The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race is the third and final 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 attendance at the Belmont Stakes ranks fourth in North America and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races including the the Breeders' Cup. The attendance of the Belmont Stakes typically only trails the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Oaks, for more information see American Thoroughbred Racing top Attended Events. The Belmont Stakes is called the "Run for the Carnations" because of the blanket of white carnations that is 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 Racecourse. 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. Before 1921, the race was run in the clockwise tradition of English racing. Since then, the race has been run in the American or counter-clockwise direction. The wiiner of the Belmont Stakes is presented the August Belmont Trophy one of the most prestigious trophies in the country. 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 stamina, 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. Due to the reconstruction of Belmont from 1963–1967, the race was held at Aqueduct Racetrack.

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Evolution of the Triple Crown series

Since 1931, the order of Triple Crown races has been the Kentucky Derby first, followed by the Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes. Prior to 1931, eleven times the Preakness was run before the Derby. On May 12, 1917 and again on May 13, 1922, the Preakness and the Derby were run on the same day. On eleven occasions the Belmont Stakes was run before the Preakness Stakes.

The first official recognition of the Triple Crown was the 1919 series won by Sir Barton.

The Belmont Stakes is held on the first Saturday that falls on or after June 5. The Kentucky Derby is always held on the first Saturday in May; the Preakness Stakes is held two weeks later; and the Belmont Stakes is held three weeks after the Preakness. The earliest possible date for the Derby is May 1, thus the earliest possible date for the Belmont is June 5.

Changes in distance

Run at a mile and five furlongs from 1867 to 1873; a mile and a quarter in 1890, 1891, 1892, 1895, 1904 and 1905; a mile and a furlong in 1893 and 1894; a mile and three furlongs from 1896 to 1903 and from 1906 to 1925. The current distance of a mile and half was established in 1926.

Stakes traditions

Despite the fact that the Belmont Stakes is the oldest of the triple crown races, its traditions have been less venerable and more subject to change. The theme song, which for decades was "The Sidewalks of New York," was changed in 1997 to "New York, New York" in an effort to appeal to younger fans. ^[1] That same year the official drink was also changed, from the "White Carnation" to the "Belmont Breeze." ^[2] The New York Times reviewed both cocktails unfavorably, calling the Belmont Breeze "a significant improvement over the nigh undrinkable White Carnation" despite the fact that it "tastes like a refined trashcan punch." ^[3]

More longstanding are the silver winner's trophy designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, first presented to a Stakes winner in 1869 and donated by the Belmont family for annual presentation in 1926; and the blanket of white carnations with which the winner is decorated after the race.

Broadcasting history

From 1986 until 2005, the Triple Crown television rights comprised a single package. In late 2004, the New York Racing Association withdrew from that agreement to negotiate independently. ^[4]

• CBS Sports 1960–1985 
• ABC Sports 1986–2000
• NBC Sports 2001–2005
• ESPN on ABC 2006–present

Records

Speed record:

• 2:24.00 Secretariat (1973)

Most wins by a jockey:

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

Most wins by a trainer:

• 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, R. Wyndham Walden
• 3 - J. Elliott Burch, John M. Gaver, Sr., Lucien Laurin, Frank McCabe, David McDaniel
• 2 - Thomas J. Barry, Scotty Schulhofer, Sylvester Veitch, Oscar White, John W. Rogers, Nick Zito

Most wins by an owner:

• 6 - Belair Stud (1930, 1932, 1935, 1936, 1939, 1955)
• 6 - James R. Keene (1879, 1901, 1904, 1907, 1908, 1910)
• 5 - Dwyer Brothers Stable (1883, 1884, 1886, 1887, 1888)
• 4 - August Belmont, Jr./Blemton Stable (1896, 1902, 1916, 1917)
• 4 - Harry P. Whitney (1905, 1906, 1913, 1918)
• 4 - Glen Riddle Farm (1920, 1925, 1926, 1937)
• 4 - Greentree Stable (1931, 1942, 1949, 1968)

Foreign-born winners

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

Other records

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.

In 1984, Sarah Lundy became the first female trainer to saddle a horse in the Belmont Stakes.

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 going into the 2010 race. 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.

