Belmont Stakes 2021

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.