The Third Jewel of the Triple Crown is upon us, as the Belmont Stakes will cap off another thrilling year of horse racing’s grand trifecta.
The Run for the Carnations may not get as much attention as the Kentucky Derby or even the Preakness Stakes to an extent, but there’s no denying that there’s a boatload of cash to be won this Saturday in the Big Apple. Let’s break down exactly how much is at stake for each of the competitors in the event’s much-awaited Grade I race below.
Unlike other professional sporting tournaments from the likes of NASCAR and the PGA Tour, horse racing does not always see an increase in total prize money on an annual basis. Nevertheless, the $1.5 million purse at this year’s Belmont Stakes is without a doubt a hefty sum, with the top-eight finishers in the race looking to take home a sweet slice of that extravagant pie.
The winner of the Belmont Stakes will be awarded over half of the $1.5 million pot — $800,000 to be exact. Meanwhile, the drop-off in prize money for the succeeding finishers is quite significant to say the least, as the runner-up will receive just a little over one-fourth of the total cash prize that the top-placer will earn from the race.
