Belmont Stakes Tickets

The Belmont Stakes 2020

The third and final leg of the coveted Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse racing is the famous Belmont Stakes that is held at Belmont Park every year in June. The Belmont Stakes is a grade 1 stakes race for 3 year old thoroughbred colts, geldings and fillies. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds and fillies 121 pounds. The Belmont follows the Kentucky Derby by 5 weeks and the Preakness Stakes by 3 weeks and is always held on a Saturday. It is one of the most popular races in the United States and indeed ranks 4th among all races in North America.

Attendance at Belmont usually surpasses all other stakes races and is usually only beaten by the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Oaks. In fact, in 2004 it was seen by a TV audience of nearly 22 million viewers, ratings that weren’t seen since the famous Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown in 1977.

The very 1st Belmont Stakes was held in 1866 at Jerome Park Racetrack, a venue that was financed by August Belmont, Sr. and after whom the race was named. It was held there until 1890, moved to Morris Park Racecourse for 15 years, and then moved again to the new Belmont Park that opened in 1905 in Elmont, New York. The new course was just outside of Queens, NY on Long Island and was 430 acres in size.

In 1911 and then again in 1912 the race was actually cancelled because of New York’s anti-gambling laws. It was also moved for 5 years to the Aqueduct Racetrack from 1963 to 1967 because the Belmont track was undergoing restorations at the time. The winning horse and jockey are presented one of the most coveted and prestigious of horse racing’s trophies the August Belmont Trophy.

The Belmont Stakes is considered the most challenging of the 3 Triple Crown races due to the fact that it is the longest at 1.5 miles. Since the average 3 year old horse isn’t accustomed to this distance positioning and timing at the Belmont Stakes is critical. It’s called the ‘Test of the Champion’ because of this and indeed is a test of endurance and stamina for all of the horses involved. It is also called the ‘Run for the Carnations’ because of the longstanding tradition of blanketing the winning horse with white carnations at the finish line. This is similar to the ‘Run for the Roses’ and the ‘Run for the Black Eyed Susans’ that the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes are called, respectively.

The Belmont Stakes is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world, and it's been a fixture on the horse racing calendar since 1867. The race is held annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, and it's the third and final leg of the Triple Crown.

The Triple Crown is the pinnacle of horse racing, consisting of three races run over five weeks – the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. To win the Triple Crown, a horse must win all three races, which is a feat that has only been accomplished 13 times in history.

The Belmont Stakes is unique among the Triple Crown races in that it's the longest, measuring 1 1/2 miles or 12 furlongs. This makes it a grueling test of endurance for both the horses and jockeys, and it often results in some of the most exciting finishes in horse racing history.

Over the years, there have been many legendary Belmont Stakes performances. Perhaps the most famous is Secretariat's 1973 victory, where he set a track record that still stands today. Another historic moment came in 2015 when American Pharoah won the Belmont to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.

But the Belmont Stakes isn't just about the big-name winners – it's also an important race for up-and-coming horses looking to make a name for themselves in the sport. Winning the Belmont can be a major stepping stone towards future success, and many horses who perform well in the race go on to win other major stakes races later in their careers.

Overall, the Belmont Stakes is a critical event in the world of horse racing, not just because of its place in the Triple Crown but also because of its rich history and tradition. Whether you're a die-hard horse racing fan or a casual spectator, the Belmont Stakes is a race that's impossible to ignore.