Pre-Race Hype Has Big Impact On 2012 Belmont Stakes Handle, Ratings

Despite the Triple Crown not being on the line in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, the race reported a record crowd, along with very high ratings and an impressive handle.

The crowd was listed as 85,811, which was a 53.8 increase from the previous season, according to Daily Racing Forum. It was the biggest crowd for a Belmont Stakes in which the Triple Crown was not on the line. That should come with a bit of an asterisk, though, as Triple Crown contender I'll Have Another wasn't pulled out of the race until the day before.

However, the ontrack handle for betting was $13.8 million, which was the second-highest all-time for the Belmont Stakes. The TV ratings for the final 45 minutes of NBC's broadcast reportedly was a 5.4, which was a 13 percent increase from last year. Overall, it appears the lure of I'll Have Another brought the fans, but they still stuck around after the horse was pulled from the race.

For more on the Belmont Stakes and the race for the Triple Crown, stay with this StoryStream and check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down the Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a beginner's guide to following horse racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

2012 Belmont Stakes: Union Rags Comes From Behind To Win

With I'll Have Another out of the 2012 Belmont Stakes due to suffering a tendon injury, the 144th running at Belmont lost a lot of its shine since there would be no chance of a Triple Crown horse. The crowd was still over 80,000 plus to watch the race, and they were not disappointed in what they saw.

Paynter looked like they were going to win the race and do so by going wire-to-wire, but they fell short to finish in second place. On the first turn it was Paynter who had the lead as they broke to the inside right away to have a three length lead over Union Rags with the favorite Dullahan right behind.

Rounding the final turn, Paynter continued to hold their lead and were followed by Unstoppable U, My Adonis and Union Rags not far behind. From the inside rail Union Rags made their push during the last 100 yards to sneak past Paynter and win the Belmont.

For more on the Belmont Stakes and the race for the Triple Crown, stay with this StoryStream and check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down the Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a beginner's guide to following horse racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

2012 Belmont Stakes Odds: Dullahan Still The Favorite At 5/1

The latest odds for the 2012 Belmont Stakes are out and there has been a lot of changes since Friday night. Nearly every horses odds have grown longer ever since I'll Have Another was declared a scratch. So for those people who placed bets last night they are probably kicking themselves since the odds have gotten longer.

The top three horses that were favored Friday are the same on Saturday. Dullahan is now at 5/1 after being at 9/5, Union Rags, which was 3/1 Friday, is now 6/1 and then Paynter, which was 7/2, is now 8/1.

On the other end of the odds spectrum, three long shot horses went from 30/1 to now at a staggering 50/1 odds.

Here are the latest odds:

1-Street Life, 12/1
2-Unstoppable U, 30/1
3-Union Rags, 6/1
4-Atigun, 30/1
5-Dullahan, 5/1
6-Ravelo's Boy, 50/1
7-Five Sixteen, 50/1
8-Guyana Star Dweej, 50/1
9-Paynter, 8/1
10-Optimizer, 20/1
11-I'll Have Another, Scratched
12-My Adonis, 20/1

For more on the Belmont Stakes and the race for the Triple Crown, stay with this StoryStream and check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down the Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a beginner's guide to following horse racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

2012 Belmont Stakes: Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More

The 2012 Belmont Stakes is set for Saturday night in the great state of New York, and even though I'll Have Another won't have another, there's still plenty of reasons for casual horse racing fans to tune in.

Admittedly, the race has lost some of its luster, as I'll Have Another was looking to become the first horse since Affirmed to win the Triple Crown, but it's still a Triple Crown race -- and the last one of 2012 at that.

Coming into the weekend, I'll Have Another was the odds-on favorite to win the race. Since he's been scratched, oddsmakers and bettors alike have scrambled to anoint a new favorite, but it looks like they've settled on Dullahan.

Here are the latest odds for each horse, sorted by post position:

1. Street Life, 8-1
2. Unstoppable U, 20-1
3. Union Rags, 3-1
4. Atigun, 15-1
5. Dullahan, 9-5
6. Ravelo's Boy, 30-1
7. Five Sixteen, 30-1
8. Guyana Star Dweej, 30-1
9. Paynter, 7-2
10. Optimizer, 15-1
11. I'll Have Another, scratched
12. My Adonis, 15-1

2012 Belmont Stakes: With I'll Have Another Out, Dullahan Is New favorite

With I'll Have Another scratched for the 2012 Belmont Stakes the new favorite for the race is Dullahan who is sitting at 9/5. Next in line is Union Rags comes in at 3/1 and then Paynter at 7/2/

The race has lost a lot of luster with no Triple Crown on the line after I'll Have Another is out of the race due to a tendon injury. With these new odds being released it should start a whole new set of betting from now and leading up to the race, plus there is a good chance that the odds will be updated throughout Saturday as the bets come in.

Here are the latest odds:

1-Street Life, 8/1
2-Unstoppable U, 20/1
3-Union Rags, 3/1
4-Atigun, 15/1
5-Dullahan, 9/5
6-Ravelo's Boy, 30/1
7-Five Sixteen, 30/1
8-Guyana Star Dweej, 30/1
9-Paynter, 7/2
10-Optimizer, 15/1
11-I'll Have Another, Scratched
12-My Adonis, 15/1

For more on the Belmont Stakes and the race for the Triple Crown, stay with thisStoryStream and check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down the Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a beginner's guide to following horse racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

VIDEO: I'll Have Another Retires After Suffering Tendon Injury

Another year will pass with horse racing not having a Triple Crown winner as I'll Have Another has been scratched from the 2012 Belmont Stakes due to a tendon injury the horse suffered Friday morning, and now has retired due to the injury.

