The last stop on the road to the Triple Crown is a true test of a thoroughbred’s stamina. The Belmont Stakes’ 1-1/2 mile course has brought disappointment to jockeys, owners, and bettors alike when a horse just couldn’t last on the homestretch in the longest race most of the horses in the field will ever run. The Belmont Stakes’ history goes further back than either the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness Stakes. First run June 17, 1867, the race featured four horses on a heavy track that saw Ruthless become the inaugural winner of the Belmont Stakes in 3:05 over a 1-5/8 miles course. The Belmont Stakes was run at Jerome Park racecourse, an English style track with three turns until the race was moved to Morris Park, near the Bronx, in 1890. It came to it’s current home, Belmont Park, when it opened in 1905. As well, until 1921, when it was converted to the American, counter-clockwise direction, the race was run clockwise, as was the fashion in England. The race’s length varied between 1-1/4 and 1-5/8 miles from 1867 until 1926, when it’s current 1-1/2 miles was put into place. The tradition of the “post parade” before horseraces is attributed to the 1890 Belmont Stakes. Until that time horses had been taken directly from the paddock area to the starting post before the race. Another tradition from The Belmont, sometimes called “The run for the Carnations” is the blanket of white carnations that is draped over the winning horse’s neck in the winner’s circle. It is also in the winner’s circle that the beautiful Tiffany-made silver bowl donated by the Belmont family is given to the winning owner. The Belmont family figures strongly in the race named for New York socialite, financier, and horseman August Belmont. Five times horses from their stables won the Belmont Stakes: Fenian, 1869; Hastings, 1896; Masterman, 1902; Friar Rock, 1916; and Hourless, 1917, after which time their stable was disbanded. The Belmont has had 28 winners of both Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes arrive hoping to take home the elusive and treasured Triple Crown but only 11 have had the stamina to pull of the most difficult feat in thoroughbred racing. Secretariat, quite possibly the most famous racehorse of all time, raced one of his most memorable efforts in the Belmont Stakes victory that secured his Triple Crown legend. His world record 1-1/2 mile time of 2:24 also provided the biggest margin of victory in Belmont Stakes history, 31 lengths. As the last jewel in the Triple Crown the Belmont Stakes will always hold a special place in racing fans’ hearts when a horse picks up those first two legs.
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