Fun Facts About The Belmont Stakes – How Many Do You Know?

By Author: Lee Lane-Edgar
Total Articles: 365
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Did you know that the first Belmont Stakes in 1867 was run in the clockwise direction, in the tradition of English racing? It wasn’t until 1921 that the direction was changed to the counter clockwise direction with which we are all familiar in American racing.
The Belmont Stakes predates the Kentucky Derby by 8 years, with the first Derby being run in 1875, and predates the Preakness by 6 years, the first one being run in 1873. The very first winner of the Belmont was actually a filly named Ruthless, and she covered the distance of 1 5/8 miles in a time of 3:05:00.
The current distance of 1 ½ miles was established in 1926.
The first post parade was seen in the 14th running of the Belmont in 1880. Prior to that, the horses were led directly from the paddock to the post.
The Belmont Stakes is the third leg of the Triple Crown series, the first two legs being comprised by the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Only 11 horses in racing history have captured all three jewels of the Triple Crown, the last being Affirmed in 1978.
Whereas the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” and “Maryland, My ...
... Maryland” have been immutable traditions played during the Kentucky Derby and Preakness post parades, respectively, the theme of the Belmont Stakes has undergone several changes. Up until 1996, the post parade song was Sidewalks of New York. In 1997, the theme was changed to New York, New York. Last year, a new theme was implemented, Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind. Due to popular demand however, racing officials have resolved on returning to the more traditional “New York, New York” for this year’s running.
The Belmont Stakes does in fact have an official drink called the Belmont Breeze, though not nearly as well associated with the race as the mint julep is to the Kentucky Derby.
The winner is draped in a blanket of white carnations and the winning owner is presented with a silver trophy called the August Belmont Memorial Cup, designed by Tiffany and Co. in 1869. Its dimensions are 18 inches tall, 15 inches across, and 14 inches at the base. Atop the trophy stands Fenian, winner of the third Belmont Stakes, and the bowl is supported by the figures of three other horses, Herod, Eclipse, and Matchem.
It is true that the Belmont does not have as many traditions associated with it as does the Kentucky Derby, but it has the distinction of showcasing not only the most dominant Triple Crown race in history, but perhaps the most powerful performance in racing ever, when Secretariat demolished the 1973 field by 31 lengths.
In fact, Secretariat not only owns the largest margin of victory record at 31 lengths, but holds the time record, completing the race in a time of 2:24 flat.
The longest odds horse ever to win the Belmont was Sarava, who won the 2002 Belmont Stakes at 70-1 odds and upsetting War Emblem’s bid for the Triple Crown.
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