The 148th running of the Belmont Stakes is Saturday at the 111-year-old Belmont Park.
The third and final leg of the Triple Crown is held five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes.
Here’s what you need to know about the oldest and longest of the Triple Crown races.
Editor’s Note: Eastern time is used throughout this story.
How can I watch?
NBC’s coverage of the 148th Belmont Stakes runs from 5-7 p.m. Saturday. Post time for “The Third Jewel of the Triple Crown” is scheduled for 6:32 p.m.
Post-race coverage continues from 7-7:30 p.m. on the NBC Sports Network.
Pre-race coverage runs from 3-5 p.m. Saturday on the NBC Sports Network.
How long is the race?
The Belmont Stakes is a 1½-mile-long horse race open to 3-year-old thoroughbreds.
miles.
The 1973 Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown winner Secretariat holds the Belmont Stakes’ record of 2 minutes, 24 seconds. The mark also serves as the world record on dirt.
Which horses are the favorites to win the Belmont Stakes?
This year’s “Third Jewel of the Triple Crown” was initially billed as the rubber match between Nyquist (the winner of the Kentucky Derby) and Exaggerator (the winner of the Preakness Stakes).
Nyquist finished third at the Preakness Stakes in the horse’s first-ever defeat, and will not run in the Belmont Stakes due to elevated white blood cell count and fever.
Ultimately, Nyquist’s objective is to run at the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5. The first place finisher at the Breeders’ Cup is awarded $2.75 million.
Here are the betting lines for the Belmont Stakes as of 6 a.m. Wednesday, according to Bovada:
· Exaggerator: 5/6
· Suddenbreakingnews: 7/1
· Cherry Wine: 10/1
· Stradivari: 10/1
· Destin: 16/1
· Brody’s Cause: 18/1
· Governor Malibu: 20/1
· Lani: 20/1
· Creator: 25/1
· Unified: 33/1
· Trojan Nation: 33/1
· Wild About Deb: 40/1
· Forever d’Oro: 40/1
· Gettysburg: 40/1
· Seeking the Soul: 40/1
What happened at the Belmont Stakes last year?
American Pharoah won the Belmont Stakes on June 6, 2015, to become the 12th Triple Crown winner and the first since 1978.
There have been only four Triple Crown winners since 1950: American Pharoah in 2015, Affirmed in 1978, Seattle Slew in 1977 and Secretariat in 1973.
Twenty horses have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes) since 1950. Sixteen horses have won since two out of the three races since 1950.
How old is the Belmont Stakes?
The first running of the Belmont Stakes in 1867 at Jerome Park took place on a Thursday.
It predates the Preakness Stakes (first run in 1873) by six years and the Kentucky Derby (first run in 1875) by eight.
-mile track once located a few miles east of what is now Van Cortlandt Park in The Bronx.
The Belmont Stakes was run at Morris Park until Belmont Park opened in 1905.
The Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland was first run in 1831, the Queens Plate in Canada had its inaugural race in 1860, and the Travers started at Saratoga in 1864. However, the Belmont, which will be run for the 148th time in 2016, is third to the Phoenix (164th running in 2016) and Queens Plate (157th running in 2016) in total runnings.
How much money is at stake?
The purse for the Belmont Stakes on Saturday is $1.5 million, and is divided as follows:
· $800,000 to the winner
· $280,000 to the second place finisher
· $150,000 to the third place finisher
· $100,000 to the fourth place finisher
· $60,000 to the fifth place finisher
· $45,000 to the sixth place finisher
· $35,000 to the seventh place finisher
· $30,000 to the eighth place finisher
What other festivities are happening other than the big race?
Thursday
There are two Stakes races, and 10 races total. Thursday is also Community Mayors Day.
Friday
There are six Stakes races, and 10 races total.
After Friday’s final race, crews will set up a stage near the winner’s circle where the country music duo Maddie & Tae will perform.
Saturday
There are 10 Stakes races with $8 million distributed in total.
Grammy-nominated rock band Daughtry is scheduled to perform on Saturday. Fans can also enjoy a trackside performance from the Broadway hit "Beautiful."
U.S. Military Academy Band musicians will perform the national anthem to start the day’s entertainment.
How should I plan to arrive if I’m planning on going to the race?
Fans are strongly encouraged to plan ahead, and build significant time into their travels to and from Belmont Park this weekend. Park officials encourage fans to arrive early and to stay late with significant delays anticipated accessing the park.
Those utilizing public transportation to and from Belmont are also encouraged to purchase round-trip admission.
Click here for driving, shuttle, LIRR and Rally Bus information to the Belmont Park Race Track.
How can I follow the Belmont Stakes on the day of the race?
Follow the action using #BelmontStakes throughout the weekend.
The Belmont Stakes is also on Snapchat at belmont_stakes.
