The 158th Belmont Stakes is set for Saturday, June 6, featuring a field of nine.
Saratoga Race Course will play host to the third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown while Belmont Park continues to undergo renovations. The distance for 2026 is 1 1/4-miles — the same as the Kentucky Derby — rather than the customary 1 1/2-miles that's helped the race earn the moniker "Test of the Champion."
2026 Belmont Stakes key info
- Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
- Post time: 7:04 p.m. ET
- Location: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
- TV/Streaming: FOX, FS1, FOX Sports App
Odds
The Belmont Stakes odds were released along with Belmont Stakes post positions on Monday, June 1. Don't miss our analysis of the Belmont Stakes horses, featuring Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo.
Picks and predictions
Covers' lead horse racing analyst Robert Criscola has given out his Belmont Stakes Win, Place & Show picks, and Brian Robin has supplied his Belmont Stakes Exacta, Trifecta & Superfecta picks for the "Test of the Champion."
Horses
A field of nine will run in this year's renewal. The biggest Belmont Stakes field was 15 horses in 1983.
To qualify for the Belmont Stakes, a thoroughbred horse must be three years old. Colts carry 126 pounds, while fillies are given a five-pound weight allowance. All potential contenders must be nominated to the Triple Crown series, and must pay the requisite entry and starter fees to run in the race.
Watch
Horse racing fans can watch the 2026 Belmont Stakes on FOX, with coverage beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET.
How to bet on horse racing
Big races like the Belmont Stakes have a massive mainstream appeal and many bettors new to horse racing tune in. If you’re looking to learn the betting basics or need a refresher on some simple tips, check out our horse racing for beginners guide.
Belmont Stakes history
This year’s event will be the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes, making it the oldest of the three Triple Crown races. That means plenty of history is behind "The Test of the Champion."
Distances
The Belmont Stakes is typically the longest of the Triple Crown races at its standard distance of 1 1/2 miles, though it will be run at 1 1/4-miles in 2026 due to construction at Belmont Park and the different dimensions at Saratoga, the race's temporary home.
Triple Crown road
The Belmont Stakes is the final challenge for any horse contending for the Triple Crown after winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. However, there is no Triple Crown hopeful heading into the 2026 Belmont.
There have been 13 Triple Crown champions that came through Belmont Park, while 18 horses have won both the Preakness and the Belmont but not the Derby. Eleven horses have won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes but not the Preakness.
Fastest Belmont
The record for the fastest 1 1/2-mile time in the Belmont Stakes belongs to famed Triple Crown winner Secretariat, who ran the 12 furlongs in 2:24 back in 1973.
Where can I bet on the Belmont Stakes?
Several legal horse racing specialist betting sites offer odds on the most popular races from around the world, including the Belmont Stakes.
Here are the best horse racing betting sites available.
Belmont Stakes FAQs
The Belmont Stakes is being held on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
The Belmont Stakes is held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY.
The 2026 Belmont Stakes will air on FOX.
Legal horse racing betting sites offer Belmont Stakes odds. Here are some of the best horse racing betting sites
