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Horse racing has certainly been a little wild in 2021. The Triple Crown races returned to their traditional dates after COVID-19 resulted in delays last year. Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby, but is likely to be formally stripped of the win due to a second drug test failure, and Mandaloun will be installed as the victor.
Since then, trainer Bob Baffert has been banned from Belmont Park and cannot enter any horses in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. He’s also been banned from Churchill Downs for two years, and won’t be anywhere near the event as well.
Two weeks after the Derby, Rombauer took home the victory at the Preakness meaning even if Medina Spirit had not been stripped of the Derby win, we would not have a Triple Crown decision at the Belmont Stakes.
And so, Saturday, June 5th has arrived and the Triple Crown series wraps in New York. Belmont Day racing will be broadcast from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and then switch over to network NBC from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Belmont Stakes is the 11th of 13 races on the day, and gets underway at 6:49 p.m., according to the listed post time. Live coverage is also available on NBCSports.com/live as well as the NBC Sports app. Peacock will offer a replay of the race.
Streaming the race live requires a cable log-in. If you don’t have one, you can get a free trial from YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, AT&T TV Now, FuboTV, or Sling TV to stream it.
Here are the post positions and odds for the 153rd Belmont Stakes as of 11:10 a.m.:
1. Bourbonic, 9-1
2. Essential Quality, 2-1
3. Rombauer, 8-1
4. Hot Rod Charlie, 7-2
5. France Go de Ina, 19-1
6. Known Agenda, 9-2
7. Rock Your World, 4-1
8. Overtook, 13-1