2026 Belmont Stakes Betting Guide
The 158th Belmont Stakes runs Saturday, June 6 at Saratoga Race Course. With Belmont Park still under renovation, the "Test of the Champion" is contested at 1¼ miles rather than the traditional 1½. Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo headlines the field after skipping the Preakness; Preakness winner Napoleon Solo is sitting this one out. Here is how to bet the third jewel from anywhere in Kentucky.
Derby Returners Headlining the Belmont
Three of the top four Kentucky Derby finishers are confirmed for the Belmont, giving the race a clear Derby-replay narrative. Final entries and post positions are typically published the Wednesday before the race.
Golden Tempo
Kentucky Derby winner (May 2, 2026, 23-1). Skipped the Preakness; targeting Belmont as next start. Trainer Cherie DeVaux, jockey José Ortiz expected to retain mount.
Renegade
Kentucky Derby runner-up (beaten by a neck at 5-1). Brother of the Derby winner's jockey rode him in the Run for the Roses. Strong distance-friendly pedigree.
Chief Wallabee
Fourth in the Derby at 7-1. Closing kick suited to the longer Belmont test, even at the Saratoga-shortened 1¼ mile distance.
📋 Confirmed Out
Napoleon Solo, the 2026 Preakness Stakes winner, will not run in the Belmont. With both Derby and Preakness winners taking divergent paths, the 2026 Belmont becomes a Derby-rematch story rather than a Triple Crown showdown.
Every Belmont Bet Explained
Belmont pools mirror Derby pools structurally but the smaller field (8-14 horses vs 20) changes the math. Exactas and trifectas are far more handicappable; Win prices on favorites are typically shorter.
Win
Min $2Pick the horse to finish first. Smaller fields than the Derby make favorites more likely; longshot Win prices rarely match the 23-1 type of Derby payout.
Place
Min $2Top 2 finish. Sharper hit rate than Win with the smaller Belmont field.
Show
Min $2Top 3 finish. Highest hit rate, smallest payout.
Exacta
Min $1Top two in exact order. Common Belmont wager since field is small enough to handicap top two with conviction.
Trifecta
Min $0.50Top three in exact order. Belmont fields of 8-12 make trifectas more handicappable than the 20-horse Derby field.
Superfecta
Min $0.10Top four in exact order. Reduced field means lower base ticket cost than the Derby superfecta.
Belmont Stakes Daily Double
Min $1Pair the Belmont winner with the winner of the preceding stakes race.
Belmont Pick 5
Min $0.50Pick winners of five consecutive stakes races on Belmont Day. Mandatory payout structure; carryover-style jackpots possible.
Best Apps for Belmont Stakes Betting
Horse racing runs on pari-mutuel pools, separate from traditional sportsbooks. These five apps handle Belmont Stakes wagering with full pool access from Kentucky.
TwinSpires
Best OverallOfficial ADW partner of Churchill Downs but offers full Belmont coverage. Pools, props, and live racing through Belmont Day.
FanDuel Racing
Best RebatesPari-mutuel wagering integrated with FanDuel app. Belmont Day rebates frequently exceed Derby Day rates.
TVG / FanDuel TV
Best StreamingLive streaming of all Belmont Stakes Racing Festival races. Owned by FanDuel.
DraftKings Horse Racing
Best PromosStandalone DK Horse app. Profit boosts on Belmont Day for Win and exacta wagers.
NYRA Bets
Best for NY TracksOfficial NYRA ADW platform. Highest rebates on NYRA tracks; bettors with NYRA Bets accounts get full Belmont Stakes Racing Festival coverage.
Belmont Handicapping vs Derby Handicapping
The Belmont rewards a completely different skill set than the Derby. Here is what changes when you handicap a 1¼-mile Saratoga test with a 10-horse field.
📏 Distance Specialists
Even at the temporarily shortened 1¼ miles, the Belmont rewards stamina pedigree. Horses with successful older relatives at 9-10 furlongs hit higher than sprint-bred runners. Check pedigree tools at TwinSpires or Equibase.
🐎 Smaller Field, Sharper Favorites
Derby favorites at 4-1 become Belmont favorites at 6-5 or 7-5. The 23-1 Golden Tempo Derby payout will not be matched in Belmont Win pools. Value lives in exotic structures, not single Win bets.
