Getty Essential Quality.
The 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes is set for Saturday with eight horses competing for the crown at Belmont Park.
The 2021 Belmont Stakes starts at about 6:47 p.m. ET and will be televised on NBC (coverage of the undercard races will be televised on NBCSN starting at 3 p.m. ET and NBC starting at 5 p.m. ET).
But if you don’t have cable, here are several different ways you can watch a live stream of the Belmont Stakes and the undercard races online for free:
Note: Heavy may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up via a link on this page
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of NBC (live in most markets), NBC Sports Network and 100-plus other TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the 2021 Belmont Stakes live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
If you can’t watch live, FuboTV also comes with 250 hours of cloud DVR space.
AT&T TV
AT&T TV has four different channel packages: “Entertainment”, “Choice”, “Ultimate” and “Premier.” NBC (live in most markets) and NBC Sports Network are included in every one, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free 14-day trial.
Note that the free trial isn’t advertised as such, but your “due today” amount will be $0 when signing up. If you watch on your computer, phone or tablet, you won’t be charged for 14 days. If you watch on a streaming device on your TV (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, etc.), you will be charged for the first month, but you can get still get a full refund if you cancel before 14 days:
Once signed up for AT&T TV, you can watch the 2021 Belmont Stakes live on the AT&T TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the AT&T TV website.
If you can’t watch live, AT&T TV also comes with 20 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to unlimited hours).
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of NBC (live in select markets), NBC Sports Network and 40-plus other TV channels via Sling TV’s “Sling Blue” channel bundle. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but you can get your first month for just $10:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the 2021 Belmont Stakes live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV, airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website.
If you can’t watch live, Sling TV comes included with 50 hours of cloud DVR.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of NBC (live in most markets), NBC Sports Network and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which you can try out for free with a seven-day trial:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch the 2021 Belmont Stakes live on the Hulu app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Hulu website.
If you can’t watch live, Hulu with Live TV also comes with 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to “Enhanced Cloud DVR,” which gives you 200 hours of DVR space and the ability to fast forward through commercials).
Belmont Stakes 2021 Preview
The Belmont Stakes is back to its regular date and there will be fans at the track,
“It’s a symbol that things are getting back to normal,” Nassau County Executive Laura Curran told Newsday. “We can go and watch the horses, and talk and socialize, and eat and drink semi-normally. It feels wonderful.”
There are just eight horses in the field, with Essential Quality coming in as the favorite. Preakness winner Rombauer is close behind at 3-1.
| Post Position | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bourbonic | 15-1 | Kendrick Carmouche | Todd Pletcher |
| 2 | Essential Quality | 2-1 | Luis Saez | Brad Cox |
| 3 | Rombauer | 3-1 | John Velazquez | Michael McCarthy |
| 4 | Hot Rod Charlie | 7-2 | Flavien Pratt | Doug O’Neill |
| 5 | France Go de Ina | 30-1 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Hideyuki Mori |
| 6 | Known Agenda | 6-1 | Jose Ortiz | Todd Pletcher |
| 7 | Rock Your World | 9-2 | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler |
| 8 | Overtook | 20-1 | Manny Franco | Todd Pletcher |
“Rombauer is training very well, as good as he did before the Preakness; I’m very pleased with what I’ve seen,” Rombauer trainer Michael McCarthy said.
Essential Quality’s trainer Brad Cox is also pleased with what he’s seen out of his horse, which finished fourth at the Kentucky Derby.
“He was five for five leading up to the Derby. He’s seemed to have won all of his races different ways whether sitting off a hot pace or laying close to the pace. He’s able to adapt. He’s a race horse, bottom line. He brings it every time.”
While polarizing trainer Bob Baffert won’t be a presence, Todd Pletcher will have a trio of horses competing in Overtook, Known Agenda and Bourbonic.
“It’s a formula that’s proven successful numerous times for him,” McCarthy said. “He’s fortunate they can train on the main track at Belmont so there’s a familiarity with the track. You can never second guess anything Todd does. When he comes up with a plan, like giving them time to prepare for the Belmont, you have to take heed.
“He does great wherever he goes, and with whatever he does, but in this Triple Crown race, he’s extra wicked.”
Baffert was recently banned from Churchill Downs for two years after Kentucky Derby Winner Medina Spirit tested positive for a banned substance a second time.
“Mr. Baffert’s record of testing failures threatens public confidence in thoroughbred racing and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby,” Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen said in a statement.