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2009	Summer Bird	Kent Desormeaux	Tim Ice	Kalarikkal & Vilasini Jayaraman	2:27.54
2008	Da' Tara	Alan Garcia	Nick Zito	Robert V. LaPenta	2:29.65
2007	Rags to Riches ‡	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	M. Tabor & D. Smith	2:28.74
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	Kenneth 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	Bob & Beverly Lewis	2:31.20
1999	Lemon Drop Kid	Jose Santos	Scotty Schulhofer	Jeanne G. Vance	2:27.80
1998	Victory Gallop	Gary Stevens	W. 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	Reynolds/Overbrook	2:26.80
1993	Colonial Affair	Julie Krone	Scotty Schulhofer	Centennial Farms	2:29.80
1992	A.P. Indy	Ed Delahoussaye	Neil Drysdale	Tomonori Tsurumaki	2:26.15
1991	Hansel	Jerry Bailey	Frank L. Brothers	Lazy Lane Farm	2:28.00
1990	Go And Go	Michael Kinane	Dermot K. Weld	Moyglare Stud Farm	2:27.20
1989	Easy Goer	Pat Day	C. R. McGaughey III	Ogden Phipps	2:26.00
1988	Risen Star	Ed 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 Barrera	Charles T. Wilson, Jr.	2:29.00
1980	Temperence Hill	Eddie Maple	Joseph B. Cantey	Loblolly Stable	2:29.80
1979	Coastal	Ruben Hernandez	David A. Whiteley	William Haggin Perry	2:28.60
1978	Affirmed †	Steve Cauthen	Laz Barrera	Harbor View Farm	2:26.80
1977	Seattle Slew †	Jean Cruguet	William H. Turner, Jr.	Karen L. Taylor	2:29.60
1976	Bold Forbes	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Laz Barrera	E. Rodriguez Tizol	2:29.00
1975	Avatar	Bill Shoemaker	A. Tommy Doyle	Arthur A. Seeligson, Jr.	2:28.20
1974	Little Current	Miguel A. 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 L. Rotz	John W. Jacobs	Ethel D. Jacobs	2:34.00
1969	Arts and Letters	Braulio Baeza	J. 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 Y. 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	Zelda Cohen	2:28.40
1964	Quadrangle	Manuel Ycaza	J. 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	Thomas J. Barry	Joseph E. O'Connell	2:29.20
1959	Sword Dancer	Bill Shoemaker	J. Elliott Burch	Brookmeade Stable	2:28.40
1958	Cavan	Pete Anderson	Thomas J. 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 L. 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	Gayle 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	William J. Hurley	Edward R. Bradley	2:29.60
1939	Johnstown	James Stout	Jim Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:29.60
1938	Pasteurized	James Stout	George M. Odom	Carol Harriman Plunkett	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	Tommy 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	Gwyn 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 H. Butwell	Sam Hildreth	August Belmont, Jr.	2:17.80
1916	Friar Rock	Everett Haynes	Sam Hildreth	August Belmont, Jr.	2:22.00
1915	The Finn	George Byrne	Edward W. Heffner	Henry C. Hallenbeck	2:18.40
1914	Luke Mcluke	Merritt Buxton	John 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 H. 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	George 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 M. Odom	James G. Rowe, Sr.	James R. Keene	2:06.60
1903	Africander	John Bullman	Richard O. Miller	Hampton Stable	2:21.75
1902	Masterman	John Bullman	John J. Hyland	August Belmont, Jr.	2:22.60
1901	Commando	Henry 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	Richard Clawson	Sam Hildreth	Sydney Paget	2:23.00
1898	Bowling Brook	Fred Littlefield	R. Wyndham Walden	A. H. & D. H. Morris	2:32.00
1897	Scottish Chieftain	Joe 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	William Hayward	Lewis Stuart	Lewis 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	William 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	James 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	Tom Costello	R. Wyndham Walden	George L. Lorillard	2:47.00
1880	Grenada	W. Hughes	R. Wyndham 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	R. Wyndham Walden	George L. Lorillard	2:43.50
1877	Cloverbrook	C. Holloway	Jeter Walden	E. A. Clabaugh	2:46.00
1876	Algerine	Billy Donohue	Thomas 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. Jack Minor	Francis Morris	3:05.00

A † designates a Triple Crown Winner.
A ‡ designates a filly.

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

References

1. [1]
2. [1]
3. THE SUMMER COOK; The Appetites Are Nearing the Gate. By JULIE POWELL Published: June 8, 2005^[1]
4. John Scheinman, "ABC Will Broadcast Belmont Stakes Starting in 2006," ''The Washington Post'', Tuesday, October 5, 2004.