Belmont Stakes

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The Belmont Stakes is a prestigious 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).

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 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 Morris Park, a nearby racetrack in the Bronx. 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.

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.

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 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 the original 1⅝ miles (2.6 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 would be held at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trainers with most wins:

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

Jockeys with most wins:

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

Go & Go, trained by Dermot Weld and winner of the race in 1990, was the first overseas trained winner of a US triple crown race.

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.

• Starting in September 2006, all sports properties on ABC are labeled under the ESPN label.

[edit] Past winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2006	Jazil	Fernando Jara	Kiaran McLaughlin	Shadwell Farm	2:27.81
2005	Afleet Alex	Jeremy Rose	Tim Ritchey	Cash is King LLC	2:28.75
2004	Birdstone	Edgar Prado	Nick Zito	Marylou Whitney Stables	2:27.50
2003	Empire Maker	Jerry Bailey	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms	2:28.26
2002	Sarava	Edgar Prado	Ken McPeek	New Phoenix Stable	2:29.71
2001	Point Given	Gary Stevens	Bob Baffert	The Thoroughbred Corp.	2:26.80
2000	Commendable	Pat Day	D. Wayne Lukas	Robert & Beverly Lewis	2:31.20
1999	Lemon Drop Kid	Jose Santos	Scotty Schulhofer	Jeanne G. Vance	2:27.80
1998	Victory Gallop	Gary Stevens	Elliott Walden	Prestonwood Farm	2:29.00
1997	Touch Gold	Chris McCarron	David Hofmans	Frank Stronach	2:28.80
1996	Editor's Note	Rene R. Douglas	D. Wayne Lukas	Overbrook Farm	2:28.80
1995	Thunder Gulch	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas†	Michael Tabor	2:32.00
1994	Tabasco Cat	Pat Day	D. Wayne Lukas	D. Reynolds & Overbrook	2:26.80
1993	Colonial Affair	Julie Krone	Scotty Schulhofer	Centennial Farms	2:29.80
1992	A.P. Indy	Eddie Delahoussaye	Neil Drysdale	Tomonori Tsurumaki	2:26.00
1991	Hansel	Jerry Bailey	Frank Brothers	Lazy Lane Farm	2:28.00
1990	Go And Go	Michael Kinane	Dermot Weld	Moyglare Stud Farm	2:27.20
1989	Easy Goer	Pat Day	Shug McGaughey	Ogden Phipps	2:26.00
1988	Risen Star	Eddie Delahoussaye	Louie Roussel III	Louie Roussel III	2:26.40
1987	Bet Twice	Craig Perret	Jimmy Croll	Blanche P. Levy	2:28.20
1986	Danzig Connection	Chris McCarron	Woody Stephens	Henryk de Kwiatkowski	2:29.80
1985	Creme Fraiche	Eddie Maple	Woody Stephens	Brushwood Stables	2:27.00
1984	Swale	Laffit Pincay, Jr.	Woody Stephens	Claiborne Farm	2:27.20
1983	Caveat	Laffit Pincay, Jr.	Woody Stephens	August Belmont IV	2:27.80
1982	Conquistador Cielo	Laffit Pincay, Jr.	Woody Stephens	Henryk de Kwiatkowski	2:28.20
1981	Summing	George Martens	Luis Barerra	Charles T. Wilson, Jr.	2:29.00
1980	Temperance Hill	Eddie Maple	Joseph Cantey	Loblolly Stable	2:29.80
1979	Coastal	Ruben Hernandez	David Whiteley	William Haggin Perry	2:28.60
1978	Affirmed †	Steve Cauthen	Laz Barrera	Harbor View Farm	2:26.80
1977	Seattle Slew †	Jean Cruguet	Billy Turner	Karen L. Taylor	2:29.60
1976	Bold Forbes	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Laz Barrera	E. Rodriguez Tizol	2:29.00
1975	Avatar	Bill Shoemaker	Tommy Doyle	Arthur Seeligson, Jr.	2:28.20
1974	Little Current	Miguel Rivera	Lou Rondinello	Darby Dan Farm	2:29.20
1973	Secretariat †	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stable	2:24.00
1972	Riva Ridge	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stud	2:28.00
1971	Pass Catcher	Walter Blum	Eddie Yowell	October House Farm	2:30.40
1970	High Echelon	John Rotz	John Jacobs	Ethel D. Jacobs	2:34.00
1969	Arts and Letters	Braulio Baeza	Elliott Burch	Rokeby Stables	2:28.80
