Belmont Stakes

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Grade 1 Race
Belmont Stakes
Location	Belmont Park Elmont, New York
Inaugurated:	1867
Race type	Thoroughbred
Website:	2007 Belmont Stakes
Race information
Distance	1½ miles
Track	Dirt, Left-handed
Qualification	3-year-old
Weight	Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg) Filly: 121 lbs. (54.9 kg)
Purse	US$1 million

The Belmont Stakes is a prestigious American Grade I stakes race held yearly in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race is the third leg of the Triple Crown, following five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes. It is a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and geldings carrying a weight of 126 pounds (57 kg) and for fillies with a weight of 121 pounds (55 kg). This year's race was held on Saturday June 9th, 2007 and won by Rags to Riches, the first filly to win the race since 1905 (and the third filly ever).

The Belmont Stakes is called the "Run for the Carnations" because of the blanket of white carnations that are draped over the winner's neck. Through 1996, the post parade song was "Sidewalks of New York." Beginning in 1997, the audience was invited to sing the Theme from New York, New York following the call to the post. This tradition mirrors the singing of two other songs at the post parades of the first two Triple Crown races, My Old Kentucky Home at the Kentucky Derby and Maryland, My Maryland at the Preakness Stakes.

The first Belmont Stakes was held at Jerome Park Racetrack in The Bronx, built in 1866 by stock market speculator Leonard Jerome (1817-1891) and financed by August Belmont, Sr. (1816-1890) for whom the race was named. The race continued to be held at Jerome Park until 1890 when it was moved to the nearby facility, Morris Park Racetrack. The race remained there until the May 1905 opening of the new Belmont Park, 430 acre (1.7 km²) racetrack in Elmont, New York.

Anti-betting legislation was passed in New York State, closing Belmont and canceling the race for two years between 1911 and 1912.

The first post parade in the United States was at the 14th Belmont, in 1880. Until 1921, the race was run in the clockwise tradition of English racing.

The race was run "English style" or in a clock-wise direction, until 1921, with the winner Grey Lag, which was the first time the Belmont was run in the American or counter-clockwise direction.

Since 1926, a silver bowl, made by Louis Comfort Tiffany and donated by the Belmont family, has been given to the winning owner. Atop the bowl's cover is a silver figure of Fenian, winner of the third running of the Belmont Stakes in 1869. The bowl is supported by three horses - Herod, Eclipse and Matchem, representing the three foundation sires of the thoroughbred world, the Byerly Turk, the Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Barb.

"Victory Gallop" denies "Real Quiet" the Triple Crown in the 1998 Belmont Stakes

Because of its length (one lap around the enormous Belmont main track), and because it is the final race of the Triple Crown, it is called the "Test of the Champion". Most three-year-olds are unaccustomed to the distance, and lack the experience, if not the ability, to maintain a winning speed for so long. In a long race such as the Belmont, positioning of the horse and the timing of the move to chase for the lead can be critical.

The race distance has varied: from 1867 until 1873, it was 1⅝ miles (2.6 km). In 1874 the distance was reduced to 1½ miles (2.4 km), and from 1890 to 1892, and in 1895, the distance was 1¼ miles (2 km). From 1896 until 1925, the distance was increased to 1 3/8 miles (2.3 km). In 1926, the race distance was set at the present 1½ miles (2.4 km).

Due to the reconstruction of Belmont from 1963-1967, the race was held at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trainers with most wins:

• 8 - James G. Rowe, Sr.
• 7 - Sam Hildreth
• 6 - Jim Fitzsimmons
• 5 - Woody Stephens (all consecutive from 1982-1986)
• 4 - Max Hirsch, D. Wayne Lukas, Robert W. Walden
• 3 - J. Elliott Burch, John M. Gaver, Sr., Lucien Laurin, Frank McCabe, David McDaniel

Jockeys with most wins:

• 6 - Jim McLaughlin, Eddie Arcaro
• 5 - Earl Sande, Bill Shoemaker
• 3 - Braulio Baeza, Pat Day, Laffit Pincay, Jr., James Stout, Gary Stevens

The Belmont has been won by nine foreign-born horses. They are:

• 1874 - Saxon
• 1898 - Bowling Brook
• 1917 - Hourless
• 1918 - Johren
• 1957 - Gallant Man
• 1958 - Cavan
• 1960 - Celtic Ash
• 1990 - Go And Go
• 1998 - Victory Gallop

Only James G. Rowe, Sr. and George M. Odom have won the Belmont Stakes as both jockey and trainer.

On June 5, 1993 thoroughbred racing's all-time leading female jockey, Julie Krone, became the first woman to win a Triple Crown race when she rode to victory in the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair.

Secretariat's 1973 Belmont victory set a WORLD record (2:24 flat) not only for the race, but for the mile and a half (2.4 km) on dirt, that still stands. At 31 lengths, his margin of victory is not only the race record, but the largest in the history of American Grade 1 stakes races.

[edit] Broadcasting History

CBS Sports 1960-1985

ABC Sports / ESPN on ABC 1986-2000, 2006-present*

NBC Sports 2001-2005

• From 1986 until 2005, the Triple Crown television package was a unified package, with the three races under one single television package. In late 2004, the New York Racing Association broke up the television package.

* ABC Sports was dissolved in September 2006, all sporting events on ABC are paid for and produced by ESPN.

[edit] Winners of the Belmont Stakes Classic

A † designates a Triple Crown Winner.

Note: D. Wayne Lukas swept the 1995 Triple Crown with two different horses.

[edit] External links

• Belmont Stakes
• Belmont Stakes Information
• Bet on the Belmont Stakes
• Belmont Stakes - Test of Champions
• Belmont Park - The Race Track where the Belmont Stakes is Held
• ESPN.Com Attending the Belmont Stakes (gives future race dates)
• Derby Post Belmont