A Glimpse of History of Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes may be the race defining the career of a horse. The mile-and-a-half contest puts the endurance, speed, and heart of every bit of a horse to the test and has given some of the greatest, most iconic moments in the sport’s history to racing fans.
The Belmont has become known by horse-racing professionals as the “Champion Test.” The three-year-old Competing thoroughbred horses have fully matured by the time the race runs and the field of competitors has been diminish so that only the best of the crop is competing, which is why the area is usually the smallest of the three Triple Crown races.
One of the Oldest in Holding Racing Events
Belmont Stakes, the oldest and longest of the three classic horse races (with the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes) that make up the American horse racing triple crown. The Belmont Stakes was born in 1867 and is named after August Belmont, the financier, diplomat, and sportsman.
It’s been run in its history at different distances and tracks. Since 1905, however, it has been held at Belmont Park near New York City and the course has been 1,5 miles (about 2,400 meters) long since 1926. The race takes place at the beginning of June and is the Triple Crown’s final race.
Time Table of Memorable Events in Belmont Stakes
Let us go back in time and reminisce some of the significant milestones in the Belmont Stakes history.
1867: The Belmont Stakes inaugural running takes place in New York’s newly opened Jerome Park. At the end of 1 5/8 miles (the race was one-eighth of a mile long at the time) the filly Ruthless prevails in a photo finish over De Courcey.
1874: The distance from the Belmont Stakes is changed to 1 1⁄2 miles and in the time of 2:42.20, Saxon comes out on top, a slow clock according to the standards of today.
1882-1888: Jockey James McLaughlin wins six Belmonts over seven years, setting a record for most Belmont jockey wins.
1890-1906: The Belmont has shortened to 1 1⁄4 miles again before frequently changing distances during the two decades. The race takes place at the newly opened Belmont Park for the first time in 1905, the year Tanya becomes the second filly to win the race.
1911-1912: Racing in New York is temporarily shut down because of anti-gambling laws and the Belmont Stakes are not running for two years.
1913: Trainer James Rowe, Sr., wins with Prince Eugene his eighth Belmont Stakes, recording that no one has nearly broken. Remarkably, twice as a jockey, Rowe also won the Belmont in 1872 and 1873.
1919: The winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Sir Barton, wins the Belmont Stakes and becomes the first horse to sweep what would later become the Triple Crown.
1926: The Belmont Stakes returns to 1 1⁄2 miles permanently, and Crusader records the fastest time yet for the distance, clocking it at 2:32.20.
1930: Gallant Fox wins over the well-looked Which one on the Belmont Stakes three effortless lengths, becoming the second horse being victorious at the Triple Crown.
1935: Gallant Fox becomes the only winner of Triple Crown to sire a Triple Crown winner when his son, Omaha, finishes the sweep with a comfortable win over the small field of Belmont Stakes.
1941-1948: Four horses–Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946) and Citation (1948)–sweep the Triple Crown over eight years, making it the most prolific decade for Triple Crown winners in the 1940’s.
1955: On board Nashua, Jockey Eddie Arcaro wins his sixth and final Belmont Stakes, tying James McLaughlin’s record more than 60 years ago.
1957: Gallant Man, is the one of the best horses ever to win a division championship, crosses the Belmont Stakes for an eight-long victory, lowering the track record to 2:26.60.
1963-1967: The Belmont Stakes have been held at nearby Aqueduct for five years due to renovations at Belmont Park.
1973: The Secretariat sets the standard by which all Belmont Stakes winners are measured, winning the race with an unprecedented 31 lengths and setting a 2:24 flat world record.
1977: Seattle Slew wins the four-length Belmont Stakes to become the tenth winner of the Triple Crown race.
1982-1986: With Conquistador Cielo, Caveat, Swale, Crème Fraiche and Danzig Connection, By winning five straight Belmont Stakes renewals, trainer Woody Stephens achieves the seemingly impossible.
1990: The trainer Dermot Weld, based in Ireland, wins the Belmont Stakes with Go and Go, who finished fourth in Group 2 Derby Trial Stakes in Leopardstown, Ireland.
1993: Julie Krone is the first female rider to win the Triple Crown race, leading Colonial longshot Affair to win 2 1⁄4 lengths off the pace.
1998: In one of Belmont Stakes ‘ closest photo finishes, Victory Gallop edges Real Quiet in the final steps to win the nose, denying Real Quiet the Triple Crown sweep.
2002: Sarava posts an upset record in the Belmont Stakes, with 70.25-1 odds.
2004: A record 120,139 crowd turns out to watch Smarty Jones compete for the Triple Crown, but 36-1 shot Birdstone beats the favorite fan to the wire.
2007: Rags to Riches is the third and latest filly to win the Belmont Stakes, outstripping the future Horse of the Year Curlin to win ahead.
2015: With a five-and-a-half-long triumph, American Pharoah made history in the Belmont Stakes, He was the first horse to sweep swing the Triple Crown in 37 years.
2018: Unbeaten Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and Preakness Stakes winner Justify is expected to seek their Triple Crown sweep in the Belmont Stakes 150th edition.
Takeaway
The Belmont Stakes is the highlight of what makes a riveting sport like horse racing, from heartbreaking defeats to unbelievable triumphs. Triple Crown dreams were updated and shattered here, and some of the game’s biggest rivalries were on display in Belmont Park’s long stretch. The race fondly dubbed the “Test of Champions” has accumulated some rich history with 145 installments of the Belmont Stakes in the record books.
