The Belmont Stakes will mark the long-awaited return of Triple Crown horse racing on Saturday. Originally scheduled for June 6, the normal "Third Jewel" becomes the first big race for three-year-old thoroughbreds with the Kentucky Derby (Sept. 5) and Preakness (Oct. 3) pushed well back from May.
With New York opening racetracks again on June 1, Belmont Park's premier race experienced only a slight delay of two weeks to June 20. But with restrictions prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, the track will not allow spectators to attend in Elmont, N.Y.
The NYRA had Opening Day at Belmont Park on June 3 and there have been several horse races safely conducted with essential personnel beyond the jockeys. Although this year there's no chance to see a finishing potential Triple Crown winner, the Belmont Stakes can now provide the start of a possible journey toward history.
Over the past six years, American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018) have expanded the list of all-time Triple Crown winners to 13 by bringing home the Belmont Stakes. This time, the must-see race will look to be a springboard for a new all-time great.
Here is everything to know about the 2020 Belmont Stakes, including the post time, TV channel, odds and post positions for each horse.
MORE: Watch the Belmon Stakes live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
What time is the Belmont Stakes in 2020?
- Date: Saturday, June 20
- Post time: 5:42 p.m. ET | 2:42 p.m. PT
The television coverage is set to last from 2:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET, or shortly after the conclusion of the Belmont Stakes. There will be less pomp and circumstances around the race, but COVID-19 won't take from the fun and fanfare of a much-anticipated, much-needed major sporting event.
In addition to the date being changed by a fortnight, the time is also different from previous years. The 2019 post time was more than an hour later, at 6:48 p.m. ET.
What channel is the Belmont Stakes on?
- TV channel: NBC
- Live stream: NBC Sports app, fuboTV (7-day free trial)
NBC remains the home for Triple Crown racing in 2020. This is the 10th consecutive year the network will handle the pre-race and race coverage. You can stream the race at NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app or with fuboTV, which offers a free seven-day trial.
Mike Tirico will serve as solo host for the broadcast for a second consecutive year. Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey and Eddie Olczyk return as the race analysts. This year, there are only two track reporters, Kenny Rice and Britney Eurton, after NBC had six in 2019.
Larry Collmus will again call the race for NBC. The trophy presenters are to be announced.
Belmont Stakes horses 2020
Here are the entrants to the 2020 Belmont Stakes, including odds and post position for each horse:
| Post position | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 | Tap It To Win | John Velazquez | Mark Casse | 6-1 |
| 2 | Sole Volante | Luca Panici | Patrick Biancone | 9-2 |
| 3 | Max Player | Joel Rosario | Linda Rice | 15-1 |
| 4 | Modernist | Junior Alvarado | Bill Moss | 15-1 |
| 5 | Farmington Road | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | 15-1 |
| 6 | Fore Left | Jose Ortiz | Doug O'Neill | 30-1 |
| 7 | Jungle Runner | Reylu Gutierrez | Steve Asmussen | 50-1 |
| 8 | Tiz The Law | Manny Franco | Barclay Tagg | 6-5 |
| 9 | Dr Post | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd Pletcher | 5-1 |
| 10 | Pneumatic | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steve Asmussen | 8-1 |
MORE: Full betting guide for the 2020 Belmont Stakes
Where is the Belmont Stakes race?
- Track: Belmont Park
- Location: Elmont, N.Y.
The 2020 Belmont Stakes marks its 152nd running. Belmont Park will host the race for the 109th time. The track is located in Nassau County on border of Queens, about 25 miles east of New York City near Hempstead.
Early in the race's history, dating back to 1867, the Belmont Stakes took place in now defunct Jerome Park Racetrack in The Bronx Belmont Park opened in Elmont in 1905. As the Kentucky Derby is nicknamed "The Run For the Roses," the Belmont Stakes is also known as both as "The Test of the Champion" and "The Run for the Carnations."
Why is the Belmont Stakes shorter in 2020?
The Belmont Stakes is typically the last and longest race in the Triple Crown series, spanning 1 1/2 miles or 12 furlongs. The 2020 edition has been shortened to to 1 1/8 miles or 9 furlongs, making it shorter than both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.
According to a statement released by the NYRA, the decision was an easy one "to properly account for the schedule adjustments to the Triple Crown series and overall calendar for 3-year-olds in training." Without the extra 3/8 miles, there's one less turn and the new early nature of the race called to favor speed more so than endurance, to determine the champion of only the First Jewel.
MORE: Prop bets for the 2020 Belmont Stakes
Who won the Belmont Stakes in 2019?
Sir Winston brought home the race last June. There was zero shot at a Triple Crown winner on the heels of Justify after Country Horse won the Derby and War of Will won the Preakness.
At 10-1 odds, Sir Winston scored an upset over both War of Will and Tacitus. Sir Winston, trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Joel Rosario, won by a length out of the No. 7 post.
