On the downside, betting sites will often charge a small fee to make credit-card deposits, whereas the bank transfer option is usually free (as it is on 1/ST BET). To summarize, I would suggest that if you’re reading this early on Belmont Stakes. BUSR is the best site to place your bet on the 2021 Belmont Stakes.

For the past 151 years, the Belmont Stakes has been counted among the premier competitions for thoroughbred horses in the world. In that time, the purses have gotten larger, the horses faster, the jockeys lighter—and the crowds filling the stands larger, louder, and more colorful.

Actually, the purses have gotten much, much larger. In 1867, for instance, the purse offered for the first running of the Belmont Stakes was a nominal $1,500, augmented with nomination and entry fees to $2,500.

In the 1920s, the purse grew into the tens of thousands of dollars. And for the past six years (2014-2019), the purse has been $1,500,000, but business upheavals and quarantines this year have forced a reduction of the 2020 Belmont Stakes purse to $1,000,000.

Incidentally, the Belmont Stakes has not always been held at Belmont Park. For its first few years (1876-1890), it was held at Jerome Park Racetrack in The Bronx.

In 1890, the stakes race moved to Morris Park Racecourse (also in The Bronx), where it ran until 1905, when it moved to Long Island into the newly constructed Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

In this Belmont Stakes guide for 2020, I talk about some of the changes that have happened this year, the horses competing (along with their odds), and the jockeys and trainers. I also provide the best horse racing betting sites at the end so that you’ve got everything you need when it comes to betting on the Belmont Stakes this year.

Yeah, pretty much. Along with the reduction in the size of this year’s purse, the Belmont Stakes is being shortened from its traditional length of 1-1/2 miles to 1-1/8 miles.

Oh, and there will be no spectators at Belmont Park.

The Belmont Stakes is a world-class challenge and lifetime goal in and of itself, but it also represents one of the three jewels of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing. To win that, a horse must cross the finish line first at the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes, and the Preakness.

For the past few decades, it has been the Kentucky Derby, followed by the Preakness, and ending with the Belmont Stakes. But there was a time when the order of the three races was not etched in stone. One year might see the Preakness follow the Belmont Stakes, for example. But this year will be the first year ever when the Belmont Stakes preceded both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

It might be a bit disconcerting, but the new schedule is the result of a lot of skull sweat to make the Triple Crown—and all of its component parts—work. Juggling track closures, interrupted meets, and cancellations of many of the qualifying races on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” has resulted in some significant changes in the order of events. Also bear in mind that all three races are for “three-year-old” thoroughbreds, which kind of limits how far into the future you can postpone a particular race.

Another big change is the addition of numerous qualifying races between the Belmont Stakes and the Kentucky Derby.

This year, after the Belmont Stakes, there are eight more qualifying races scheduled which were either postponed back in March or have been added to the “Road” because of the quarantine lockdowns. And after those eight qualifying races (during which leaderboard positions and “Road” scores will change dramatically), the Kentucky Derby will run at Churchill Downs on September 5, and this year’s third jewel of the Triple Crown—the Preakness—will run at Pimlico on October 3, 2020.

Horses in the 2020 Belmont Stakes

Of the 400-plus horses nominated for the “Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby,” only 65 have scored points to-date in the various qualifying races.

And of the 10 horses drawn for this year’s Belmont Stakes, nine are “Road” nominees (Tap It to Win is the only exception), and seven have points on the “Road” leaderboard. Tiz the Law currently holds the #1 position on that leaderboard, while Jungle Runner is #58 with 1 point.

Here’s the complete “Road” scoreboard for the 2020 Belmont Stakes entrants.

