A few months ago, the COVID-19 pandemic immensely affected the world, especially most of the sporting events in the United States.
Events such as horse racing had no choice but to reschedule dates to make sure that the disease won’t spread further. This change caused bettors and fans to be a little disappointed since they can’t wager accordingly.
While the world is continually battling to control this disease’s outbreak, there’s still a ray of light for all esteemed horse racing fans. The U.S. Triple Crown Series is about to commence in just a few months, bringing another massive betting game and opportunities for all bettors around the world.
The U.S. Triple Crown Series consists of three main horse racing segments: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes 2020. However, the racing order won’t be the same this year as the races will occur the other way around due to the movement of dates and consideration of the venues.
The Belmont Stakes will be held on June 20, 2020, at Belmont Park. It was confirmed by the NYRA CEO & President Dave O’Rourke, who was very grateful that the Belmont Stakes has finally found the right time to saddle up this year amidst the pandemic.
Initially, the Kentucky Derby was moved to September 5, 2020, and the Preakness has recently confirmed a new date, which is on October 3, 2020. The usual arrangement for the U.S. Triple Crown Series won’t be the same this year since the Belmont Stakes will serve as the kick-off event of the horse racing showdown.
The Belmont Stakes is the last racing showdown of the Triple Crown Series. As stated above, the Triple Crown Series this year is settling a unique set-up since the Belmont Stakes starts first instead of culminating the horse racing event. Traditionally, Belmont Stakes feature successful racehorses from the Derby and Preakness who’ve vied for the prestigious Triple Crown title.
Moreover, the Belmont Stakes’ racing field has the longest racecourse, which measures 1.5 miles. The Kentucky Derby, on the other hand, is completed at one ¼ mile, while the Preakness Stakes is 1 3/16 miles. The Belmont racecourse comes with obstacles that test the true agility and stamina of horses, aside from the distance variation.
There are no significant changes when it comes to the Belmont Stakes tradition. Although there are some standards and qualifications that every Belmont hopeful must meet, the standard practices which occurred since this racing event took place will remain the same.
Aside from that, there will only be limited seats at Belmont Park since the NYRA is complying with the social distancing rules set by the state. As a matter of fact, bettors and fans are encouraged to wager online and witness the action-packed show through live streaming or the partner TV network.
The Belmont Stakes winner will be draped with a garland of White Carnations during the award ceremony. White Carnations has been the official flower of the Belmont Stakes since then. The NYRA considers this flower as a symbol of strength since it can last for a few days without water. This specific characteristic is associated with a Belmont Stakes winner who showcases optimum strength to win the competition.
A small celebration will also take place once the Belmont Stakes winner is announced. The Belmont Breeze, which is the official drink of the racing event, will be served. It is a cocktail drink made from the combination of pomegranate juice, lemonade, and bourbon. The drink is limited to distinguished Belmont Stakes officials, jockeys, trainers, and a few spectators.
Lastly, the Belmont Stakes will play their traditional theme song “New York, New York,” during the event. The music is played before, during, and after the show. According to NYRA, they will still practice these traditions to get a vibe of the Belmont Stakes atmosphere the same as in previous years.
Although there is usually an after-party celebration that takes place after the Belmont Stakes racing show, that tradition will have to be skipped this year. The NYRA has to ensure that no crowd would gather in huge numbers so that the disease won’t spread and to comply with the rules and regulations set by the state.
After movements and suspensions of many sporting events in the United States, the U.S. Triple Crown Series has finally decided to push through this year. However, unlike the past years, the Belmont Stakes will serve as the kick-off show instead of concluding the Triple Crown. Hence, you should be guided with the dates shown above to know when the Belmont Stakes will be held and understand how the event will work to gamble accordingly.
