Belmont Stakes, the final jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown, is the oldest of the classic trio of races and is traditionally the longest. Dubbed “The Test of the Champion,” the race is usually run over 1 ½ miles at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. In 2026, however, the Belmont Stakes took place at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, and was run at 1 ¼ miles due to the ongoing renovation of Belmont Park.
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Understanding Belmont Stakes odds
Horse racing odds are a little different than standard sports betting odds used by many South African bettors. Here are a few pieces of information that will be key to a successful betting experience.
Pari-mutuel betting – Horse racing uses pari-mutuel betting, which means that all wagers go into a pool, and the odds are determined by how much money is on each horse. The horse with the most money on it will be the favorite, and so forth. The pool is calculated and shared between the winning bets.
Odds fluctuation – The early odds set are based on expert analysis and speculation. As soon as the money flows in on horses, the odds will fluctuate based on how much money is bet and which horses it is wagered on.
Fractional odds – Horse racing often uses fractional odds as opposed to decimal odds that many South African bettors are used to. For instance, the 2026 Belmont Stakes winner – Golden Tempo – went off around 6/1 before winning the race. This means that you would win R6 for every R1 bet.
Types of Belmont Stakes bets
As mentioned, Belmont Stakes uses pari-mutuel betting, meaning the odds shift depending on what the public is betting. On top of that, there’s some unique lingo to get used to as well. Here’s a guide to all the different bets available for Belmont.
Simple bets
- To win – You simply pick the winning horse.
- To place – This is a bet on a horse to either win or finish second.
- To show – This is a bet on a horse to either win, finish second, or finish third.
- Across the board – Here, you bet on a horse to win, place, or show. Your payout will be determined by which position, in the top three, your horse finishes in.
Exotic bets
Exotic bets mean you combine multiple horses and finishing results into a single bet or betting group for bigger payouts.
Exacta – An exacta bet is when you pick the first and second-place horse in the correct order.
Exacta box – Like an exacta bet, but you do not need the correct order. There is also no limit to the number of horses you put in the box. The odds will be adjusted accordingly. For instance, if you bet on Horse 2, Horse 4, and Horse 8 in your exacta box, you would need two of your horses to finish first and second. The order does not matter.
Trifecta – This is picking the top three horses in the correct order.
Trifecta box – The same concept as an exacta box, except you need the top three horses.
Superfecta – Picking the top four finishers in the correct order.
Superfecta box – Like the exacta and trifecta box, but with the top four finishers.
5 Essential Belmont Stakes Betting Tips
Since Belmont Stakes is a race for three-year-old thoroughbreds, new horses compete each year. But that doesn't mean that you can't study the past to glean some helpful tips.
Preakness horses generally don’t do well – Recent Belmont Stakes results show that fresh horses remain dangerous. Golden Tempo won the 2026 Belmont after winning the Kentucky Derby and skipping the Preakness, while Sovereignty followed a similar Derby-to-Belmont path in 2025.
Belmont still takes stamina – The 2026 race was run at 1 ¼ miles at Saratoga instead of the traditional 1 ½ miles at Belmont Park. Even at the shorter temporary distance, it still required a strong finish, especially with the race coming at the end of the Triple Crown season.
Pay attention to the top three – Recent Belmont winners have usually shown strong form before arriving at the race. Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby before taking the 2026 Belmont, and several recent winners had already proven they could compete at the highest level.
Rested horses do well – Rest remains a major angle for Belmont betting. Golden Tempo, Sovereignty, Commandment, and Renegade all skipped the Preakness before performing strongly at Belmont, showing how valuable recovery time can be between Triple Crown races.
Mind the post position – The top five post positions generally outperform the rest in most races. At Belmont, Post 1 has historically won the most races at the traditional track, though the 2026 edition at Saratoga was won by Golden Tempo from the outside post in a nine-horse field.
Will the Kentucky Derby winner run at Belmont?
To win a Triple Crown, a horse needs to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. In 2026, Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness Stakes, which ended any Triple Crown bid. However, he did run in the Belmont Stakes and won, taking two of the three Triple Crown races that season.
Will the Preakness winner run at Belmont?
No. The 2026 Preakness Stakes winner, Napoleon Solo, did not run in the Belmont Stakes. The Belmont instead featured several rested horses from the Kentucky Derby, including Golden Tempo, Commandment, and Renegade, who finished first, second, and third.
2026 Belmont Stakes results
Here are the 2026 results for the nine Belmont horses.
| Finish | Post position | Horse | Morning odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Golden Tempo | 9/2 |
| 2 | 7 | Commandment | 6/1 |
| 3 | 4 | Renegade | 2/1 |
| 4 | 3 | Chief Wallabee | 3/1 |
| 5 | 8 | Emerging Market | 6/1 |
| 6 | 6 | Growth Equity | 12/1 |
| 7 | 1 | Vitruvian Man | 30/1 |
| 8 | 5 | Ottinho | 20/1 |
| 9 | 2 | Powershift | 12/1 |
Previous 10 Belmont Stakes winners
Take a look at the previous 10 winners, along with jockeys, trainers, and race time.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Golden Tempo | Jose Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux | 2:03.49 |
| 2025 | Sovereignty | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | 2:00.69 |
| 2024 | Dornoch | Luis Saez | Danny Gargan | 2:01.64 |
| 2023 | Arcangelo | Javier Castellano | Jena Antonucci | 2:29.23 |
| 2022 | Mo Donegal | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | 2:28.28 |
| 2021 | Essential Quality | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | 2:27.11 |
| 2020 | Tiz the Law | Manuel Franco | Barclay Tagg | 1:46.53 |
| 2019 | Sir Winston | Joel Rosario | Mark Casse | 2:28.30 |
| 2018 | Justify | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert | 2:28.18 |
| 2017 | Tapwrit | Jose L. Ortiz | Todd A. Pletcher | 2:30.02 |
Belmont Stakes Betting FAQs
When is the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
The 158th edition of Belmont Stakes took place on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Where is the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
The 2026 Belmont Stakes took place at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, while Belmont Park was under renovation.
How can I watch Belmont Stakes?
South African viewers should check the official broadcast schedule, local racing coverage, and available streaming platforms before the next edition. Coverage options can change from year to year.
How many horses enter Belmont?
The Belmont field varies by year and is not always full. Nine horses ran in the 2026 Belmont Stakes.
Is Belmont longer than the Kentucky Derby?
Traditionally, yes. At Belmont Park, the Belmont Stakes is run at 1 ½ miles, making it longer than both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. In 2026, however, the race was temporarily run at 1 ¼ miles at Saratoga, the same distance as the Kentucky Derby.
What is the speed record at Belmont Stakes?
The all-time Belmont Stakes record is 2:24 flat and was set by Secretariat in 1973.