The Belmont Stakes takes place every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is the final and some suggest most demanding race in the ‘Triple Crown’ after Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The Belmont Stakes is a Grade 1 stakes race contested over a 1½ mile dirt track for three year olds. To earn the legendary status afforded to Triple Crown winners a horse must not only deal with what is in most cases the longest distance of their career but the grueling schedule – the Belmont takes place three weeks after the Preakness and five weeks after the Kentucky Derby. Since most high level thoroughbreds usually race every three or four weeks, the scheduling of the Triple Crown races is as big of a challenge as the competitions themselves.

First held in 1866, the Belmont is the oldest of the Triple Crown races by nearly a decade. The race is named for 19th century financier August Belmont, Sr. and was originally run at the Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx. The Jerome Park track was built by a Wall Street colleague of Belmont’s, Leonard Jerome. August Belmont died in 1890 and Jerome in 1891 and following their passing the event was moved to the nearby Morris Park Race Course until the opening of Belmont Park. The race has been held annually since then with the exception of 1911 and 1912. Between 1963 and 1967 the race was held at nearby Aqueduct Racetrack due to a major renovation project at Belmont Park.

While the Kentucky Derby is known as ‘the run for the roses’, the Belmont Stakes winner traditionally receives a blanket of carnations though the moniker “the run for the carnations” hasn’t exactly become part of the American lexicon. The race’s catch phrase may not have gained traction with the American public but the Belmont does boast what many consider the greatest performance in the history of thoroughbred racing. In 1973, Secretariat clinched the Triple Crown in the Belmont with a downright dominant performance – “Big Red” set a course record of 2:24 in winning the race by an astounding 31 lengths. One of the most enduring images of Secretariat’s victory is the shot of jockey Ron Turcotte easing up his mount near the finish line as he looks back over his shoulder in amazement that the rest of the field is nearly out of sight. The most exciting time of the year is here for football fans! It’s time for Super Bowl 2012!

The 2010 Belmont winner was Drosselmeyer, trained by Bill Mott with jockey Mike Smith aboard. Smith has had a hall of fame career, but this was his first win at the Belmont Stakes and it was the highly respected Mott’s first victory in any Triple Crown event. Drosselmeyer didn’t qualify for the Kentucky Derby – he ran third in his final prep race, the Louisiana Derby but his money winnings at that point weren’t sufficient to gain entry into the crowded field at Churchill Downs. Shut out of the Derby, Drosselmeyer entered the Dwyer Stakes on May 8 and finished in second place some six lengths behind winner Fly Down. Drosselmeyer went off at 13-1 Belmont Stakes betting odds in the Belmont and his victory paid $28.00, $11.60 and $7.70. Second place went to Fly Down at 9-2 ($6.80, $5.10) and third to one of the pre-race favorites, First Dude who closed at 7-2 and paid $4.90 to show. The pre-race favorite was the Nick Zito trained Ice Box. Interestingly, neither Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver nor Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky ran in the Belmont. Take part in Breeders Cup betting in 2012 and you could win big at Churchill Downs.

The 2012 Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday, June 9th. For those looking to attend the race live, gates open at 8:30 AM. In addition to the highly sought after reserved seating Belmont Park admits thousands of fans via general admission on a first come, first served basis. You can also find a full 2012 Belmont Stakes Schedule on this site.