1968	Stage Door Johnny	Heliodoro Gustines	John M. Gaver, Sr.	Greentree Stable	2:27.20
1967	Damascus	Bill Shoemaker	Frank Whiteley, Jr.	Edith W. Bancroft	2:28.80
1966	Amberoid	William Boland	Lucien Laurin	Reginald N. Webster	2:29.60
1965	Hail To All	Johnny Sellers	Eddie Yowell	Mrs. Ben Cohen	2:28.40
1964	Quadrangle	Manuel Ycaza	Elliott Burch	Rokeby Stables	2:28.40
1963	Chateaugay	Braulio Baeza	James P. Conway	Darby Dan Farm	2:30.20
1962	Jaipur	Bill Shoemaker	Bert Mulholland	George D. Widener, Jr.	2:28.80
1961	Sherluck	Braulio Baeza	Harold Young	Jacob Sher	2:29.20
1960	Celtic Ash	Bill Hartack	Tom Barry	Green Dunes Farm	2:29.20
1959	Sword Dancer	Bill Shoemaker	Elliott Burch	Brookmeade Stable	2:28.40
1958	Cavan	Pete Anderson	Tom Barry	Joseph E. O'Connell	2:30.20
1957	Gallant Man	Bill Shoemaker	John A. Nerud	Ralph Lowe	2:26.60
1956	Needles	David Erb	Hugh Fontaine	D & H Stable	2:29.80
1955	Nashua	Eddie Arcaro	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:29.00
1954	High Gun	Eric Guerin	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	2:30.80
1953	Native Dancer	Eric Guerin	Bill Winfrey	Alfred G. Vanderbilt II	2:28.60
1952	One Count	Eddie Arcaro	Oscar White	Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords	2:30.20
1951	Counterpoint	David Gorman	Sylvester Veitch	C. V. Whitney	2:29.00
1950	Middleground	William Boland	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	2:28.60
1949	Capot	Ted Atkinson	John M. Gaver, Sr.	Greentree Stable	2:30.20
1948	Citation †	Eddie Arcaro	Horace A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:28.20
1947	Phalanx	Ruperto Donoso	Sylvester Veitch	C. V. Whitney	2:29.40
1946	Assault †	Warren Mehrtens	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	2:30.80
1945	Pavot	Eddie Arcaro	Oscar White	Walter M. Jeffords	2.30.20
1944	Bounding Home	G.L. Smith	Matt Brady	William Ziegler, Jr.	2:32.20
1943	Count Fleet †	Johnny Longden	Don Cameron	Fannie Hertz	2:28.20
1942	Shut Out	Eddie Arcaro	John M. Gaver, Sr.	Greentree Stable	2:29.20
1941	Whirlaway †	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:31.00
1940	Bimelech	Fred A. Smith	Bill Hurley	Edward R. Bradley	2:29.60
1939	Johnstown	James Stout	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:29.60
1938	Pasteurized	James Stout	George Odom	Mrs. Plunkett Stewart	2:29.40
1937	War Admiral †	Charley Kurtsinger	George Conway	Glen Riddle Farm	2:28.60
1936	Granville	James Stout	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:30.00
1935	Omaha †	Willie Saunders	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:30.60
1934	Peace Chance	Wayne D. Wright	Pete Coyne	Joseph E. Widener	2:29.20
1933	Hurryoff	Mack Garner	Henry McDaniel	Joseph E. Widener	2:32.60
1932	Faireno	Tom Malley	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:32.80
1931	Twenty Grand	Charley Kurtsinger	James G. Rowe, Jr.	Greentree Stable	2:29.60
1930	Gallant Fox †	Earl Sande	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:31.60
1929	Blue Larkspur	Mack Garner	Herbert J. Thompson	Edward R. Bradley	2:32.80
1928	Vito	Clarence Kummer	Max Hirsch	Alfred H. Cosden	2:33.20
1927	Chance Shot	Earl Sande	Pete Coyne	Joseph E. Widener	2:32.40
1926	Crusader	Albert Johnson	George Conway	Glen Riddle Farm	2:32.20
1925	American Flag	Albert Johnson	G.R. Tompkins	Glen Riddle Farm	2:16.80
1924	Mad Play	Earl Sande	Sam Hildreth	Rancocas Stable	2:18.80
1923	Zev	Earl Sande	Sam Hildreth	Rancocas Stable	2:19.00
1922	Pillory	C. H. Miller	Thomas J. Healey	Richard T. Wilson, Jr.	2:18.80
1921	Grey Lag	Earl Sande	Sam Hildreth	Rancocas Stable	2:16.80
1920	Man O' War	Clarence Kummer	Louis Feustel	Glen Riddle Farm	2:14.20
1919	Sir Barton †	Johnny Loftus	H. Guy Bedwell	J. K. L. Ross	2:17.40
1918	Johren	Frank Robinson	Albert Simons	Harry P. Whitney	2:20.40
1917	Hourless	James Butwell	Sam Hildreth	August Belmont, Jr.	2:17.80
1916	Friar Rock	E. Haynes	Sam Hildreth	August Belmont, Jr.	2:22.00
1915	The Finn	George Byrne	E. W. Heffner	H. C. Hallenbeck	2:18.40