That will almost certainly change, since this year’s Belmont Stakes is considered a qualifying race for the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” and will award 150 points to the 2020 winner (the second, third, and fourth place horses will receive 60, 30, and 15 points, respectively). So in a single race, Jungle Runner could jump to the #1 position on this year’s Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Could that happen? Sure, theoretically. But let’s take a look at the moneyline odds for each 2020 Belmont Stakes contender. The moneyline is the odds assigned to the horses entered into a particular race based on their records, their jockeys, their gate position, etc. It’s a good but rough ruler to use when measuring a horse’s chances.

Belmont Stakes Odds for 2020

Stake Lines Betting

Here are the moneyline odds on the 10 horses drawn for this year’s Belmont Stakes.

Tiz the Law is obviously the favorite at 6/5 (pays $4.40 on a $2 bet), while Jungle Runner is off in “Not in this lifetime” 50/1 territory (which incidentally would pay $120 on a $2 bet). The actual payout odds will be governed by pari-mutuel wagering, though, so don’t get too hung up on the moneyline.

And as far as the future is concerned, bear in mind that with eight more qualifying races between the Belmont Stakes and the Kentucky Derby in September, it becomes less likely that there will be a Triple Crown winner this year. But that’s okay—in the history of these three races, only 13 horses have accomplished that.

The Jockeys

Like any world-class competition, you can expect plenty of star quality athletes—not just the horses, mind you, but the men and women who ride them to glory. Here’s a quick look at the statistics on 2020’s Belmont Stakes jockeys.

* WPS % is the percentage of starts resulting in a Win, Place, or Show (how often the jockey finished “in the money”)

Many of the jockeys above have ridden horses in the top thoroughbred races, including the Triple Crown races, the Breeder’s Cup, and any number of other Grade I stakes races. Javier Castellano is in the Racing Hall of Fame, as is John Valazquez.

The Trainers

Even more important than the jockey (but not quite as important as the horse—I mean, come on!) is the trainer. Trainers are responsible for getting the best possible performance from a thoroughbred, and you can bet that the horses running in this year’s Belmont Stakes have had the very best schooling, indeed.

Virtually all of the trainers behind the horses in this year’s Belmont Stakes have multiple wins in one or more of the Triple Crown races, as well as Breeder’s Cup wins. Two of the trainers—Steve Asmussen and William Mott—are thoroughbred racing Hall of Famers. Two of the trainers—Steve Asmussen and Todd Pletcher— have more than one horse in this race.

In an earlier era, running a horse race of this magnitude “spectatorless” probably would have killed the event for all time, but the internet and streaming video—not to mention regular television broadcasts—will ensure that more people see the Belmont Stakes than ever before.

And of course, there is an equally prodigious number of online racebooks ready to take your wagers on the outcome. We’ve even pre-vetted a few recommended Belmont Stakes betting sites for your convenience.

There are a lot of Belmont Stakes betting sites out there, and anyone can engage a website designer to put up a good-looking online racebook.

The question is, which of these betting websites can you really trust? After all, you are putting out real money, and you can’t see any face behind the operation.

You have reached the right destination to get the answer. Our researchers have examined all of the leading Belmont Stakes betting sites, and we have identified the best of the best. If you deposit and wager at any of the online racebooks that you see listed below, you can rest assured that your money will be safe.

Want to know more before entrusting your money with these sites and gambling on the Belmont Stakes? Understandable, and we’ve got you covered.

Check out these reviews of our top-rated Belmont Stakes betting sites.

Now let’s dive into exactly what sets these racebooks apart. Further down this page, we look at the benefits of betting the Belmont Stakes online, and we also explain some useful information you should know before placing your Belmont Stakes wagers.

What Sets These Sites Apart?

Many of the people on our team are passionate sports and horse racing fans that like to back up their opinions with cold, hard cash. We have placed wagers at countless different online race and sportsbooks over the years, so we know EXACTLY what to look for when we rate betting sites.

There are a number of boxes that must be checked, and the operators that get the best overall ratings make our list of preferred sites. Here are some important attributes we pay particularly close attention to when ranking the top Belmont Stakes betting websites.

