The final jewel in thoroughbred horse racings’ fabled Triple Crown takes place every June up in Elmont, New York at the Belmont Park Race Track. The race is called the Belmont Stakes at it attracts the finest of the finest of America’s three year old thoroughbred horses to compete over the mile and a half track.
Because it is the longest run, some racing fans suggest that the Belmont Stakes is also the most demanding of the nation’s most popular racing series. The Belmont takes place each year three weeks after the Preakness and five weeks after the Kentucky Derby.
Since Orb won the “Run for the Roses” at Churchill Downs and Oxbow ran away with the Preakness two weeks later at Pimlico, there will be no Triple Crown winner this year again. That should come as no great surprise since the last Triple Crown winner was way back in 1978 when famed jockey Steve Cauthen won the crown aboard Affirmed.
The Belmont Stakes was named for 19th century financier August Belmont and was first run back in 1866 at Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx. The race winner at the Belmont is awarded a blanket of carnations but the moniker ‘run for the carnations’ has never really hit it off with the American racing public.
The course record at Belmont was set in the year 1973 when legendary Triple Crown winner Secretariat with jockey Ron Turcotte aboard blew away the competition and won the race pulling away at 31 lengths and setting a course record of 2:24 which still stands to this day. One of the most famous photos in racing history is Turcotte looking over his shoulder in wonder shortly before crossing the finish line all alone.
Race day is shaping up to be the usual gala outing for race fans and horse owners alike. There will be Bar-B-Ques, strong drinks and big hats very much in evidence at the track with the gates opening as early as 8:30 am on Saturday June 8th. As usual, if you go there to party, the infield is the place to be.
The field will be limited to just 16 entries. Among the favorites already declared are Freedom Child, Preakness winner Oxbow, Derby winner Orb, Palace Malace and Revolutionary.
Attendance at the event is expected to top 90,000 fans this year with a total seating capacity at the track at around 33,000. A lot of folks will be standing up!
