The Belmont Stakes is the third race in 5 weeks for the world’s most talented 3 year old race horses. The race also marks the official end of the Triple Crown season. Whether or not a Triple Crown is on the line, the Belmont Stakes provides excitement. It showcases the up-and-coming stars of the sport. For bettors, it also marks one of the strongest top to bottom cards of the racing calendar.
If you’re looking for where and how to bet on the 2025 Belmont Stakes—you’re in the right place.
This year’s Belmont will be a bit unusual, taking place at historic Saratoga Race Course. This is due to construction at Belmont Park. With horses like Sovereignty and Journalism squaring off, it’s the perfect time to jump into the action.
Below, we’ll highlight the best Belmont Stakes bets. We will also explain how to bet the Belmont online, and walk you through the history of this legendary race.
2025 Belmont Stakes Best Bets
Journalism favored in the Kentucky Derby
The 2025 Belmont Stakes offers the anticipated showdown of 3 top players in the 3-year-old division. Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty returns after skipping the Preakness Stakes. Journalism, the Preakness winner, will get a chance to turn the table on the Derby winner after a jaw-dropping performance in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Not to be forgotten is Baeza, who finished a charging 3rd after a troubled trip at Churchill in the Kentucky Derby. He is a late-developing entrant into the divisional race.
Belmont Stakes Contender Breakdown
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#7 JOURNALISM (8-5): Prime Win Candidate. The last race was a WOW effort. If it didn’t take too much out of him, this is the play.
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#6 BAEZA (4-1): Contender. The up and comer in the group and will like to sit that stalking trip.
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#3 RODRIGUEZ (6-1): Contender. Smith puts this one in with a chance. May be the speed of the race and will look to carry them around.
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#2 SOVEREIGNTY (2-1): Contender. Hard to argue with the Derby winner, but I don’t see as much pace here.
Hate the Chalk?
If you’re looking to cash a big ticket the top 4 aren’t likely to do much for you. In that case you may want to look for a bit of a longshot. Here are a couple worth considering.
- #1 HILL ROAD (10-1): Closer with numbers a bit light compared to the top of the market, but you get Irad and Chad Brown to team up here. With the right setup this one could get up for a piece in his Triple Crown debut.
- #5 CRUDO (15-1): With little proven speed in the race this one will be toward the front early and maybe can hang around long enough to catch a piece.
The History of the Belmont Stakes
American Pharoah wins the Triple Crown at Belmont
The Belmont Stakes is contested 5 weeks after the Kentucky Derby and is the oldest of the Triple Crown races making its debut in 1867. The race is frequently referred to as the “Test of the Champion.” The moniker refers to the fact that the race typically is the longest of the 3 races, but also the fact that any Derby, Preakness winner must run best in their third race within 5 weeks to capture the Triple Crown.
In the modern era of horse racing, horses generally pause 3 to 4 weeks between each race as they tend to be a bit more lightly raced than their ancestors. Therefore, running three highly competitive route races in a span of 5 weeks is a serious test of stamina and the reason why a horse able to win each of the races is so highly regarded.
In 2025 due to construction at Belmont Park, the race will be contested at the standard classic distance of a mile and 1/4. Saratoga, where the race will be run, is unable to accommodate a 1 mile and a half dirt race.
How Can I Bet on the Belmont Stakes?
Being one of the biggest races in the world, there is no shortage of betting options for players. The undercard is often a premiere series of races anywhere in the country. This makes betting the Belmont a must for horse racing enthusiasts.
Single Horse Bet Types
To Win
The most famous bet that you can place on the Belmont Stakes is of course the Win bet, where you are wagering on the horse which you think will win the race.
To Place
You can also choose to bet on a horse to finish first or second (does not matter which) and in this case you need to select the Place bet.
To Show
If you want to play it safer, you can bet on a horse to finish first, second or third and that’s called a Show bet.
Across the Board
A popular way to bet on the Belmont Stakes is to select a horse and bet it to Win/Place/Show. You get the best of both worlds with a nice payout if the horse wins. Some consolation prizes are available if he falls short.
Multi-Horse Bet Types
For adventurous bettors, the Belmont Stakes is great for placing exotic bets. An Exotic Bet involves betting on multiple horses at once.
Exacta Bets
The most famous exotic bet at the Belmont Stakes is the Exacta Bet. In this, you select horses finishing first and second. Your horses need to finish in that order to win the bet. You can make multiple selections and bet the horses both ways.
Trifecta Bets
Similar in logic, and a very popular bet, is the Trifecta where you need to select the horses to finish first, second, and third. This is even more difficult but the payoff can be massive.
Superfecta Bets
Even more difficult but cheaper to bet on is the Superfecta. You select horses finishing First to Fourth. This is very difficult to win, especially in a competitive race like the Belmont Stakes. However, the bet price is lower and it’s a good idea to have a Superfecta bet on the Stakes, in case you are very lucky!
Pick X Bets
Belmont Stakes day is one of New York’s biggest horse racing days, and there are many other good races. You can place interesting Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 6 bets. These involve selecting winners of 3, 4, or 6 consecutive races. These are very hard bets to win. The Pick 6 will pay thousands, guaranteed, so there’s value in taking a chance.
Belmont Stakes Betting Sites
Bet horse races from your phone
Depending on your location, some local betting sites might be available. This is not the case for most players. We recommend betting on reputable international sites such as those we suggest on this page.
The international betting sites offer all main bets found at the racetrack. They also propose prop bets that give you more options if you have a good read on the race.
Players should be looking at multiple books such as Mybookie and Betonline for the best signup bonuses and rebates to make their dollars go further.
What are the main features of a good Belmont Stakes betting sites?
We reviewed many options for players who want to bet on the Belmont Stakes. The websites listed here are the best, in our view.
We focused on the history and reputability of the betting sites. This is crucial because a betting site is only as good as its fairness and quickness in paying winnings. You need to gamble with reputable sites. Those we suggest have demonstrated a long history of good service.
Second, we considered bonus offers. The listed sites are reputable and offer great bonuses for Belmont Stakes bets.
Third, we rated the sites based on ease of use, especially on mobile. We expect players to be on the go, at the OTB, or in front of their TV, not their computer. The sites recommended offer a great mobile betting experience.
Where to Watch
The Belmont Stakes is broadcast live on Fox. Some other card races will also be shown on Live TV. Fox will start the broadcast an hour or so before the Belmont Stakes.
You can also watch the Belmont Stakes and every undercard online, directly on the NYRA website or via your online race book.