🏁 Saratoga Surface
Saratoga\'s dirt main track plays slightly different than Churchill Downs. Pace is typically more honest (less wild speed) and inside posts have less of a traffic problem than at the wider Derby track.
📅 Five Weeks of Rest
Derby returners have had five weeks off, longer than the typical Preakness gap. Sharp bettors check workout reports and final-prep gallops. Trainers who excel with five-week layoff returners get the bump.
💰 Belmont Day Pick 5
The Belmont Pick 5 covers five consecutive stakes races on Belmont Day and frequently posts mandatory payouts in the high six figures. For volume bettors, the Pick 5 is where the day\'s biggest score lives, not the Belmont Stakes itself.
🎯 Live Betting Late Action
ADW apps support late-cycle wagering up to two minutes before post. Final-flash odds movement is often sharper than morning numbers; serious bettors hold off until the gates begin loading to commit.
2026 Belmont Stakes FAQ
When is the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
The 2026 Belmont Stakes runs Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Saratoga Race Course. Post time is expected around 6:42 PM ET. NBC carries the network broadcast with coverage typically beginning at 2:30 PM ET on race day.
Why is the Belmont Stakes being run at Saratoga?
Belmont Park is undergoing major renovation. The 2024 and 2025 Belmont Stakes were both held at Saratoga Race Course, and the 2026 edition will be the third and final year at Saratoga before Belmont Park reopens in fall 2026. The Saratoga track is shorter than the traditional Belmont Park layout, which is why the race distance is temporarily reduced to 1¼ miles.
How long is the 2026 Belmont Stakes?
The 2026 Belmont Stakes will be run at 1¼ miles (10 furlongs, the same distance as the Kentucky Derby), shorter than the traditional 1½ miles. This is because Saratoga's main track cannot accommodate the full 12-furlong distance. The race returns to the full 1½ miles in 2027 when Belmont Park reopens.
Will Golden Tempo run in the Belmont Stakes?
Yes. The Kentucky Derby winner is confirmed for the Belmont Stakes after skipping the Preakness. Trainer Cherie DeVaux targeted Belmont as the next Triple Crown leg following her historic Derby win on May 2, 2026. Renegade (Derby 2nd) and Chief Wallabee (Derby 4th) are also confirmed entries.
Will Napoleon Solo run in the Belmont Stakes?
No. Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo is skipping the Belmont, meaning the field will not feature the 2026 Preakness winner. With Golden Tempo confirmed but not Triple-Crown-eligible (Derby winner who skipped Preakness), the 2026 Belmont showcases Derby returners without the full Triple Crown narrative.
Can I bet the Belmont Stakes from Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky residents and visitors can bet the Belmont through licensed advance deposit wagering (ADW) apps such as TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing, TVG, DraftKings Horse Racing, and NYRA Bets. Belmont pari-mutuel pools are fully accessible from within Kentucky state lines.
What is the Belmont Stakes purse?
The Belmont Stakes purse is $2 million, traditionally guaranteed. The winner typically takes home approximately $1.1-1.2 million depending on bonus structures. The full Belmont Stakes Racing Festival features 19 stakes races over three days with total purses exceeding $11 million.
How many horses run in the Belmont Stakes?
The Belmont Stakes field is typically 8 to 14 horses, far smaller than the Kentucky Derby's 20-horse maximum. Saratoga's 2024-2026 hosting has produced fields of 10-11 entries. Smaller fields mean shorter Win prices on favorites but more handicappable exacta and trifecta structures.
What time does the Belmont Stakes start?
The Belmont Stakes post time on June 6, 2026 is expected around 6:42 PM ET, with the full undercard running throughout the afternoon. NBC network coverage typically begins at 2:30 PM ET; FOX, NBC Sports, and Peacock stream undercard races.
How can I watch the Belmont Stakes?
NBC carries the Belmont Stakes network broadcast. NBC Sports and Peacock stream the network coverage online. FanDuel TV, TVG, and TwinSpires offer in-app live streaming for ADW account holders. NYRA Bets includes free access to all NYRA track streams.
Is there a Triple Crown winner in 2026?
No. Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby (May 2) but skipped the Preakness, ending the 2026 Triple Crown bid immediately. Napoleon Solo won the Preakness (May 16) but is skipping the Belmont. The last Triple Crown winner was Justify in 2018. The 2026 Belmont remains a major standalone betting event despite the absence of a Triple Crown contender.