Many know the basics of the storied history of the Belmont Stakes, but we are here to tell you a different story. Here are some fast facts to prepare you for the Belmont Stakes next June!
- Where did the name Belmont come from? August Belmont, a leading New York businessman, was The Jockey Club's pioneering chairman.
- The Belmont Stakes originally took after English horse races running clockwise, but since 1921 has been run counterclockwise.
- The Belmont, started in 1867, is the fourth-oldest stakes race in North America, following the Phoenix Stakes (1831), Queen’s Plate (1860) and the Travers at Saratoga (1864).
- The first jockey to win back-to-back Belmont Stakes’ was James Rowe with Joe Daniels in 1872 and Springbok in 1873.
- Post position #1 has produced the most Belmont Stakes winners, 23 coming from stall one in total.
- The winning horse is draped in white carnations, representing love and luck. The blanket takes over 5 hours to create, with over 700 carnations and weighing in around 40 pounds.
- The trophy presented to the winner is a Tiffany’s made silver bowl with a cover. Atop the bowl is a figure of Fenian, winner of the third running of the Belmont Stakes, and the bowl is supported with three figures of horses representing Eclipse, Herod, and Matchem.
- Jim McLaughlin and Eddie Arcaro sit at the top for most wins, 6, as a jockey at the Belmont Stakes.
- Secretariat staked his claim in Belmont history with the largest winning margin at 31 lengths and the fastest winning time of 2:24 in 1973.
- There have been 28 horses who entered the Belmont Stakes with hopes of Triple Crown™ victory, but only 12 have been successful. The last Triple Crown™ victor was American Pharoah in 2015.
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