NEW YORK -- California Chrome failed in his bid to win the first Triple Crown in 36 years on Saturday, losing the Belmont Stakes to long shot Tonalist and leaving his owner to complain others took 'the coward's way out' by skipping the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

1. Belmont Stakes Odds Post Positions
2. Belmont Stakes 2015 Odds
3. Belmont Stakes Odds Today

Before a crowd of tens of thousands hoping to see history, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner finished in a dead-heat for fourth with Wicked Strong. California Chrome's loss extended the longest drought without a Triple Crown champion.

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California Chrome co-owner Steve Coburn was bitter about horses skipping the first two legs and then stealing the Belmont, calling them 'cheaters' in an interview with Yahoo! Sports. Six of the past eight Belmont winners did just that.

'That's the coward's way out,' he said. 'It's not fair to these horses that have been in the game since day one. If you don't make enough points to get into the Kentucky Derby, you can't run in the other two races. It's all or nothing.'

Coburn thought the other 10 horses ganged up on California Chrome, who was second early, dropped to fourth and then fifth before dead-heating for fourth. Photos after the race showed Chrome also had a bloody gash on his right front foot, a minor injury that may have hurt his chances.

'Our horse had a target on his back,' he said.

Belmont Stakes Betting History. Inaugurated 1873. Sir Winston claimed the Belmont Stakes in 2019 at 10/1 odds, ridden by jockey Joel Rosario. Trainer Mark Casse wound up in the winner's circle at the Belmont Stakes for the first time in his career. The colt won by 1 length and finished 2:28:30. Chalk presents the most up-to-date odds for the 2016 Belmont Stakes, courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

Coburn had voiced a similar complaint after the Preakness, saying only the 20 horses that run in the Kentucky Derby should be eligible to compete in the other two legs. He also believed that horses skipping the Preakness should not be allowed to return in the Belmont.

Coburn had been in a festive mood earlier in the day, waving his cream-colored cowboy hat to fans and signing items they tossed to him in his box seat.

But the mood turned ugly after the race.

Three tough races in five weeks proved too demanding for California Chrome, who was sent off as the heavy 4-5 favorite. Affirmed remains the most recent Triple Crown winner in 1978.

The raucous crowd of 102,199 -- the third largest in park history -- was silenced when it became obvious that California Chrome lacked his usual punch in the stretch.

Jockey Victor Espinoza realized long before then that his chestnut colt wasn't up to the grueling 1½-mile trip around the track's sweeping turns.

'As soon as he came out of the gate, he wasn't the same,' Espinoza said.

Alan Sherman, the son and assistant to trainer Art Sherman, agreed.

'When Victor started to squeeze on him, he didn't respond,' he said. 'He was wore out, I think.'

Once the official result was posted, fans sat in stunned silence before heading to the exits.

Penny Chenery, the 92-year-old owner of 1973 Triple Crown champion Secretariat, had been ready to welcome a new member to the exclusive club. She and others with ties to previous Triple Crown winners came to watch what they hoped would be California Chrome's big day.

'I'm very disappointed that we didn't have a Triple Crown winner, but I'm happy for the winners,' she said.

Tonalist, the fifth wagering choice at 9-1 odds, was a fresh and rested horse making his debut on the Triple Crown trail. He last ran and won the Peter Pan Stakes over the same Belmont dirt on May 10.

Tonalist beat Commissioner, another newcomer to the Triple Crown, by a head. Those two horses finished in the same order in the Peter Pan. Tonalist ran the distance in 2:28.52 and paid $20.40, $9.60 and $7.

Commissioner returned $23.20 and $13.20, while Medal Count was another length back in third and paid $13.20 to show.

Samraat was sixth, followed by General a Rod, Matterhorn, Commanding Curve, Matuszak and Ride On Curlin.

California Chrome broke quickly but was pressed immediately by Commissioner and General a Rod. Espinoza eased California Chrome back into third along the rail.

Approaching the final turn, California Chrome was maneuvered to the outside. He angled four-wide turning for home, just to the outside of Tonalist, who was close to the pace the entire race. Espinoza started whipping left-handed in the lane but California Chrome had no response.

'I thought he was gaining ground, but he didn't have it in him, apparently,' Coburn said.

Tonalist joined the growing list of Triple Crown spoilers, making California Chrome the 12th horse since Affirmed to lose his Triple try in the Belmont, the longest race in the series. In 2012, I'll Have Another won the first two legs, but was scratched the day before the Belmont with a career-ending tendon injury.

Trained by Frenchman Christophe Clement, Tonalist was making just his fifth career start.

'We actually thought he finished second, but we got lucky, he won,' Clement said. 'It was great.'

California Chrome's rise from a humble pedigree and his working-stiff owners resonated with sports fans who rarely take an interest in horse racing.

His owners spent $8,000 on a mare they bred to a stallion for $2,500, and were called 'dumb asses' by a trainer for buying a mare who gave no indication that she could produce a standout offspring who could run fast.

