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Belmont Stakes 2021

Saturday, Jun 5, 2021 − Belmont Park

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Sat, Jun. 5, 2021
Belmont Stakes
Belmont Park , 1 1/2 miles
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Sat, Jun. 5, 2021
Belmont Stakes
Belmont Park , 1 1/2 miles
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Top Belmont Stakes News
  • Belmont Stakes 2021: Essential Quality, Hot Rod Charlie look ready to go again, trainers say
    David Grening Jun 6, 2021
  • Belmont Stakes 2021: Total handle up 13.6% compared to 2019
    Matt Hegarty Jun 6, 2021
  • Brown has great Belmont Stakes Day on turf and dirt
    Marcus Hersh Jun 6, 2021
  • Belmont Stakes 2021: Essential Quality bounces back from Derby, outgames Hot Rod Charlie
    David Grening Jun 5, 2021
  • Belmont Stakes 2021 post-race analysis
    Jay Privman Jun 5, 2021
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Belmont Stakes News

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About the Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes, known as the "Test of the Champion," is the oldest of the three American classic races, and is traditionally the last and longest leg of the Triple Crown. The race is traditionally slotted in early June, five weeks following the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes in Maryland, capping off the grind of the classics campaign. Its place as the final leg of the Triple Crown has produced indelible memories, such as Secretariat's virtuoso performance in 1973 to become the first horse to sweep the series in a quarter-century. His 31-length victory, widely considered the greatest single performance in the history of the sport, was completed in a record 2:24 for the 1 1/2 miles.

In 2015, American Pharoah again rocked the stands at Belmont Park when he ended an even longer Triple Crown drought, becoming the first winner of the series in 37 years. The list of lucky 13 Triple Crown winners is comprised of Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat, Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah, and Justify (2018).

The Belmont was first run in 1867 at Jerome Park in the Bronx, which was built by stock market speculator Leonard Jerome and financed by August Belmont Sr., for whom the race was named. The race moved to nearby Morris Park Racecourse in 1890 and remained there until the 1905 opening of Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., built by August Belmont Jr. and William Collins Whitney, among other investors. The race has remained there, except for a stint at Aqueduct from 1963-67 while the track at Belmont was renovated.

The Belmont has generally been run at 1 1/2 miles, one full lap of the massive oval known as "Big Sandy," since 1926. In 2020, as a result of the race being held as the first leg of the Triple Crown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was shortened to 1 1/8 miles. Prior to 1926, the race had been run at four other distances, including 1 1/8 miles in 1893 and 1894 at Morris Park. It also was run at various points in its early history at 1 3/8 miles, 1 1/4 miles, and 1 5/8 miles.

Recent Belmont Stakes winners

Year Horse/Trainer Horse Trainer Beyer
2021
Essential Quality
Brad Cox
Essential Quality Brad Cox 109
2020
Tiz the Law
Barclay Tagg
Tiz the Law Barclay Tagg 100
2019
Sir Winston
Mark Casse
Sir Winston Mark Casse 95
2018
Justify
Bob Baffert
Justify Bob Baffert 101
2017
Tapwrit
Todd Pletcher
Tapwrit Todd Pletcher 103
2016
Creator
Steve Amussen
Creator Steve Amussen 99
2015
American Pharoah
Bob Baffert
American Pharoah Bob Baffert 105
2014
Tonalist
Christophe Clement
Tonalist Christophe Clement 100
2013
Palace Malice
Todd Pletcher
Palace Malice Todd Pletcher 98
2012
Union Rags
Michael Matz
Union Rags Michael Matz 96
2011
Ruler on Ice
Kelly Breen
Ruler on Ice Kelly Breen 100
About the Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes, known as the "Test of the Champion," is the oldest of the three American classic races, and is traditionally the last and longest leg of the Triple Crown. The race is traditionally slotted in early June, five weeks following the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes in Maryland, capping off the grind of the classics campaign. Its place as the final leg of the Triple Crown has produced indelible memories, such as Secretariat's virtuoso performance in 1973 to become the first horse to sweep the series in a quarter-century. His 31-length victory, widely considered the greatest single performance in the history of the sport, was completed in a record 2:24 for the 1 1/2 miles.

In 2015, American Pharoah again rocked the stands at Belmont Park when he ended an even longer Triple Crown drought, becoming the first winner of the series in 37 years. The list of lucky 13 Triple Crown winners is comprised of Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat, Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah, and Justify (2018).

The Belmont was first run in 1867 at Jerome Park in the Bronx, which was built by stock market speculator Leonard Jerome and financed by August Belmont Sr., for whom the race was named. The race moved to nearby Morris Park Racecourse in 1890 and remained there until the 1905 opening of Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., built by August Belmont Jr. and William Collins Whitney, among other investors. The race has remained there, except for a stint at Aqueduct from 1963-67 while the track at Belmont was renovated.

The Belmont has generally been run at 1 1/2 miles, one full lap of the massive oval known as "Big Sandy," since 1926. In 2020, as a result of the race being held as the first leg of the Triple Crown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was shortened to 1 1/8 miles. Prior to 1926, the race had been run at four other distances, including 1 1/8 miles in 1893 and 1894 at Morris Park. It also was run at various points in its early history at 1 3/8 miles, 1 1/4 miles, and 1 5/8 miles.



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