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Belmont Stakes
As the third and final leg of the United States Triple Crown Of Thoroughbred Racing, the Belmont Stakes is held annually at the second (or sometimes the third) Saturday of June. It follows the Kentucky Derby, on the first Saturday of May, and the Preakness Stakes, on the third Saturday of May. The race is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds of both sexes and is hosted at Belmont Park Racecourse in Elmont, New York.
The Belmont Stakes was introduced to the racing calendar in 1867, making it the oldest of the three US Triple Crown series. Since 1926 the race runs over a distance of 1 ½ miles and rewards a substantial purse of US$1 million.
Since it was established, the Belmont Stakes have moved location several times. Originally the race was run at Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx, a venue financed by one August Belmont Sr., from whom the race takes its name. In 1890 the Belmont was moved to Morris Park Racecourse in Westchester County, where it would be hosted until 1905, when the new Belmont Park Racecourse was opened in Elmont.
Seeing as it is part of the most-followed thoroughbred racing series in the United States it comes as no surprise that the Belmont Stakes has seen its fair share of historical track moments. In 1973 legendary Triple Crown winner Secretariat set a track record for the event which has remained unbeaten to this day. The revered runner completed the 1 ½ mile track in 2 minutes and 24 seconds. On the same occasion Secretariat also set a record for the longest winning margin ever recorded at Belmont Part Racecourse, leaving an incredible 31 lengths between himself and the baffled runner-up.
The Belmont Stakes is truly an all-American sporting event. Since the first ever Belmont Stakes only nine foreign-born thoroughbreds have managed to run to victory. Five contenders from England, two Irish runners and one lone Canadian are the only equine athletes who were fast enough to defend the honour of non-American breeders of thoroughbred horses.
Recent Winners of the Belmont Stakes:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
2010 |
Drossel- |
Mike E. Smith |
William I. Mott |
2:31.57 |
2009 |
Summer Bird |
Kent Desormeaux |
Tim Ice |
2:27.54 |
2008 |
Da' Tara |
Alan Garcia |
Nick Zito |
2:29.65 |
2007 |
Rags To Riches |
John Velazquez |
Todd Pletcher |
2:28.74 |
2006 |
Jazil |
Fernando Jara |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
2:27.81 |
2005 |
Afleet Alex |
Jeremy Rose |
Tim Ritchey |
2:28.75 |
Belmont Stakes Odds and News
28 Jul 2010: Top 10 Horse Racing Moments Of All Time
Nominating the Top Ten in any category is an almost impossible task; especially when it comes to a sport that delivers as many regular highlights as horse racing. Nonetheless, Top Ten Horse Racing Moments sounds a lot better than Ten Pretty Good Horse Racing Moments, so we have decided to go with this theme. And who knows, you might discover some new great moments on the track to add to your personal list.
Appearing on this HorseRacing.co.uk Top Ten are (in no particular order – it was hard enough choosing the moments, don’t make us rank them!):
- - Crisp VS Red Rum – The Aintree Grand National, 1973
- - Kauto Star VS Denman – Cheltenham Gold Cup, 2008 & 2009
- - Grundy VS Bustino – King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, 1975
- - Mine That Bird – Kentucky Derby, 2009
- - Mon Mome – The Aintree Grand National, 2009
- - Monksfield VS Sea Pidgeon – Cheltenham Champion Hurdle, 1979
- - Quashed VS Omaha – Ascot Gold Cup, 1936
- - Secretariat – Belmont Stakes, 1973
- - Arkle VS Mill House – Cheltenham Gold Cup, 1964
- - Mandarin – Grand Steeplechase De Paris, 1962
To view the reasons why we think these occasions have made it to the list? Pop over to our Top Ten Horse Racing Moments page.
