Epsom Derby-Belmont Stakes double wager debuts this year

Is this the most prestigious daily double in the history of pari-mutuel wagering?

Sure, there have been other multi-race wagers involving classic races and other Grade 1s, such as the Kentucky Oaks-Kentucky Derby double, but the Epsom Derby-Belmont Stakes double on June 7 figures to be the first to involve a pair of classics.

The classic action begins at 10:30 a.m. EDT next Saturday, with the Group 1 Epsom Derby at Epsom Racecourse and concludes at 7 p.m. the same day with the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.

The New York Racing Association will act has the host for the wager, and takeout is 18.5%.

"This was a no brainer," said Jack Jeziorski, president of NYRA Content Management Solutions, which negotiates NYRA’s signals. "NYRA president David O'Rourke is very interested in raising our international profile, and this helps raise the profile of Epsom as well."

Jeziorski anticipates the special double will be available for advance wagering on Friday, hoping that more shelf time will translate to more handle given Epsom Derby’s early Saturday post time. First post on Belmont day at Saratoga is 10:45 a.m., and it is still being worked out whether the Epsom Derby will be shown on Fox. Regardless, it will be available through NYRA Bets and other account-wagering providers.

"The wager is more about promoting both races versus incremental handle specifically," Jeziorski said. "I’d be happy with a few hundred thousand, and half-a-million would be amazing. The primary goal here is to work toward globalizing the sport."