In most cases, when you go to a website for the first time, there’s not a lot at stake. Even if you are browsing around an e-commerce site, there are many steps that must be taken before you have to give payment information and final approval. There is also no time sensitivity.

Things are entirely different when it comes to placing wagers at the Belmont Stakes betting sites. You have to get your action in before post time, and you definitely don’t want to accidentally make the wrong wager.

Yes, you can spend the time to get past the learning curve, but it’s best to find a reliable site that is very intuitive and easy to navigate. Another piece to this puzzle is mobile adaptability. Most people bet from their mobile devices, and all of the sites on our list translate well to smartphones and tablets.

It would not be hard to understand why someone may think that some online race and sportsbooks are lawless operations that are not beholden to any rules or regulations. In fact, this is not the case at all.

We take our recommendations very seriously, so we have examined the licensing requirements in all the gambling jurisdictions that issue online gaming permits. The exact parameters are different depending on the country or territory, but one thing is consistent: They all want to take advantage of the revenue.

Licensing jurisdictions charge very significant fees for permits, and in many cases, multiple different licenses will be required. Most of them tax the operators as well, so they have every reason to make sure that there are safeguards in place to keep the customers going to the betting sites.

There are a handful of smaller jurisdictions that rely on gambling websites for a significant portion of their revenue. Even larger ones like the United Kingdom and other European Union countries are quite friendly to online gaming, but they have tight regulations.

Speaking of the UK, they have strict rules that prohibit gaming companies from advertising in their countries unless they have made the so-called “white list.” The entire EEA is on this list, along with Alderney, Antigua and Barbuda, Tasmania, Isle of Man, and Gibraltar.

The websites that make our list typically have licenses from one of the top-notch jurisdictions. In order to be approved, a company must have sufficient capital and safeguards in place for the players. Top officers and shareholders are carefully vetted, and business plans must be presented.

These operators are legitimate businesses like other companies, and they act in accordance with professional standards.

It is good to know that a given online race and sportsbook has sound management and a license from a reputable jurisdiction. This being stated, the proof is in the day-to-day operations, and this is an area that we take very seriously. Fortunately, we have the ability to keep our finger on the industry’s pulse at all times.

There are many well-developed online gambling forums that members visit to share information about betting sites in an effort to help others. Our staff members participate in these forums on a daily basis, so they are always tuned in and up to date.

Belmont Stakes Betting Sites 2020

Since we have been deeply embedded in this business for so long, we have developed a network in our own right. Professional gamblers and other insiders keep us apprised whenever they hear something that we should know about the online betting sites that are on our radar.

Most importantly of all, we actually use these sites ourselves, so we know precisely how they’re performing.

We placed a significant emphasis on deposit and payout options when we rated our Belmont Stakes betting sites. This is especially relevant for the sites that accept gamblers from the United States.

An operator must take certain steps to facilitate American players when it comes to deposits because the laws must be carefully navigated. Every US-friendly Belmont Stakes betting site that we recommend makes it easy for players to make their deposits. Credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards can often be utilized, along with electronic funds transfers and Bitcoin.

These sites can be trusted for timely payouts as well. When cryptocurrency is utilized, the deposits and withdrawals show up almost immediately.

The final piece of the puzzle is customer service. Our preferred Belmont Stakes betting websites place an emphasis on the client experience.

As you might imagine, the exact policies vary site by site, but they typically have phone and email support, and some of the online race and sportsbooks offer live chat.

In many parts of the United States, it is possible to go to a racetrack that has simulcasting or an off-track betting facility to bet the Belmont Stakes. In Australia and the United Kingdom, there are betting shops everywhere, so it is quite possible to place your wagers at a brick-and-mortar facility.

This being stated, there are many benefits to be enjoyed if you bet the Belmont Stakes online.

If you have the opportunity to actually go to the venerable Belmont Park in person to see the big race, you will definitely have to deal with a huge crowd. Of course, you are talking about a bucket list experience, so many people would say that it’s worth the trouble.

