Triple Crown 2018: What time does the Belmont Stakes start?
By Zoe West
History could be made in the 2018 Belmont Stakes. Here’s exactly when that will be happening.
There could be another Triple Crown winner in 2018. So far, Justify has answered all the questions put to him, and answered them well, but the Belmont Stakes will be a new challenge. Justify will try to become the third horse to sweep the Triple Crown while undefeated. The previous one was Seattle Slew in 1977. Smarty Jones had a chance to join that club in 2004, but fell about 3/4 of a length short of that year’s winner, Birdstone.
If Justify manages to join that exclusive club, he better put his best foot forward. There will be a number of other horses looking to take his crown. But the field will be missing one notable competitor, for business reasons. Audible, who ran third in the Derby, will not see the track in the Belmont. The horse is doing well, but his connections simply don’t want to run.
Why not? Because Audible is owned by the same people who own Justify. What would they think if their horse was the one who stopped their other horse from sweeping the Triple Crown? I don’t know, but apparently they don’t want to contemplate it.
The final field for the Belmont (barring injuries) was set on Tuesday.
Post position Horse (odds)
1 Justify (4-5)
2 Free Drop Billy (30-1)
3 Bravazo (8-1)
4 Hofburg (9-2)
5 Restoring Hope (30-1)
6 Gronkowski (12-1)
7 Tenfold (12-1)
8 Vino Rosso (8-1)
9 Noble Indy (30-1)
10 Blended Citizen (15-1)
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So Justify is far and a ways the favorite in this field. It is a reflection of his stellar career so far, but is also probably influenced by the desire for a Triple Crown. Having that as a possibility raises the profile of the Belmont, both within racing circles and to the general public.
The Belmont is the crown jewel of a rich slate of races on Saturday June 9. It’s scheduled post time is 6:37 p.m. ET. However national coverage of the race will begin at 5 p.m. and run through 7. The earlier races on the program begin just before noon, but they will not be broad cast with the Belmont on NBC.
Here’s hoping for a Triple Crown, or at least an exciting race. We’ll see you then!