount through regular betting. In fact, there are excellent sportsbooks that will let you do just that over the next few days, and we can recommend the following four as some of the best ones you can access and use.
Best Sportsbooks for Betting on the Belmont Stakes
1. Bovada
The first on our list is Bovada — a sportsbook that launched in 2011. For the first five years of its existence, the platform was regulated by the Kahnawake Gambling Commission. But, after the Commission changed its policy in 2016, the sportsbook willingly gave up on its license in protest, due to disagreements with the changes.
Bovada is operated by the Mohawk Morris Gaming Group, it features multiple payment methods, expert customer service, and it even has its own casino, in addition to its primary sportsbook service.
2. BetUS
Next, we have BetUS, which is the top-tier sportsbook for North America. The platform has been running since 1994, and it features both a sportsbook section and a casino. BetUS is regulated and it holds the Curacao Gaming Commission’s license. It supports several payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, and multiple cryptocurrencies. It also offers an expert customer service available around the clock.
3. Bet Online
As our third entry, we have Bet Online. This is a comprehensive gambling site with an emphasis on the sportsbook offer, and while the casino section is quite entertaining, the sportsbook section is where you need to go to bet on Belmont Stakes. The platform has been around since 2004, it is regulated and licensed in Panama City, and its users stand to benefit from numerous features such as $20 minimum deposits, multiple payment methods, and a great customer service.
4. Sports Betting.ag
Finally, the last on our list is Sports Betting.ag, which is a platform from 2003, which is regulated by the Panama Gambling Control Board whose license it currently holds. The platform is well-known in the US and Canada for its reliability, and it is one of the most popular go-to places for sports bets, including horse races.
