2025 Belmont Stakes preview: Betting guide, how to watch, starting time

The 157th running of the Belmont Stakes will take place at Saratoga — like the 2024 edition — as renovations continue at Belmont Park. With the winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes competing head-to-head, there is plenty on the line even without a Triple Crown contender.

The horse racing world now turns its attention to New York for the final weekend of Triple Crown racing. Set to be broadcast on NBC, there are plenty of traditions to partake in while awaiting the final post time.

How to watch

Post Time: 6:41 pm ET

Location: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga, New York

Channel: NBC

Kentucky Derby odds

The Belmont Stakes is one of the most interesting lines to follow as horses from the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and new challengers all merge on the track, causing the odds to shift heavily throughout the week and day leading up to the main event. These odds will continue to be updated leading up to the race.

Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty returns to the track as one of the favorites after skipping the Preakness. Meanwhile, Journalism went from Kentucky Derby favorite to Preakness Stakes winner, looking to go back-to-back with a Belmont Stakes win.

All odds for this race come via Twin Spires and are accurate as of Wednesday morning. In addition, the horses are listed in order of gate number, along with the corresponding odds.

1. Hill Road – 10/1
2. Sovereignty – 2/1
3. Rodriguez – 6/1
4. Uncaged – 30/1
5. Crudo – 15/1
6. Baeza – 4/1
7. Journalism – 8/5
8. Heart of Honor – 30/1

More on the Belmont Stakes

Traditionally run on the longest track of the three races, Saratoga is run at the same distance as the Kentucky Derby, changing the landscape of the race just a bit. There is also the factor of fatigue for the horses running multiple legs in a shorter time period than they have ever in their life.

The state of the track often determines which horse can claim an advantage, based on their past experience on each surface. The current weather forecast has rain on the radar, setting up potential for a sloppy track.

With so much data available on each horse, jockey and trainer coming into the race and the element of randomness too, many people take other paths to choosing their best bet. Whether you pick past winners or a big-time longshot, there is no wrong approach at the Belmont Stakes.