On Sports Betting: Horse Bettors Set Their Sights On Belmont Stakes

In this case of the Belmont Stakes, the horses will be off on June 20 at Belmont Park east of New York City. Like most sporting events right now, the event will take place without fans, The Associated Press reported.

Also, the usual one and one-half miles — the “test of a champion” — will be trimmed to a mile and one-eighth at the 115-year-old racing facility. The purse will be smaller, too — down from $1.5 million to $1 million because of the coronavirus pandemic-related closure of racetracks and casinos in New York, the news service reported.

Tiz the Law is the current betting favorite for the Belmont at 6/5. Maxfield is 3/1, according to Vegas Insider. Basin, Farmington Road, Modernist and Wells Bayou, are all 25/1. Ny Traffic is 33/1.

If things feel out of whack in horse racing, it’s because they are. The order of the Triple Crown is scrambled this year because of the pandemic. After the Belmont Stakes in the Empire State, the Kentucky Derby will be run on Sept. 5 and the Preakness will take place on Oct. 3.

Still, live racing is returning across North America. Tracks feel they can operate safely and still make money without fans in the grandstands because of online betting and TV revenue, The AP noted, pointing out that more $90 million was wagered off track last year on the day of the Belmont. The New York Racing Association gets a cut of that money along with revenue from NBC.

“I’m just happy we get to run,” two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert told the news service. ”I’m just fortunate that they didn’t cancel any of them. A couple months ago, it didn’t look good.”

Horse players certainly feel the same way. 

The race could certainly generate some crowds and some buzz in Las Vegas race and sports books, which are slowly opening up again.

Elsewhere:

— The PGA resumes Thursday with the Charles Schwab Challenge at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. No fans, of course, but CBS and the Golf Channel plan coverage of pro golfers on the 7,209-yard course. 

Vegas Insider lists Rory McIlroy with the shortest betting odds at 7/1 and Jon Rahm at 9/1. Phil Mickelson is 100/1. Five golfers are listed at 1000/1.

— A women’s flyweight fight with Jessica Eye vs. Cynthia Calvillo will be main event at UFC Fight Night on Saturday at the UFC APEX building in southwest Las Vegas, according to Covers.com. No fans, of course, but you can stream at EPSN+. Odds from FanDuel show Eye at -116 and Calvillo at -106.

— Pending a vote from the NBA board of governors, 22 pro basketball teams will arrive at Disney World near Orlando, Florida, around July 7. Starting July 31, they will play an eight-game slate to determine playoff seeding for games at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports complex, The AP reported. The news service noted the NBA Finals will likely stretch into October in what is already a very elongated sports year. They were originally scheduled to start June 4.

At FanDuel, shortest odds to win it all are for the Milwaukee Bucks, +240; Los Angeles Lakers +270; and Los Angeles Clippers, +340. Teams with the longest odds are the Phoenix Suns, +25000; Sacramento Kings, +25000; and the Washington Wizards, +25000.

— The WNBA is working on a plan to play a shortened 22-game season this year, The AP and ESPN reported. Games would be held at either the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, or an MGM Resorts site in Las Vegas, initial reports said. But Newsday and The Seattle Times are reporting the Florida location has already been chosen.

On April 15, FanDuel had both the Las Vegas Aces and the Washington Mystics at 3/1 to win the WNBA title, but those odds are obviously subject to change.