The tendon injury is not life threatening to I'll Have Another, but the injury is serious since horses put so much weight on their tendons when they run which so it is importan to be cautious. If a horse injuries the tendon again then it can become extremely difficult to repair. So the decision was made to retire I'll Have Another and not risk further injury since there is so much value in the horses breeding future.

SB Nation's Matt Gardner of And Down the Stretch They Come discusses the injury of I'll Have Another, as well as discussing what to expect in the 2012 Belmont Stakes now that the heavy favorite is out of the race.

For more on the Belmont Stakes and the race for the Triple Crown, stay with this StoryStream and check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down the Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a beginner's guide to following horse racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

2012 Belmont Stakes: I'll Have Another Scratched Due To Injury

I'll Have Another trainer Doug O'Neil broke the news on the Dan Patrick Show Friday morning that the horse considered to be the overwhelming favorite to win Saturday's Belmont Stakes and win the Triple Crown was scratched out of the field due to injury:

Doug O'Neill: "I'll Have Another is officially out of the Belmont."

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) June 8, 2012

There is a 1 p.m. press conference scheduled by the I'll Have Another team of trainers and owners, presumably to discuss the nature of the injury and the reasons for scratching the horse:

"We ain't taking any chances," and that the scratch "is a bummer, but far from tragic." O'Neill guessed that I'll Have Another has run his last race.

For more on the Belmont Stakes and the race for the Triple Crown, stay with thisStoryStream and check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Belmont Stakes 2012 Odds: I'll Have Another Is A Huge Favorite

If you want to bet on history in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, you'll have to pay a big price to do it.

I'll Have Another, who is going for the Triple Crown on Saturday, is the heavy favorite in early betting, getting 4:5 odds to win the Belmont.

In comparison, Dullahan, who many horse-racing analysts think is I'll Have Another's biggest threat, is getting 5:1 odds. Following behind him are Union Rags at 6:1 and Paynter at 8:1.

And yet, from a purely statistical perspective, the odds are fairly low for any horse not named Secretariat to win the Triple Crown. In the last decade alone, there have been quite a few horses who have won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness only to fall short in New York City.

The majority of bettors, and the horse racing industry as a whole, are hoping that I'll Have Another can buck those trends.

SB Nation's YouTube channel has a video breakdown of how the post position could affect Saturday's big race:

For more coverage of I'll Have Another's run for history on Saturday, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas story-stream as well as SB Nation's always excellent horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Belmont Stakes 2012 Post Postion: I'll Have Another Will Run From Outside At No. 11

If I'll Have Another is going to make history on Saturday as the first horse to win the Triple Crown in more than 30 years, he'll have to do it from a very difficult post position, as the draw for the 2012 Belmont Stakes was announced on Wednesday.

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner will be racing from the No. 11 position, as the second-farthest horse from the rail in the entire field.

Dullahan, who many believe could be I'll Have Another's biggest threat, was given the No. 5 position.

Here's how the rest of the field shook out:

1. Street Life

2. Unstoppable U

3. Union Rags

4. Atigun

5. Dullahan

6. Ravelo's Boy

7. Five Sixteen

8. Guyana Star Dweej

9. Paynter

10. Optimizer

11. I'll Have Another

12. My Adonis

For more coverage of I'll Have Another's run for history on Saturday, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas story-stream as well as SB Nation's always excellent horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Belmont Stakes 2012: I'll Have Another Has A Good Week of Training

The June 9 date for the Belmont Stakes is fast approaching and the next week of training for I'll Have Another is vital to the horses success at possibly becoming the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 when Affirmed completed the feat.

Matt Gardner of And Down the Stretch they Come discusses how it is extremely important that I'll Have Another is able to keep up their typical practice routine as well as the importance of being physically and mentally fit. I'll Have Another has already spent time practicing at Belmont to get a feel for the track.

Gardner also talks about how any type of injury, no matter how small, needs to be monitored and avoided at all costs, because even with a minor injury it could cause I'll Have Another to miss training time. To win the Triple Crown I'll Have Another needs to be in superb shape and by missing a training session it could hinder the horses chances.

Belmont Stakes 2012: I'll Have Another Avoids Training Accident

With just one victory away from the historic Triple Crown, a loose horse almost caused a catastrophic accident with I'll Have Another according to his trainer Doug O'Neill.

CBS New York has more on the story:

O’Neil says his Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was walking a few feet from the outside rail when another horse threw his rider and came "screaming up the outside rail" in the same direction I’ll Have Another was walking.

Fortunately, the accident was avoided and I'll Have Another's chances of a Triple Crown are still alive. The horse is trying to become the first in 34 years to accomplish the historic feat. Affirmed was the last to do it in 1978.

I'll Have Another is currently the odds-on favorite at 13/10 that he'll win on June 9th.

For lots more on the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown, please visit And Down the Stretch they Come.

Belmont Stakes 2012 Odds: I'll Have Another The Favorite

The eyes of the horse racing world will be firmly fixated on the Belmont Stakes, which is set to be held on Saturday, June 9. I'll Have Another will be looking to make horse racing history, becoming the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the illustrious Triple Crown.

As expected, I'll Have Another has the best odds of any horse in the field. The latest odds for the entire field, courtesy of Bovada, are as follows:

• Alpha 15/1
• Atigun 25/1
• Dullahan 5/1
• Five Sixteen 50/1
• Guyana Star Dweej 50/1
• I'll Have Another 13/10
• Optimizer 30/1
• Paynter 9/1
• Street Life 15/1
• Union Rags 5/1
• Unstoppable U 28/1
• Ravelo's Boy 50/1

Belmont Stakes 2012: I'll Have Another Is The Early Favorite To Win

On June 9, I'll Have Another will go for the win at the Belmont Stakes. If he does so, there will be a Triple Crown winner for the first time in over 30 years.