This Saturday Horse Racing’s Triple Crown will conclude with the Belmont Stakes. While there is no triple crown on the line, the race will still provide great storylines, gambling options, and big pools.
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For a full analysis of the Belmont Stakes field check out our race preview and also my video below.
As previously mentioned there will be no Triple Crown winner this year, but there are still a lot of interesting facts and figures attached to the Belmont Stakes.
The Belmont Stakes is actually the oldest of the Triple Crown races predating the Kentucky Derby and Preakness by nine years. The inaugural Belmont Stakes was run in 1867 at Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx. In fact the Belmont Stakes is the 4tholdest stakes race in North America.
The first running of the Belmont Stakes was won by a filly, Ruthless. Only three fillies have won the Belmont Stakes to date with the most recent being Rags to Riches (2007), Tanya won it in 1905. The Belmont Stakes was originally contested going clockwise.
The race itself has changed several times since its first running in 1867. It wasn’t until 1921 that the Belmont Stakes was run in a counter-clockwise direction like most other American races. In addition to direction change the race has been run at several distances. It has been contested at the current 1 mile and ½ distance since 1926.
BELMONT STAKES DISTANCES
YEARSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â BELMONT STAKES DISTANCE
1926 – PRESENT, 1874-1889           1 MILE ½
1867 – 1873                          1 MILE 5 FURLONGS
1890 – 1892, 1895, 1904-1905          1 MILE ¼
1893 – 1894                          1 MILE 1 FURLONG
1896 – 1903, 1906-1925                1 MILE 3 FURLONGS
Note: 8 FURLONGS = 1 MILE
THE BETTING FAVORITE
Of the 150 Previous runnings of the Belmont Stakes 63 have been won by the favorite or 42%. However in the last 10 years only 2 favorites have won the race.
FAVORITES IN THE BELMONT SINCE 2009
| YEAR | HORSE | ODDS | FINISH |
| 2018 | JUSTIFY | 0.80 | 1ST |
| 2017 | IRISH WAR CRY | 2.75 | 2ND |
| 2016 | EXXAGERATOR | 1.45 | 11TH |
| 2015 | AMERICAN PHAROAH | 0.75 | 1ST |
| 2014 | CALIFORNIA CHROME | 0.85 | 4TH |
| 2013 | ORB | 2.20 | 3RD |
| 2012 | DULLAHAN | 2.50 | 7TH |
| 2011 | ANIMAL KINGDOM | 2.60 | 6TH |
| 2010 | ICE BOX | 1.85 | 9TH |
| 2009 | MINE THAT BIRD | 1.25 | 3RD |
WINNERS BY POST POSITION
1 – 23 WINNERS
2 – 11 WINNERS
2 – 12 WINNERS
3 – 15 WINNERS
4 – 10 WINNERS
5 – 15 WINNERS
6 – 7 WINNERS
7 – 13 WINNERS
8 – 6 WINNERS
9 – 4 WINNERS
10 – 2 WINNERS
11 – 3 WINNERS
12 – 1 WINNER
PREAKNESS/BELMONT DOUBLE
While there is no chance at a Triple Crown Champion this year, #9 War of Will has a chance to become the 19thHorse to win the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. He would become the first since Afleet Alex in 2005 to complete the double.
MIKE SMITH LOOKS TO GO BACK-TO-BACK
Last year, Mike Smith rode Justify to a Belmont Stakes victory where he became the 13th horse to win a Triple Crown. This year Mike Smith is looking for history of his own. Smith will attempt to become the 8th rider to win the race in back to back years aboard #5 Bourbon War (12-1). The previous jockey’s to accomplish this are:
-Ron Turcotte – Riva Ridge (1972) and Secretariat (1973)
-Eric Guerin  – Native Dancer (1953) and High Gun (1954)
-Eddie Arcaro -Whirlaway (1941) and Shut Out (1942)
-James Stout – Pasteurized (1938) and Johnstown (1939)
-Albert Johnson – American Flag (1925) and Crusader (1926)
-John Bullman – Masterman (1902) and Africander (1903)
-James Rowe – Joe Daniels (1872) and Springbok (1873)
HIGHEST/LOWEST PRICED WINNER
Speaking of big payouts, in 2002 Sarava was the largest payout in the Belmont Stakes. A $2 Win wager on Sarava would have netted you  $142.50 (2002). In contrast, there can be big favorites in the Belmont Stakes, and in 1943 Count Fleet returned the lowest payout for a $2 Win wager $2.10, a whopping .10cent profit.
BIG MONEY BET ON THE BELMONT CARD/BELMONT STAKES
As sports wagering has become more popular, this has helped the pool sizes and money bet into horse racing. The Belmont Stakes and Belmont Stakes Day Card have gained big interest from gamblers across the US. The record for amount wagered on the Belmont Stakes is $83,054,106 in 2014 and in that same year $150,249,399 was wagered on the whole card, also a record. While I don’t anticipate that record going down, you can still anticipate monster pools, which can lead to big payouts.
The Belmont Stakes Day Card as a whole is phenomenal this year with 13 races and 10 Stakes Races. For more information on some of the other stakes races make sure to check out my article about betting the late Picks.
It is certainly going to be a great day of racing with plenty of opportunities to make money. Good luck to everyone placing a wager on the Belmont Stakes or any of the racing at Belmont Park this weekend!
