It has certainly been a year for horse racing. We’ve seen one of the closest, most historic finishes ever in the Kentucky Derby, and the dust has just settled on the track at Preakness. Now, the final jewel in the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, is upon us!
This article includes everything you need to know about where to place your bets, how to mix up some iconic race day cocktails and how to watch every moment of the final race of the Crown Jewel live on TV.
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When is the Belmont Stakes?
The Belmont Stakes is traditionally run on the first or second Saturday in June, five weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes.
This year, the race will be held on June 8, 2024. Prior to the main event, a series of other prominent races will be held, including the Acorn Stakes, the Manhattan Stakes, the Just a Game Stakes and the Metropolitan Handicap.
Where is the Belmont Stakes held?
The Belmont Stakes is typically run at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY, but will instead be held at the Saratoga Racecourse in Saratoga Springs, NY due to ongoing construction at Belmont.
How to Watch the Belmont Stakes Live
If you can’t make it out to the stakes race at Saratoga on race day to catch the Belmont Stakes in person, you can watch all of the action on FOX with DIRECTV:
- FOX (Check local channel listings)
- FS1 (DIRECTV Channel 219)
- FS2 (DIRECTV Channel 618)
Belmont Stakes Weekend TV Schedule
Here’s how to catch all of the action at the Belmont Stakes, live on TV:
Thursday, June 6 Live Coverage:
- 12:30 – 6 p.m. ET on FS2
Friday, June 7 Live Coverage:
- 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. ET on FS2
- 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. ET on FS1
Saturday, June 8 Live Coverage:
- 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET on FS1
- 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. ET on FOX
- 7 p.m. – 8:10 p.m. ET on FS2
Sunday, June 9
- 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET on FS2
- 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET on FS1
- 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.ET on FS2
Who is competing in the Belmont Stakes?
Here are all of the horses competing in the Belmont Stakes:
- Antiquarian
- Catching Freedom
- Dornoch
- Fierceness
- Honor Marie
- Mystik Dan (Won Kentucky Derby)
- Seize the Grey (Won Preakness Stakes)
- Sierra Leone
- The Wine Steward
- Thorpedo Anna
- Tuscan Gold
Who is the Favorite to Win the Belmont Stakes?
Right now, the odds have Sierra Leone on top. Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey are both top contenders, too, along with Fierceness.
Previous Belmont Stakes Winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Arcangelo |
| 2022 | Mo Donegal |
| 2021 | Essential Quality |
| 2020 | Tiz the Law |
| 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 |
Belmont Stakes Watch Party Ideas
Having friends and family over to root for your favorite horse-jockey team on race day? Here are some ideas to make it stand-out event:
Carnations: One of the best traditions at the Belmont Stakes is when the winner is draped in a blanket of white carnations. Head out to the florist or flower market, pick up a bucket of carnations, and hang them all over your house or make decorations out of them.
Dress code: Encourage your guests to dress up for the occasion by donning their best race day attire. Extravagant hats are a popular choice at most horse races, but feel free to get creative as well!
Betting games: Another time-honored tradition of horse racing: betting. Set up a betting sheet with the names of the participating horses and their odds, and have your guests place bets on which horse they think will win. You can offer small prizes for the guests who make the most accurate predictions or put some cash down on the race!
Signature cocktail: The official drink of the Belmont Stakes is the Belmont Jewel Cocktail. If you want to serve this iconic drink up for your guests, here’s the recipe:
- 1½ ounces bourbon whiskey
- 2 ounces lemonade
- 1 ounce pomegranate juice
- lemon wedge or cherry (garnish)
You can also have the ingredients for the other Triple Crown races on hand: the Mint Julep and the Black-Eyed Susan. Bonus points for making mini versions of each and offering Crown Jewel flights!
Watch Horse Racing on DIRECTV
As we prepare for the final jewel of the Triple Crown, now’s the time to make sure you have a way to watch the race live. With DIRECTV, you can watch the Belmont Stakes live from the comfort of your home.
Watch the Belmont Stakes and so many of the top sporting events of the year on NBC.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three races in the Triple Crown?
The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes make up the Triple Crown.
Who won the 2024 Kentucky Derby?
Mystik Dan won the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Who won the 2024 Preakness Stakes?
Seize the Grey won the 2024 Preakness Stakes.
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