Conditions seemed aligned for the Triple Crown drought to end. California Chrome thrived during his three-week stay at Belmont Park. His chestnut coat gleamed and he gained weight after the Preakness on May 17. His owners, trainer and jockey oozed confidence.

But this fairy tale didn't have a happy ending.

Espinoza lost his second chance at a Triple Crown. He was aboard War Emblem in 2002, when that colt stumbled at the start of the Belmont and lost all chance.

'The horse tried, that's all I can ask for. He took me on the ride of my life, I'll always have that in my heart for that horse,' trainer Art Sherman said.

Coburn, who with Perry Martin formed Dumb Ass Partners to race their one-horse stable, had vowed that California Chrome 'would go down in history.'

It just wasn't the kind they wanted to make.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

What is the Belmont Stakes?

The Belmont Stakes is the third and final leg of the “Triple Crown.”

The race takes place at Belmont Park from Elmont, New York in the United States and features the top three-year-old horses in the world.

Due to the global 'coronavirus' pandemic, the 2020 Belmont Stakes has been rescheduled and will be run on Saturday, June 20 in New York without fans and serve as the opening leg of horse racing's Triple Crown for the first time in the sport's history.

Normally, the race takes place exactly five weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes.

The 2020 installment will be 1 1/8 miles instead of the 1 1/2-mile 'test of the champion' that has been the race's trademark for almost a century.

The Belmont Stakes is normally the third leg of the Triple Crown, preceded by the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

What is the Triple Crown?

Many say horse racing’s Triple Crown is the toughest feat in all of sports. When you think about it, winning three races at three different tracks at three different distances in five weeks seems to be truly impossible.

Kentucky Derby

First stop, Kentucky. Save a few instances where a horse ships in from overseas, no three-year-old has carried 126 pounds or raced past 1 1/8 miles. Now they have to carry that impost and navigate the classic distance of 1 ¼ miles. Throw in the University of Louisville Marching Band playing “My Old Kentucky Home” with easily over 120,000 screaming, mostly drunk, fans singing along, and you have yourself the Kentucky Derby. Physical and mental toughness are an absolute must.

Preakness Stakes

If you manage to win the Roses, it’s off to Baltimore where you get to cut back in distance to 1 3/16 miles and go from a Churchill Downs course that plays fairly even to a sometimes speed-biased Pimlico course that can be tricky at times, to say the least. There certainly isn’t as much fanfare, there are still plenty of drunks though, but with just two weeks and a 500-mile trip in between starts, there is still plenty to deal with.

Belmont Stakes

Should you grab the first two jewels, the “Test of the Champion” awaits. You get three weeks between starts this time and less of a van ride but all 1 ½ miles of Big Sandy awaits. Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens once made me walk around the track at Belmont, stopped me at the quarter pole and said” imagine having done all of that (everything I’ve already mentioned) and still having to do this.” To me, it seemed like the wire was a world away.

It’s astonishing that 13 have already done it, in some shape or form.

Triple Crown Champions

After waiting 25 years for a Triple Crown winner, horse racing fans were spoiled in the 1970s by the time Affirmed became the eleventh horse to do it when he captured the Triple Crown with a heart-stopping victory over Alydar in the 1978 Belmont Stakes. After all, Secretariat did it spectacularly in 1973, the first since Citation back in 1948 and Seattle Slew completed the sweep in style, managing to stay undefeated through the 1977 “Test of the Champion.”

Little did they know, 37 years would come and go without another accomplishing the feat, until American Pharoah was finally the one in 2015 for Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert, who’ll try to do it again with the undefeated Justify on Saturday, June 9.

Just a few years later in 2018, Justify captured the Triple Crown. Baffert became the second trainer to win the Triple Crown twice, joining James 'Sunny Jim' Fitzsimmons, who guided Gallant Fox in 1930 and Omaha in 1935.

• 1919 Sir Barton
• 1930 Gallant Fox
• 1935 Omaha
• 1937 War Admiral
• 1941 Whirlaway
• 1943 Count Fleet
• 1946 Assault
• 1948 Citation
• 1973 Secretariat
• 1977 Seattle Slew
• 1978 Affirmed
• 2015 American Pharoah
• 2018 Justify

For horse racing bettors wondering -- dating back to 1932, 23 horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before coming to the Big Apple to get their proverbial clocks cleaned, 14 of them since Affirmed alone. One of them, I'll Have Another back in 2012, didn't even make it to the starting gate as he was scratched the day before the event with a nagging tendon injury.

Belmont Stakes Betting Information

Race Location

Belmont Park, Elmont, New York, USA

Race Type

Thoroughbred

Race Information

• Distance: 1 ½ miles (12 furlongs)
• Track: Dirt, Left-handed
• Qualification: 3-year-old
• Weight: Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg)
• Filly: 121 lbs. (54.9 kg)
• Purse: US $1 million, 1st $600,000

Race Field

The field is limited to 20 horses.

