Bet the Belmont Stakes

Belmont Stakes History

The oldest event in the Triple Crown series, the Belmont Stakes celebrates its sesquicentennial running in 2018. Founded in 1867, the “Test of the Champion” was first held at Jerome Park and then Morris Park before landing at the newly-opened Belmont Park in 1905.

Run at distances ranging from 1 1/8 miles to 1 5/8 miles, the current distance of 1 1/2 miles – one lap around the Belmont oval – became settled in 1926. Generally modeled on the famed Derby Stakes at Epsom Downs in England, the race for a period was restricted to colts and fillies and only.

Won by future Hall of Fame runners such as Harry Bassett, Duke of Magenta, Hanover, Henry of Navarre, Commando, Peter Pan, and the undefeated Colin through 1908, the Belmont was not run in 1911-12 after anti-gambling measures halted racing in New York. However, Sir Barton, the first Triple Crown winner, the legendary Man o’ War, and fellow Hall of Famers Grey Lag and Zev all won the Belmont in a five-year span immediately following The Great War.

As the last classic, the Belmont has yielded some of the most epic performances in the sport’s history, from Triple Crown winners in particular. Count Fleet pummeled just two rivals by 25 lengths in 1943, while Secretariat won by 31 lengths in a time of 2:24 in 1973, both records that still stand.

The 1989 Belmont was won by Easy Goer in a time of 2:26, the second fastest 12-furlong clocking in race history. A.P. Indy (1992), a son of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew and a grandson of Secretariat, won in 2:26.13, while Secretariat’s best son, Risen Star (1988), won in 2:26.40.

Due to its unique distance and inherent demands, the Belmont is prone to yielding surprising results, more so than the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. This has often coincided in races where Triple Crown sweeps have been denied.

The first such occurrence came in 1944 when Pensive’s chance at a sweep was narrowly denied by the 16-1 chance Bounding Home. Other longshot Belmont winners that curtailed Triple Crown dreams include Sherluck (1961, 65-1), Pass Catcher (1971, 34-1), Lemon Drop Kid (1999, 29-1), Sarava (2002, 70-1), Birdstone (2004, 36-1), and Da’ Tara (2008, 38-1).

James Rowe owns the record for most Belmont victories with eight, achieved from 1883 through 1913, but Woody Stephens’s run of five consecutive Belmonts from 1982-86 is widely considered one of the more remarkable, and most difficult, training feats in racing history.

Females, equine and human, have made their mark in the Belmont. The inaugural running of the race was won by the filly Ruthless, who was later followed by Tanya (1905). It would be 102 more years before another filly, Rags to Riches, would out-finish the boys, doing so against Horse of the Year Curlin in 2007.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Julie Krone’s winning ride aboard Colonial Affair in the 1993 Belmont. She remains the only female jockey to win a Triple Crown event.