This is especially true if you get a table at a restaurant or a reserved seat. It may cost you a significant chunk of change, but it would be an event that you would remember for the rest of your life. And who knows? You may win back the money that you spent to secure a good spot and perhaps much more.

Things are entirely different if you decide to head out to place your bets via simulcasting at a nearby racetrack or off-track betting facility. First off, it is certainly not something that you may only get to do once in your life, and some of these places are actually rather depressing.

It can be hard to find a decent seat if you can locate one at all, and there are long lines for concessions. And speaking of refreshments, you have limited options, and they usually gouge you with “captive audience” prices.

You flip the script when you use one of the Belmont Stakes betting sites to make your wagers. If you would like to watch the race at a watering hole with your friends, you can do just that.

The place will charge regular prices for your food and drinks, and everyone that is there won’t be focused on the race. As a result, it will be no more crowded than usual.

A lot of people have Belmont Stakes viewing parties, and this is another option. The point is, you have total control over your experience when you make a deposit at a betting website and place your wagers wherever you be.

If you walk into any physical betting facility, you will be reaching into your wallet at every turn. No one is going to give you anything, but the dynamic is totally different at the Belmont Stakes betting sites.

The websites that we recommend offer bonuses to new players, and they can be considerable. At the end of the day, depending on how much you bet, you may wind up getting your wagers for free. This is quite a deal, and sites will often have additional promotions for special events like the Belmont Stakes.

If you are motivated to start an account because you want to bet the Belmont Stakes online, you can extract your winnings if you pick the race right and leave it at that, but why stop there?

Once you’re registered, you can place bets on all of your favorite sporting events throughout the year.

Things to Know Before Betting the Belmont Stakes Online

The inaugural Belmont Stakes was run in 1867, and it was won by a filly named Ruthless. In 1919, Sir Barton crossed the finish line ahead of the pack in Elmont, New York, to become the first winner of horse racing’s Triple Crown.

A couple of things about the Belmont set it apart from the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, and the distance is at the top of the list. The Run for the Roses is a 1 ¼ miles race, and the Preakness is just a furlong shorter.

American horses that compete in the Belmont Stakes will be doing something that they have never tried before because this is the first 1 ½ mile stakes race that is offered for three-year-olds in the United States.

Distance is something that you should always keep in mind when you are handicapping the race.

Belmont Stakes Betting Sites Results

It should be noted that some European horses and equine athletes from Japan and the Middle East are bred specifically for longer distances. You will invariably see horses that skipped the first two legs of the Triple Crown enter the Belmont because they are bred for stamina rather than speed.

All of the different types of bets that would be available for any horse race in America are offered at the Belmont Stakes betting sites, but there is an advantage. There is usually a larger than average field, so the betting money is spread around broadly.

Belmont Stakes Betting Sites 2019

This will typically ensure good odds on any horse that you choose. Plus, there is a huge amount of money bet on a big race like this, so the betting pools are bursting at the seams.

Along these lines, there will always be a great deal of interest in this race, regardless of the results of the first two Triple Crown races. However, if a horse that is entered has won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, the interest is exponentially multiplied.

In addition to the added distance, the other important detail about this race is the fact that there is a three-week layoff between the Preakness and the Belmont. The Preakness Stakes takes place two weeks after the Kentucky Derby.

A bit of extra rest can be very important for Belmont Stakes contenders that have appeared in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

Belmont Stakes Betting Sites List

The Belmont Stakes betting sites will be taking a lot of action on the big day, and it is simple and convenient to place your wagers online. You can take advantage of sign-up bonuses and promotions, and you can wager on any site that we recommend with total confidence.

Belmont Stakes Betting Sites Youtube

Plus, if you would like to tap into some advanced betting tips and strategies, check out our page that is devoted to Belmont Stakes betting.