Cocktail of the Belmont Stakes: The White Carnation The White Carnation was the traditional drink of the Belmont until 1997 when it was replaced with the Belmont Breeze. Get the recipe here. The NNHS Class of 1968 Reunion Page. The traditional trophy, the Belmont silver bowl is presented in the winner's circle as the blanket of carnations is placed on the horse. The Tiffany-made, covered, silver bowl donated by the Belmont family stands 18 inches high, 15 inches across, and 14 inches at the base.

1. Belmont Stakes Traditional Food
2. Belmont Stakes Food Traditions
3. Belmont Stakes Traditional Drink
4. Best Belmont Stakes Times
5. Belmont Stakes Length

Not quite “off the races?” Host your own Belmont Stakes party at home. • Photo courtesy of the Belmont Stakes

June 10 will be the 149th Running of the Belmont Stakes in Elmont. The oldest of the Triple Crown events, the Belmont Stakes was first run in 1867. Also known as the “Test of the Champion,” it is the longest race, at 1.5 miles, in terms of distance. This is the ultimate test of endurance for competing horses and whether you are the betting kind or not, this event is absolutely electrifying to watch!

Throwing a Belmont Stakes viewing party is the perfect way to commemorate this thrilling local event. Gather your friends and family around for a day filled with fun, food, and entertainment. We’ve collected a few ways for you to weave the traditions of the Belmont Stakes into your ultimate viewing party.

Decor

White carnations are the flower of the day. • Photo by Anna Bowkis

Traditionally, the winner of the Belmont Stakes is draped with a blanket made with well over 300 white carnations. A quick visit to your local florist will allow you to decorate your home with these minimalistic flowers. The traditional winner’s trophy is crafted by Tiffany, but you can raid the china cabinet for a few silver accents of your own. If you find yourself without an abundance of silver bowls and cups (like myself), improvise! You can find many faux silver gilded cups, plates and napkins in the wedding section of your local party supply store. Additionally, you can decorate your space with a few felt pennants and horseshoes.

Music

Start spreading the news: You need a New York-centric playlist by Saturday.

Belmont Stakes Traditional Food

Load up your playlist with everything and anything that has ever been crooned about New York. A quick google search will provide you with a well-rounded list of songs dedicated to our amazing home state. Everything from Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” to the Beastie Boy’s “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” will ensure a party that remains festive until the horses cross the finish line!

Appetizers

A heritage race calls for heirloom tomatoes. • Photo by Heather Christo

Nothing says New York quite like a delicious slice of warm, cheesy pizza. This beautiful Heirloom Tomato Pizza recipe by Heather Christo will be sure to impress your party guests.

Heirloom Tomato Pizza
Number of servings: 12

Ingredients:

• 1 pizza dough
• olive oil
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 cup packed basil leaves
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced thinly
• 5 cups fresh heirloom tomatoes, different colors
• kosher salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Drizzle the sheet pan with a little olive oil.
2. Roll out the pizza crust until thin, and fold over the crust. Drizzle with a little more olive oil and bake the crust for 12 minutes.
3. While the crust is baking combine the basil and the ¼ cup olive oil in the blender and puree until smooth.
4. Spread ½ cup of the basil oil puree over the crust.
5. Add the sliced mozzarella.
6. Bake the pizza for another 12 minutes until the crust is golden and the mozzarella is melted.
7. Meanwhile, thinly slice the heirloom tomatoes.
8. Evenly spread the heirloom tomatoes over the top of the hot pizza and sprinkle the tomatoes with kosher salt. Serve immediately.

Drinks

Start with the official spirit of the Belmont Stakes: Woodford Reserve. • Photo by Kristy Gardner

With Woodford Reserve as the official Bourbon of the Belmont Stakes, you need to have a proper Bourbon cocktail. Kristy Gardner from She Eats, creates a sparkling whiskey smash with fresh summer strawberries, lime and basil.

Sparkling Strawberry Lime Whiskey Smash
Makes 2 drinks.

Ingredients:

• 4 Ounces Woodford Reserve Bourbon
• 1 Lb Organic Strawberries
• 1 OzLori’s Salt Caramel Syrup
• Juice of 4 Limes
• Small Handful of Fresh Basil
• Couple Splashes of Soda Water
• Ice

Directions:

1. Chuck the strawberries in a blender or food processor. Puree for 30 seconds. If desired, strain to remove seeds (I didn’t bother).
2. Grab the limes as that works and roll them on the counter with the heel of your hand. This will help the juices release when you’re ready.
3. Divide and chuck the basil, salt caramel syrup, lime juice and bourbon into 2 tall, wide mouthed glasses – or mason jars – and muddle lightly with a wooden spoon.
4. Fill the glasses with ice. Pour in the strawberry puree and leave about an inch of headroom at the top of the glass. Top up with soda water. Stir.
5. Garnish with a fresh sprig of basil and a sliced strawberry.