1914	Luke Mcluke	Merritt Buxton	J. F. Schorr	John W. Schorr	2:20.00
1913	Prince Eugene	Roscoe Troxler	James G. Rowe, Sr.	Harry P. Whitney	2:18.00
1910	Sweep	James Butwell	James G. Rowe, Sr.	James R. Keene	2:22.00
1909	Joe Madden	Eddie Dugan	Sam Hildreth	Sam Hildreth	2:21.60
1908	Colin	Joe Notter	James G. Rowe, Sr.	James R. Keene	N/A
1907	Peter Pan	G. Mountain	James G. Rowe, Sr.	James R. Keene	N/A
1906	Burgomaster	Lucien Lyne	John W. Rogers	Harry P. Whitney	2:20.00
1905	Tanya	Gene Hildebrand	John W. Rogers	Harry P. Whitney	2:08.00
1904	Delhi	George Odom	James G. Rowe, Sr.	James R. Keene	2:06.60
1903	Africander	John Bullman	R. O. Miller	Hampton Stable	2:21.75
1902	Masterman	John Bullman	John J. Hyland	August Belmont, Jr.	2:22.60
1901	Commando	H. Spencer	James G. Rowe, Sr.	James R. Keene	2:21.00
1900	Ildrim	Nash Turner	H. Eugene Leigh	H. Eugene Leigh	2:21.25
1899	Jean Bereaud	R. Clawson	Sam Hildreth	Sydney Paget	2:23.00
1898	Bowling Brook	Fred Littlefield	Robert W. Walden	A. H. & D. H. Morris	2:32.00
1897	Scottish Chieftain	J. Scherrer	Matt Byrnes	Marcus Daly	2:23.25
1896	Hastings	Henry Griffin	John J. Hyland	Blemton Stable	2:24.50
1895	Belmar	Fred Taral	Edward Feakes	Preakness Stables	2:11.50
1894	Henry Of Navarre	Willie Simms	Byron McClelland	Byron McClelland	1:56.50
1893	Commanche	Willie Simms	Gus Hannon	Empire Stable	1:53.25
1892	Patron	W. Hayward	Lewis Stuart	J. Stuart	2:12.00
1891	Foxford	Edward R. Garrison	M. Donavan	C. E. Rand	2:08.75
1890	Burlington	Pike Barnes	Albert Cooper	Hough Bros.	2:07.75
1889	Eric	W. Hayward	John Huggins	A. J. Cassatt	2:47.25
1888	Sir Dixon	Jim McLaughlin	Frank McCabe	Dwyer Bros. Stable	2:40.25
1887	Hanover	Jim McLaughlin	Frank McCabe	Dwyer Bros. Stable	2:43.50
1886	Inspector B	Jim McLaughlin	Frank McCabe	Dwyer Bros. Stable	2:41.00
1885	Tyrant	Paul Duffy	C. Claypool	J. B. A. Haggin	2:43.00
1884	Panique	Jim McLaughlin	James G. Rowe, Sr.	Dwyer Bros. Stable	2:42.00
1883	George Kinney	Jim McLaughlin	James G. Rowe, Sr.	Dwyer Bros. Stable	2:42.50
1882	Forester	Jim McLaughlin	Lewis Stuart	Appleby & Johnson	2:43.00
1881	Saunterer	T. Costello	Robert W. Walden	George L. Lorillard	2:47.00
1880	Grenada	W. Hughes	Robert W. Walden	George L. Lorillard	2:47.00
1879	Spendthrift	George Evans	Thomas Puryear	James R. Keene	2:42.75
1878	Duke of Magenta	W. Hughes	Robert W. Walden	George L. Lorillard	2:43.50
1877	Cloverbrook	C. Holloway	Jeter Walden	E. A. Clabaugh	2:46.00
1876	Algerine	Billy Donohue	Major T. W. Doswell	Doswell & Co.	2:40.50
1875	Calvin	Bobby Swim	Ansel Williamson	Hal P. McGrath	2:42.25
1874	Saxon	George Barbee	W. Prior	Pierre Lorillard IV	2:39.50
1873	Springbok	James G. Rowe, Sr.	David McDaniel	David McDaniel	3:01.75
1872	Joe Daniels	James G. Rowe, Sr.	David McDaniel	David McDaniel	2:58.25
1871	Harry Bassett	Walter Miller	David McDaniel	David McDaniel	2:56.00
1870	Kingfisher	Edward D. Brown	Rollie Colston	Daniel Swigert	2:59.50
1869	Fenian	C. Miller	Jacob Pincus	August Belmont	3:04.25
1868	General Duke	Bobby Swim	A. Thompson	McConnell & Co.	3:02.00
1867	Ruthless	Gilbert Patrick	A. J. Minor	Francis Morris	3:05.00

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 website

The Triple Crown of Horse Racing

United States, Thoroughbred Horses: Kentucky Derby | Preakness Stakes | Belmont Stakes

United States, Harness Racing Pacers: Cane Pace | Messenger Stakes | Little Brown Jug

United States, Harness Racing Trotters: Hambletonian | Yonkers Trot | Kentucky Futurity

United Kingdom: Two Thousand Guineas Stakes | Derby Stakes (also known as Epsom Derby) | St. Leger Stakes

Canada, Thoroughbred Horses: Queen's Plate | Prince of Wales Stakes | Breeders' Stakes

See Also: Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing | Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers | Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters | Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing*

*Series is still under review for races. See page for details on race proposals.