The first Belmont in the United States was not the
famous stakes race or even the man for whom it is named.
Rather, the first Belmont was a race horse that arrived
in California in 1853 from his breeding grounds of
Franklin, Ohio. The Belmont Stakes, however, are named
after August Belmont, a financier who made quite a name
and fortune for himself in New York politics and
society. Obviously, Mr. Belmont was also quite involved
in horse racing, and his imprint is even intertwined
within the history of the Kentucky Derby.
Because of its length (one
lap around the enormous Belmont main track),
and because it is the final race of the Triple Crown, it
is called the "Test of the Champion". Most
three-year-olds are unaccustomed to the distance, and
lack the experience, if not the ability, to maintain a
winning speed for so long. In a long race such as the
Belmont, positioning of the horse and the timing of the
move to chase for the lead can be critical.
Because of its distance and status as the race that can
make or break a Triple Crown champion, the Belmont
Stakes has been the venue for some of the most famous
moments in American racing.
More Belmont Stakes Horse Betting
Information
2007 Belmont Stakes
Winner
| Before
a crowd of 46,870 under overcast skies at Belmont
Park, Rags to Riches lived up to her breeding and
out-gamed favored Curlin by a head to become the
first filly to win the Belmont Stakes in 102 years
and only the third Belmont Stakes winning filly. The
previous winning fillies were Ruthless in 1867 and
Tanya in 1905. Nineteen other fillies had previously
run in the Belmont Stakes. With John Velazquez as
her rider for the first time, Rags to Riches also
gave trainer Todd Pletcher his first win in a Triple
Crown race. Rags to Riches completed the mile and a
half trip in 2:28.74 and paid her backers $10.60 to
win. |
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