Belmont Stakes 2021: Time, Betting Lines, How To Watch

ELMONT, NY — The 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes will be held Saturday as the event once again reclaims its place as the third and final leg of the American Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing.

Post time for the 1.5-mile race is 6:49 p.m.

Held annually in Elmont, New York, the "Test of the Champion" is the oldest event in the Triple Crown. Typically the final race of the series, the Belmont Stakes was held first in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Attendance will still be limited at the 2021 event. A crowd of 11,000 is expected to attend, and proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test is required for entry.

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Preakness winner Rombauer and Essential Quality headline a field of eight horses for the third jewel of the Triple Crown. On Tuesday, Essential Quality was set as the 2-1 favorite to win, according to The Associated Press.

Here are the Saturday morning betting odds:

• Bourbonic (15-1)
• Essential Quality (2-1)
• Rombauer (3-1)
• Hot Rod Charlie (7-2)
• France Go de Ina (30-1)
• Known Agenda (6-1)
• Rock Your World (9-2)
• Overtook (20-1)

Medina Spirit, the winner of this year's Kentucky Derby, will not run in the Belmont Stakes after the horse failed a post-Derby drug test. Bob Baffert, Medina Spirit's trainer, has no horses running at Belmont Park after the New York Racing Association suspended him in light of the test.

Coverage of the race begins at 5 p.m. on NBC.

NBC Sports Network will show undercard coverage from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can also stream the event on NBC Sports' website and app.