Desserts

Nothing says “New York” like cheesecake. • Photo by We Know Stuff

Very few desserts are decidedly more “New York” than cheesecake. Your guests will appreciate this no fuss treat while they watch the race. Nothing beats the simplicity of these sweet little desserts!

No Bake Mason Jar Cheesecake
Makes 4 mason jar cheesecakes

Ingredients:

• 1 package (4 ounces) of Honey Maid Graham Crackers (honey flavor)
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1 bar (8 ounces) Neufchatel cream cheese, room temperature
• 6 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 cup full fat, vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped into soft peaks
• 1 cup mixed fresh berries

Directions:

1. Pulse graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground (you should have about 1 cup). Add butter, 1 tablespoon sugar, and a pinch of salt to the smashed crackers; mix until combined. Press crumbs evenly into the bottom of 4 mason jars.
2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on high, beat cream cheese until fluffy, 3 minutes. Add confectioners’ sugar, yogurt, vanilla, and a pinch of salt; beat until smooth. With a rubber spatula, fold in whipped cream. Spoon cream cheese mixture into crust and smooth top. Screw lids on and refrigerate until firm, at least 8 hours (or overnight).
3. Combine berries and remaining 1/2 tablespoon sugar; let stand 5 minutes. Spoon berries and juices on top of cheesecakes.

The Belmont Stakes is the longest and oldest of the Triple Crown horse races, run over 1 1/2 miles of track often referred to as “Big Sandy” due to its soil composition.

Three-year-old thoroughbreds will run the Belmont Stakes, a Grade I event held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, over 1 1/8 miles in the opening leg of the Triple Crown with a purse totaling $1.5 million. This marks the first time in history the Belmont Stakes will be the first race for the coveted crown.

The Belmont Stakes, which has a tradition dating back to 1867, will be making history this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race that is typically the last jewel in the Triple Crown will be held June 20 — before the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.

Betting on the Belmont Stakes is one of the biggest highlights on the annual racing calendar. We’re going to cover everything you need to know to get involved this time around.

From the best places for you to legally and safely place your horse racing wagers, what the odds board tells us, how horses qualify and the history of the race itself, it’s all here.

Best Belmont Stakes betting sites

Odds on the 2020 Belmont Stakes

When are the odds released?

Although the Belmont Stakes typically has a smaller field than the Preakness or Kentucky Derby due to the grueling nature of the Triple Crown and because of the 1-1/2 distance, it generates one of the largest handles of any race in the US. Post time for the race typically is between 6:20 p.m. and 6:40 p.m. ET.

Odds become available for the Belmont when post positions are drawn, which is not always the same day every year. Immediately after the horses are assigned their post positions, what is referred to as a morning line is introduced.

Here’s an example of odds from last year’s Belmont Stakes, which was captured by Sir Winston:

Payouts from the 2019 Belmont Stakes

• $1 Exacta: (7-10) $48
• $1 Trifecta: (7-10-1) $1,244
• $1 Superfecta: (7-10-1-4) $10,428

Who is Favored to win the 2020 Belmont Stakes?

Belmont Stakes Food Traditions

Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Belmont Stakes is in a unique position. In most years the horses that finished in the top three of the Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes are the favorites. Since that isn’t possible this year, the odds are being calculated based on other factors.

One of the initial favorites, Charlatan, an undefeated colt trained by Bob Baffert and the winner of one of the two divisions of the Grade I Arkansas Derby, recently tested positive for a banned substance. His status as far as eligibility for the Belmont Stakes is unknown.

Following are the most recently updated odds for this year’s Belmont Stakes:

1. Tiz the Law: 5-2
2. Charlatan: 5-2
3. Nadal: 5-2
4. Dr Post: 7-2
5. Sole Volante: 15-1
6. Basin: 17-1
7. Farmington Road: 20-1
8. Gouverner Morris: 20-1
9. Max Player: 24-1
10. Modernist: 30-1

These horses are considered to be the top 10 horses. However, the Belmont Stakes can load up to 13 horses in the gate and, due to the coronavirus situation, is expected to have a full field this year.

