2024 Belmont Stakes Betting Guide: Will Mystik Dan Challenge Seize the Grey at Saratoga? (Archive)
The Belmont Stakes is the last of the Triple Crown races. It doesn’t always attract the best fields when the Kentucky Derby and Preakness have separate winners. However, for a true champion, being a Belmont winner places you in history, and the jockey, trainer and owner are known for generations to come.
Also, with some participants of the Kentucky Derby starting to opt out of the Preakness Stakes in recent years, this race is beginning to see more dynamic competition. So, what can we expect from the 2024 edition?
Remember that, unlike U.S. sportsbooks, which must adhere to state laws, offshore sites are not bound by such restrictions. Since online horse racing is not regulated in every state, we suggest you check out our guide to the top-rated sportsbooks for the 2024 Belmont Stakes.
2024 Belmont Stakes Info
- When: June 08, 2024
- Track: Saratoga Race Course*
- Race: 12
- Post Time: 07:01 PM ET
- Race Status: Grade 1
- Distance: 1-1/4 miles*
- Conditions: Dirt
- Purse: $2,000,000
- Track: Left-handed
Well, even though there won’t be a Triple Crown winner this year, the Belmont Stakes already has a notable list of probable contenders, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners, Mystik Dan and Seize the Grey.
Another key fact for this year (and next) is that the race will take place at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, instead of the traditional Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, which is currently undergoing renovations. This means the race will be shorter, going 1-1/4 miles instead of the traditional 1-1/2 miles.
Key Difference
The different distance seems to be attractive for some trainers. “The fact that it’s a mile and a quarter, I think it makes it more enticing,” said trainer D. Wayne Lukas, shortly after his horse won the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.”
Another important detail could be the higher purse, which will be $2 million as of this year. Finally, remember that Saratoga Race Course has a couple of nicknames, including “The House of Upsets.”
Some notable champions have lost here, including Man o’ War (only loss in 1919), Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox (1930) and the world-famous Secretariat (1973). Most recently, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah lost his second race at this track back in 2015.
Below, we’ll explain some of the intricacies of the final jewel of the Triple Crown and look at the list of probable contenders for June 8, 2024.
Why Should Horse Bettors Always Care About the Belmont Stakes?
The Belmont Stakes will always be a massive race whenever a horse captures the first two races of the Triple Crown. This has happened 36 times and only 13 of those went on to be Triple Crown winners.
However, that is not the only reason to stay with this race, because over several years there is the head-to-head matchup of the Derby and Preakness champions. There have been 11 Derby/Belmont champions and 18 Preakness/Belmont winners. In those encounters, the Belmont winner becomes a top candidate for the Horse of the Year.
The Belmont Losses A Bit of Its Identity the Next Two Years
For long-time horse bettors and lovers of the sport, the Belmont race in early June is “The Test of a Champion.” Compared to the Derby at 10 furlongs and the Preakness at 9.5, the Belmont Stakes is 12 furlongs (1 and ½ miles).
That is a grueling long race to run for a thoroughbred, who has not reached its maturity. It’s a distance that’s normally reserved for older horses at tracks around the country. This is further problematic when a colt has a third race in five weeks.
That is taxing enough, then you add in a component of horses today built more for speed than endurance. The other component is owners may or may not race in the Derby and set their sights on attempting to win one leg of the Triple Crown and try and pick off a likely tired horse, as was the case with Big Brown in the 2008 Belmont Stakes.
However, the next two Belmont’s will be different because the track in Elmont has started a two-year renovation project and the entire Belmont festival moves to upstate New York to one the prettiest race tracks in the country, Saratoga Race Course for 2024-25.
Because of track logistics, the Belmont Stakes is being cut back to the Derby distance of 10 furlongs. Some in the industry are outraged and others consider it a minor inconvenience. The truth this only matters if a horse is going after a Triple Crown.
Who’ll Run In the 2024 Belmont Stakes?
After Mystik Dan’s epic photo-finish to win the Derby and Seize the Grey’s incredible run in the Preakness, horse racing fans and bettors are turning their attention to the final jewel of the Triple Crown, which will take place on June 8th, 2024.
Unlike the uncertainty that ruled the previous leg of the Triple Crown, there is already a list of probable contenders with some important names, including a couple that skipped the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” to start preparing for the Belmont at Saratoga.
Such is the case of Sierra Leone, who finished second to Mystik Dan at Churchill Downs two weeks ago. Fierceness, the heavy favorite that disappointed in Lexington, looks headed to New York along with Dornoch and Honor Marie.
However, we could see some new faces such as Antiquarian, the winner of the Peter Pan Stakes and second place of the same race, The Wine Steward.
Below is the complete list of probable starters that we’ll continue to update as the race draws nearer.
Belmont Stakes Fun Facts
- The Belmont Stakes is older than the Kentucky Derby or Preakness.
- The Belmont Stakes (1867) is the fourth oldest stakes race in North America, originally the Phoenix Stakes, at Keeneland (1831); the Queen’s Plate in Canada (1860); and the Travers at Saratoga (1864).
- The original Belmont Stakes was even longer at a mile and 5/8 and was not reduced to a mile and ½ until 1927.
- From its origin until 1921, the Belmont was run counter-clockwise (like various non-North American race tracks do).
- Though the Belmont will be run at Saratoga for the next two years, it’s worth noting post position #1 has produced the most Belmont Stakes winners while held at Belmont Park, 24 in total.
Belmont's Forever History
This race was named after August Belmont, a financier who was well-known in the New York City area for his wealth and work in politics and society.
Because the Belmont Stakes is the last race of the crowned jewels, most don’t realize this was the first of the big races, first running in 1867, six years before the Preakness and eight years before the Kentucky Derby.
Every horse racing fan who saw the live races of Secretariat in 1973 and five years later with the amazing duel of Affirmed vs. Alydar will never forget them.
World-Famous Secretariat
Secretariat had captured the world’s attention by not only winning the Derby and Preakness but doing so in record times. The Preakness record is still intact, by the way.
At the Belmont, Secretariat jetted to an early lead and never slowed down, winning the race by an improbable 31 lengths. That set the record not only for the race but the world record over 12 furlongs, which stands today.
Five years later, Affirmed had beaten Alydar at Lexington and Baltimore, with Alydar in second both times. At Elmont, NY, these two separated themselves from the pack and were neck and neck to the finish line, with Affirmed securing the Triple Crown in an unforgettable race.
That race was the beginning of a 37-year Triple Crown drought and most figured by this time, we’d never see such a winner again. From 1997 to 2014, nine horses had a chance to win all three races but came up short. Along comes American Pharoah (whose name was accidentally turned in wrong by the Jockey Club) and on that Saturday in June, he ran for the 2nd-fastest time at the Belmont and won by 5 and ½ lengths to end the long drought. He did so just like Secretariat.