Casse is back trying to make it two consecutive Belmont and Triple Crown victories with Tap It To Win, 6-1 out of No. 1 post. Rosario will try to ride Max Player, 15-1 out of the No. 3 position, to repeat victory.
Belmont Stakes winners
Here are all the past winners of Belmont Stakes, from latest to first:
- 2019 — Sir Winston
- 2018 — Justify
- 2017 — Tapwrit
- 2016 — Creator
- 2015 — American Pharoah
- 2014 — Tonalist
- 2013 — Palace Malice
- 2012 — Union Rags
- 2011 — Ruler On Ice
- 2010 — Drosselmeyer
- 2009 — Summer Bird
- 2008 — Da’ Tara
- 2007 — Rags to Riches
- 2006 — Jazil
- 2005 — Afleet Alex
- 2004 — Birdstone
- 2003 — Empire Maker
- 2002 — Sarava
- 2001 — Point Given
- 2000 — Commendable
- 1999 — Lemon Drop Kid
- 1998 — Victory Gallop
- 1997 — Touch Gold
- 1996 — Editor’s Note
- 1995 — Thunder Gulch
- 1994 — Tabasco Cat
- 1993 — Colonial Affair
- 1992 — A.P. Indy
- 1991 — Hansel
- 1990 — Go and Go
- 1989 — Easy Goer
- 1988 — Risen Star
- 1987 — Bet Twice
- 1986 — Danzig Connection
- 1985 — Creme Fraiche
- 1984 — Swale
- 1983 — Caveat
- 1982 — Conquistador Cielo
- 1981 — Summing
- 1980 — Temperance Hill
- 1979 — Coastal
- 1978 — Affirmed
- 1977 — Seattle Slew
- 1976 — Bold Forbes
- 1975 — Avatar
- 1974 — Little Current
- 1973 — Secretariat
- 1972 — Riva Ridge
- 1971 — Pass Catcher
- 1970 — High Echelon
- 1969 — Arts And Letters
- 1968 — Stage Door Johnny
- 1967 — Damascus
- 1966 — Amberoid
- 1965 — Hail To All
- 1964 — Quadrangle
- 1963 — Chateaugay
- 1962 — Jaipur
- 1961 — Sherluck
- 1960 — Celtic Ash
- 1959 — Sword Dancer
- 1958 — Cavan
- 1957 — Gallant Man
- 1956 — Needles
- 1955 — Nashua
- 1954 — High Gun
- 1953 — Native Dancer
- 1952 — One Count
- 1951 — Counterpoint
- 1950 — Middleground
- 1949 — Capot
- 1948 — Citation
- 1947 — Phalanx
- 1946 — Assault
- 1945 — Pavot
- 1944 — Bounding Home
- 1943 — Count Fleet
- 1942 — Shut Out
- 1941 — Whirlaway
- 1940 — Bimelech
- 1939 — Johnstown
- 1938 — Pasteurized
- 1937 — War Admiral
- 1936 — Granville
- 1935 — Omaha
- 1934 — Peace Chance
- 1933 — Hurryoff
- 1932 — Faireno
- 1931 — Twenty Grand
- 1930 — Gallant Fox
- 1929 — Blue Larkspur
- 1928 — Vito
- 1927 — Chance Shot
- 1926 — Crusader
- 1925 — American Flag
- 1924 — Mad Play
- 1923 — Zev
- 1922 — Pillory
- 1921 — Grey Lag
- 1920 — Man o’ War
- 1919 — Sir Barton
- 1918 — Johren
- 1917 — Hourless
- 1916 — Friar Rock
- 1915 — The Finn
- 1914 — Luke McLuke
- 1913 — Prince Eugene
- 1912 — No race
- 1911 — No race
- 1910 — Sweep
- 1909 — Joe Madden
- 1908 — Colin
- 1907 — Peter Pan
- 1906 — Burgomaster
- 1905 — Tanya
- 1904 — Delhi
- 1903 — Africander
- 1902 — Masterman
- 1901 — Commando
- 1900 — Ildrum
- 1899 — Jean Bereaud
- 1898 — Bowling Brook
- 1897 — Scottish Chieftain
- 1896 — Hastings
- 1895 — Belmar
- 1894 — Henry of Navarre
- 1893 — Comanche
- 1892 — Patron
- 1891 — Foxford
- 1890 — Burlington
- 1889 — Eric
- 1888 — Sir Dixon
- 1887 — Hanover
- 1886 — Inspector B.
- 1885 — Tyrant
- 1884 — Panique
- 1883 — George Kinney
- 1882 — Forester
- 1881 — Saunterer
- 1880 — Grenada
- 1879 — Spendthrift
- 1878 — Duke of Magenta
- 1877 — Cloverbrook
- 1876 — Algerine
- 1875 — Calvin
- 1874 — Saxon
- 1873 — Springbok
- 1872 — Joe Daniels
- 1871 — Harry Bassett
- 1870 — Kingfisher
- 1869 — Fenian
- 1868 — General Duke
- 1867 — Ruthless