How to bet on the 2020 Belmont Stakes

Betting on the Belmont Stakes goes much further than picking the winner. There are a number of different bet types you can place, all of which we’ll walk through in a bit. For now, let’s take a look at the three options you have once you’re ready to place your wagers.

• Belmont Stakes mobile apps: A mobile racing app lets you bet on the Belmont Stakes anytime you want in a legal betting state. The best of the bunch is TVG, a simple-to-use platform that is a breeze to sign up for. TVG is much more than a betting app to boot. It’s a real live network that serves as the TV home for year-round horse racing action.
• Belmont Stakes live betting: If you’re looking for a stellar Belmont Stakes experience, then why not check out the big race in person? Located in Elmont, New York, Belmont Park attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. For Belmont Stakes day, attendance is through the roof, but you’ll have plenty of places to get your bets in with on-site tellers.
• Belmont Stakes off-track betting: If you can’t make it to the race but still want the thrill of an awesome atmosphere, then take a look at visiting an off-track betting facility near you. These venues attract racing aficionados normally, but big events such as the Belmont really pack them in. It’s a fun time and a great way to get your bets in before the action unfolds.

Types of bets

You can place your bets on the winner of the Belmont Stakes and call it a day, but you’d be missing out on a number of other appealing opportunities. As mentioned, there are several other ways to bet on the big race. Here’s a look at the main bet types you have to consider.

• Win: This is a wager on which horse you think will win the race. Each horse in the field will have odds attached, which can and will move based on betting action. You can place a bet for a small amount such as $2, or go for the gusto with much larger amounts. If your selected horse comes in first, then you have a winning ticket.
• Place: If you place a bet on a horse to place, that means you like your choice to at least finish second in the race. Place bets are paid out for the first two finishers in the race. For example, if you bet on a horse to win and place and it comes in second, the place bet is a winner, but the win bet is not.
• Show: Show bets cover a horse to finish in the top three at the conclusion of the race. Horses that finish in the top three spots will be paid out a portion of the show pool at a rate commensurate with their odds. If you bet on a horse to show and it goes on to be one of the top three finishers, you’re a winner.
• Win/place/show: By choosing this bet for your selections, you’re covering all three of the above outcomes. It’s a time-saver that can also improve returns over simply betting on one of the three finishes. This bet can also be adjusted to two outcomes, such as win/place or place/show.
• Exacta: This is a bet in which you’re choosing the top two finishers. You can place this bet straight, which means the horses have to finish in the exact order selected, or box your choices to cover a range of outcomes.
• Trifecta: For this one, you need to pick the top three finishers in the race. Just like the exacta, you can place a straight or a box bet. Trifectas offer up the potential for great returns, but they can be challenging to hit.
• Superfecta: To kick things up even further, you can bet on the superfecta in box or straight form. To win this bet, you’ll need to pick the top four finishers. These bets can also lead to great scores, but there’s lots of risk involved.
• SuperHighFive: Last but not least, the SuperHighFive requires you to predict the top five finishers in the race. Hitting a winning wager here could be very lucrative, especially when several longshots are in the mix, but the SH5 is tough to predict.

Win, place and show bets are considered your standard horse racing bets, while the remaining wagers on our list are considered exotics. As mentioned, the exotics open the door to even greater potential returns off of a single race, but they can be hard to hit.

In addition, remember that there’s much more to Belmont Stakes day than just the big race itself. There will be a full card of races for you to bet on as well. Beyond the standard and exotic bets, there are other wagers to keep an eye on throughout the day.

You can bet on the winners of multiple races via Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6 bets. For these wagers, you need to pick the winner of consecutive races on the card. Naturally, that’s tough to do, but these wagers can be entered for nominal amounts such as $0.50 or $2.

To enhance your chances, you can select multiple runners in each race. Keep in mind, though, that the cost of your wager will rise with each selection added to the ticket.

Historic Wins in the Belmont Stakes

This is the 152nd edition of the Belmont Stakes, which gives the race a long and rich tradition. Like any long-standing event, certain years are more historic than most.

What is surprising, however, is unlike the Kentucky Derby there have been very few, if any, controversial wins in the Belmont.

