Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes is a prestigious American Grade I stakes race held yearly in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race is the third 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 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and geldings carrying a weight of 126 pounds and for fillies with a weight of 121 pounds. This year's race was held on Saturday June 9th, 2007 and won by Rags to Riches, the first filly to win the race since 1905.

The Belmont's Age:
One thing the Belmont does have over the Derby is that it is the oldest of the three Triple Crown events. The Belmont predates the Preakness by six years, the Kentucky Derby by eight. The first running of the Belmont Stakes was in 1867. Furthermore, not only is the Belmont the oldest Triple Crown race, but it is the fourth oldest race overall in North America. The Phoenix Stakes was first run in 1831. The Queen's Plate in Canada made its debut in 1860, while the Travers in Saratoga opened in 1864. However, since there were gaps in sequence for the Travers, the Belmont is third only to the Phoenix and Queen's Plate in total running.

The Belmont Stakes is called the "Run for the Carnations" because of the blanket of white carnations that are 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 Racetrack. The race remained there until the May 1905 opening of the new Belmont Park, 430 acre (1.7 km?) 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. Until 1921, the race was run in the clockwise tradition of English racing.

Since 1926, a silver bowl, made by Louis Comfort Tiffany and donated by the Belmont family, has been given to the winning owner. Atop the bowl's cover is a silver figure of Fenian, winner of the third running of the Belmont Stakes in 1869."Victory Gallop" denies "Real Quiet" the Triple Crown in the 1998 Belmont StakesBecause 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 ability, 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.

The race distance has varied: from 1867 until 1873, it was 1? miles (2.6 km). In 1874 the distance was reduced to 1? miles (2.4 km), and from 1890 to 1892, and in 1895, the distance was 1? miles (2 km). From 1896 until 1925, the distance was increased to 1 3/8 miles (2.3 km). In 1926, the race distance was set at the present 1? miles (2.4 km).The Belmont Stakes, the final and most demanding leg of the Triple Crown, is named after August Belmont who had been a leading banker and racing man of the 19th century. He was also the first President of the Jockey Club in 1867. In 1869, August Belmont took first and second money with his own Fenian and Glenelg.

Some Monumental Belmont Moments:
In 1890, the Belmont was moved from Jerome Park to Morris Park, a mile and three-eighths track located a few miles east of what is now Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The Belmont was held at Morris Park until Belmont Park's opening in 1905.Here's a tidbit you didn't see in Derby or Preakness history. When Grey Lag won the Belmont in 1921, it marked the first running of the Belmont Stakes in the counter-clockwise manner of American fashion. This 53rd running was a mile and three-eighths over the main course; previous editions at Belmont Park had been run clockwise, in accordance with English custom, over a fish-hook course which included part of the training track and the main dirt oval.

The first post parade in this country came in the 14th running of the Belmont in 1880. Until then the horses went directly from paddock to post.The Belmont has been run at various distances. From 1867 tp 1873 it was 1 5/8 miles; from 1874 to 1889 it was 1 1/2 miles; from 1890 through 1892, and in 1895, it was held at 1 1/4 miles; from 1896 through 1925 it was 1 5/8 miles; since 1925 the Belmont Stakes has been a race of 1 1/2 miles.

Belmont Stakes is a thoroughbred horse race that is held in the June of every year at "Belmont Park" in Elmont, New York. The race is of 1.5 miles and three year old thoroughbreds are allowed to participate. Belmont Stakes is the last game that is held in the total of three races for "Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing". The very first Belmont Stakes race was arranged in 1866 at "Jerome Park Racetrack" in Bronx by Leonard Jerome and August Belmont.

Before 1905, the race was held at "Jerome Park" and later at "Morris Park Racecourse". In 1905, it was shifted to "Belmont Park" which was specially designed for horse racing. Belmont Stakes witnesses attendees more than any other racing tournament does. Apart from the live audience, Belmont Stakes has a large number of television viewers too. In the 2004 Belmont Stakes, more than 21.9 million people watched the live broadcast.

The record TV attendance was in 1977. As of 2006, the show has been broadcasted live by ESPN on ABC; from 2011 onwards NBC will be taking the charge. The Belmont Stakes is also called "Run for the Carnations". It was named that because the winning horse from the race is dressed in white carnation. If you wish to one of world's most popular horse races live at the stadium, book your share of Belmont Stakes tickets right away!