The horse racing world will converge on Saratoga Springs, New York, on Saturday, June 7, 2025, for the 157th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes. This prestigious race marks the third and final leg of the Triple Crown series. Known as “The Test of the Champion,” the Belmont Stakes challenges three-year-old thoroughbreds over a demanding distance, with a maximum field size of 10 horses. The race is scheduled to take place at approximately 6:50 p.m. EDT, capping off an exciting day of competition.
The Saratoga Shift and a Shorter Distance
For the second year in a row, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be held at Saratoga Race Course due to ongoing construction at Belmont Park. This venue change shortens the 2025 Belmont Stakes to 1 1/4 miles—down from the traditional 1 1/2 miles—because of Saratoga’s track layout, despite it being relatively long by other standards.
Tracking the Potential Contenders
Identifying the full list of contenders for the 2025 Belmont Stakes is an ongoing process, with final odds and entries posted closer to race day. As of early May, Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby winner, was confirmed to be skipping the Preakness Stakes and targeting the Belmont. Sovereignty is trained by Bill Mott. While the complete field is yet to be determined, past performance suggests that the Kentucky Derby winner often becomes the favorite in the Belmont Stakes. The race field is limited to a maximum of 10 participants, adding an element of exclusivity to the competition.
The Influence of Pari-Mutuel Odds
Belmont Stakes odds, like those for other major U.S. horse races, operate under a pari-mutuel system. This means the odds are directly influenced by the total money wagered by the public on each horse.
As more funds are placed on a particular horse, its odds will decrease, reflecting its status as a favorite. This shift is evident in live FanDuel odds, which adjust dynamically based on real-time wagers.
The final odds for the race are not locked in until shortly before post time on June 7th, determined by dividing the total betting pool by the amount wagered on each entry.
Factors Shaping Morning Line and Live Odds
Morning line odds provide an initial estimate of how the betting public might approach the race. These early forecasts consider factors such as results from major 2024 horse races and the reputations of prominent trainers like Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown. Horses that have won significant Grade 1 races also tend to attract bettor interest. However, these odds can change significantly as race time approaches, sometimes differing noticeably from the initial morning line.
Strategies for Belmont Stakes Wagering
Engaging in Belmont Stakes wagering requires careful consideration and analysis. Bettors have several options, ranging from simple straight wagers like win, place, or show bets to more complex exotic wagers. These exotic bets involve predicting the finishing order of multiple horses or the winners of several races. There are three main types of straight wagers and several types of exotic wagers available, including exacta, trifecta, and superfecta bets. For those who want to explore various options and track their bets, platforms such as FanDuel Sportsbook provide the latest odds and betting insights for the event.
Analyzing Key Performance Indicators
To improve betting outcomes, it’s crucial to study the horses entered in the race. Assessing their strengths, weaknesses, and recent performances is vital. Factors such as a horse’s record, age, weight carried, pedigree, and the jockey’s skill and history are important elements to consider. Additionally, analyzing the Saratoga track conditions and how weather might impact performance is essential. Dry conditions may favor speedier horses, while wet or muddy conditions can affect others differently.
Exploring Different Bet Types
The most straightforward bets are win, place, and show, where you bet on a horse to finish first, in the top two, or in the top three, respectively. For those seeking potentially higher payouts, there are numerous exotic wager types. These include predicting the first two finishers in exact order (exacta), the top three (trifecta), the top four (superfecta), or even picking winners across multiple races (Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Pick 6). There are at least nine different types of exotic wagers available.
The Broader Belmont Stakes Racing Festival
The Belmont Stakes is the highlight of a larger, multi-day event: the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Spanning five days, the festival features a total of 27 stakes races, offering purses totaling $11,275,000. This represents the richest purses and highest number of stakes offered since the festival’s launch in 2014. Belmont Stakes Day on Saturday, June 7, is particularly packed, featuring five Grade 1 events among the day’s eight stakes races. Other major Grade 1 races on the card include the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap and the $500,000 Jaipur.
Participating in the 2025 Event
The 2025 Belmont Stakes offers an exciting opportunity for both fans and bettors to engage with elite horse racing. You can catch live coverage of the event on FanDuel TV+, while the main race will be broadcast on NBC on June 7th. Wagering typically begins the day before the race, on Friday, June 6. As always, it’s important to set a budget, as horse racing can be unpredictable, and keep in mind that settling winnings may take longer due to the result verification process.