Here is a list of some of the more historic Belmont Stakes:

• Sir Barton wins the 1919 Belmont Stakes and becomes the first Triple Crown winner.
• Secretariat stages a tour de force in 1971 en route to becoming the ninth Triple Crown victor. Many racing fans believe it is one of the greatest exhibitions of all time and has earned him the reputation as the greatest horse ever to race. He won the race by a mind-boggling 31 lengths.
• Affirmed edges Alydar in one of the most epic horse racing rivalries of all-time in the 1978 Belmont Stakes. Affirmed wins by a head to become the 11^th Triple Crown winner.
• Trainer Woody Stephens achieves an unrivaled feat by winning five straight editions of the Belmont Stakes with Conquistador Cielo, Caveat, Swale, CrèmeFraiche and DanzigConnection.
• In 1993, jockey JulieKrone becomes the first and only woman to win the Belmont Stakes or any Triple Crown race when she piloted longshot ColonialAffair to the victory.
• In 1998 in one of the closest photo finishes in Belmont Stakes history, VictoryGallop gets up in the final strides to deny RealQuiet the Triple Crown.
• Sarava captures the 2002 Belmont Stakes at odds of 70-1 and is the biggest longshot to ever win the race.
• In 2007, Rags to Riches bests eventual Horse of the Year, Curlin, by a head to become only the third filly to ever win the Belmont Stakes
• AmericanPharoah wins the 2015 Belmont Stakes by five and a half lengths to become the sport’s 12th Triple Crown winner and the first since Affirmed in 1978.
• In 2018, Justify becomes the 13th Triple Crown winner when he wins the Belmont Stakes and the first since SeattleSlew in 1977 to do so with an undefeated record.

The Five Fastest Belmont Stakes

Due to the grueling 1 1/2-mile distance of the Belmont Stakes, times for this race typically are not swift. It is a test of endurance.

Bearing that in mind, here are the five fastest Belmont Stakes winners of all-time:

• Secretariat (1973): 2:24
• Easy Goer (1989): 2:26
• AP Indy (1992): 2:26.13
• Risen Star (1998): 2:26.4
• Point Given (2001): 2:26.56

Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown

Each leg of the Triple Crown has its history and place within the sport and each has its traditions.

The Belmont Stakes stands out not only because it’s the longestdistance of three races, but it is also typically the last within a six-week period for those in pursuit of the coveted crown.

Belmont is referred to as the Test of the Champion because of its timing and distance and due to only 13 horses in the history of the sport having won the Triple Crown.

For perspective, 52 horses have won two Triple Crown contests with 23 winning the combined Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes; 18 winning the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes; and 11 horses winning the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

Belmont Stakes Traditional Drink

History of the Belmont Stakes Festival

Considered to be a New York City institution and an integral component of the city’s sports history, the Belmont Stakes holds great significance not only locally, but nationally and internationally.

To celebrate the importance of the Belmont Stakes, the annual Belmont Stakes Festival is held. The event takes place in Elmont, in the neighborhood surrounding Belmont Park and within the track itself. Attendees partake in live music, food trucks and craft beer during the celebration, which lasts for three days and concludes with the running of the Belmont Stakes.

Secretariat, the Triple Crown Winner

Lovingly referred to as Big Red due to his gleaming chestnut coat and large size. Secretariat was born in March 1970 and won five Eclipse Awards, horse racing’s highest honor, during his two-year career. Secretariat raced as a homebred for Meadow Stable for owner Penny Chenery after her father’s death.

Sired by champion Bold Ruler and mare Somethingroyal, Secretariat was named Horse of the Year as a two- and three-year-old and is still the only horse to achieve this honor.

Trained by Hall of Fame member Lucien Lauren, Secretariat won five stakes as a two-year-old and was so impressive, he was syndicated for his stud career early in his sophomore season for a then-record $6.08 million.

Best Belmont Stakes Times

Not only did Secretariat win the Triple Crown, but he also set records in all three races which still stand. He is only of two horses to win the Kentucky Derby in under two minutes, with the other being Monarchos in 2001, and his Belmont Stakes victory is considered by many to be the greatest horse race of all-time. He is the second-highest ranked thoroughbred in the history of the sport behind Man o’ War.

Secretariat also won major stakes on turf to prove his versatility. He was retired to Claiborne Farm after his three-year-old campaign and died there in 1989 from laminitis at age 19.

Belmont Stakes Length

While he never reached the lofty achievements in the breeding shed that he did on the racetrack, Secretariat is considered to be an outstanding broodmare sire and is in many pedigrees of champion racehorses. It is thought he was such an excellent broodmare because he physically had the largest heart of any American racehorse and that genetic trait was passed on to many of his fillies rather than his colts.