How do I bet on the Belmont Stakes?

Betting on horse races is one of the easiest things to do all across the United States. From the race tracks themselves to off-track betting facilities and online horse betting sites. The actual number of horse race betting sites numbers in the hundreds. However, we did our best to identify the biggest players in the industry. When reviewing these online horse betting sites, we employed a process that evaluated key criteria such as:

TVG

One of the biggest advantages for how to bet on horse racing is TVG’s racing channel. In conjunction with the online betting sites, the TV channel offers insight into horse betting odds. The on-air announcers help to clarify actual horse betting terms as races are aired live.

Registering on the online betting site is a very simple process. You can be up and running in a matter of minutes. The only information required is name, address, phone number and birthday. You will also have to enter the last four digits of your social security number.

TVG offers a 100% matched wager bonus up to $300 for new players. Regular customers can earn reward points for every bet placed. These points can be used for wager credits.

The ‘Support Center’ section is an excellent resource for how to bet on horse racing using this site. It has a separate listing for how you can fund your online betting account as well as request withdrawals. There is a listing for understanding horse betting terms. There is also a listing for all of TVG’s promotions and contests. TVG’s biggest pro is a comprehensive listing of horse betting odds for a wide variety of race tracks. If a track in the US or around the world has a live daily race card, you can bet on it at TVG.

Belmont Stakes Odds Post Positions

2020 Belmont Stakes
Picks & Predictions

2020 Belmont Stakes Betting Odds

The betting odds for the Belmont Stakes are created by Belmont Oddsmaker David Aragona. The official morning-line odds are announced after the post positions for the field have been set, which is normally announced on Wednesday before Saturday's race. Prior to the draw, gamblers can check out fixed odds at various betting shops.

2020 Belmont Stakes Odds

2020 Belmont Stakes Odds

Post Horse Trainer Jockey ML Odds 1 Tap It To Win Mark E. Casse John Velazquez 6/1 2 Sole Volante Patrick Biancone Luca Panici 9/2 3 Max Player Linda Rice Joel Rosario 15/1 4 Modernist Bill Mott Junior Alvarado 15/1 5 Farmington Road Todd Pletcher Javier Castellano 15/1 6 Fore Left Doug O'Neill Jose Ortiz 30/1 7 Jungle Runner Steve Asmussen Reylu Gutierrez 50/1 8 Tiz the Law Barclay Tagg Manny Franco 6/5 9 Dr Post Todd Pletcher Irad Ortiz 5/1 10 Pneumatic Steven Asmussen Ricardo Santana Jr. 8/1

Belmont Stakes Betting History

Inaugurated 1873

Sir Winston claimed the Belmont Stakes in 2019 at 10/1 odds, ridden by jockey Joel Rosario. Trainer Mark Casse wound up in the winner's circle at the Belmont Stakes for the first time in his career. The colt won by 1 length and finished 2:28:30. Joel Rosario was the winning jockey and Mark Casse was the trainer. It was the second Belmont win for Rosario while it was the first for Casse.

Belmont Stakes Winners (Last 10)

2019 - Sir Winston
2018 - Justify
2017 - Tapwrit
2016 - Creator
2015 - American Pharoah
2014 - Tonalist
2013 - Palace Malice
2012 - Union Rags
2011 - Ruler on Ice
2010 - Drosselmeyer

Past Winners

Belmont Stakes Betting Results - 2019

The 151st running of the Belmont Stakes watched Sir Winston capture the victory in the final leg of the Triple Crown. The favorite, Tacitus, rallied for second while Joevia finished third and Tax was fourth.

151st BELMONT STAKES RESULTS

PP Horse Jockey Trainer Odds Win Place Show 7 Sir Winston Joel Rosario Mark Casse 10/1 22.40 8.80 6.10 10 Tacitus Jose Ortiz Bill Mott 9/5 - 3.90 3.20 1 Joevia Jose Lezcano Gregg Sacco 21/1 - - 8.70 4 Tax Irad Ortiz Jr. Danny Gargan 12/1 - - - 3 Master Fencer Julien Leparoux Koichi Tsunoda 13/1 - - - 6 Spinoff Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher 10/1 - - - 2 Everfast Luis Saez Dale Romans 17/1 - - - 8 Intrepid Heart John Velazquez Todd Pletcher 7/1 - - - 9 War of Will Tyler Gaffalione Mark Casse 7/2 - - - 5 Bourbon War Mike Smith Mark Hennig 10/1 - - -

Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta Resuts: $2 Exacta 7-10 paid $192 $2 Trifecta 7-10-1 paid $2,488 $2 Superfecta 7-10-1-4 paid $20,856

Where Can You Bet the Belmont Stakes Online in the US?

Belmont Stakes 2015 Odds

If you are interested in betting the 2020 Belmont Stakes, there is something that you should be aware of. Online horse racing betting is not legal in all states within the United States but our list below will show you the ones that have legalized it.

Belmont Stakes Odds Today

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