Belmont Stakes 2020: How To Watch, Betting Lines, Schedule

ELMONT, NY — For the first time in history, the Belmont Stakes will be the first horse race of the American Triple Crown.

The race is set for Saturday in Elmont, New York, and the event's procedures will have a variety of changes due to the coronavirus.

Spectators will not be allowed in Belmont Park, which just opened back up for racing on June 3. Additionally, the race will shorten from its usual 1.5 miles to 1.125 miles.

The new distance will make it the shortest of the three Triple Crown races in 2020.

The Kentucky Derby is now scheduled for Sept. 5, and the Preakness Stakes will take place as the final leg on Oct. 3.

"Our racing committee looked at it and basically unanimously said, let's go in June at a mile and an eighth," Martin Panza, senior vice president at the New York Racing Association, told NBC Sports. "Let's not stress these horses and try to get them to go a mile and a half when they might not be prepared to do that."

Here's what you need to know about the race schedule, how to watch it, and the gambling lines.

Scheduled Race Time

The 152 Belmont Stakes will start at approximately 5:42 p.m. ET on Saturday.

How To Watch

You can watch the world-famous horse race on NBC. While the Belmont Stakes doesn't start until 5:42 p.m. ET, live television coverage will begin at 3 p.m. ET.

You can also stream the event live on NBCSports.com.

Betting Lines

1. Tap It To Win: 6-1
2. Sole Volante: 9-2
3. Max Player: 15-1
4. Modernist: 15-1
5. Farmington Road: 15-1
6. Fore Left: 30-1
7. Jungle Runner: 50-1
8. Tiz the Law: 6-5
9. Dr. Post: 5-1
10. Pneumatic: 8-1

All of the above lines are according to DraftKings.