As 2023 welcomes the 149th Kentucky Derby, fans worldwide rejoice with the opening of this year’s Triple Crown.
Eligible thoroughbred horses will compete in the three races, starting with the Kentucky Derby, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes’ last judgment race.
The Triple Crown race has long since been coveted in the equestrian world, a horse Olympics per se.
As the race this year will resume to its original date, fans are then left to wonder; will there be a Triple Crown winner this year?
But before that, let us take a trip down the history lane of the Belmont Stakes.
It was the brainchild of two horse enthusiasts.
The Belmont Stakes’ first track was held at Jerome Park Racetrack (currently the Jerome Park Reservoir). The racetrack was built by Leonard Jerome and was financed by his friend, August Belmont, whom the track was named after.
Both gentlemen are horse and horse race enthusiasts and were credited alongside the American Jockey Club for starting the horse races in America.
In the time of the racetrack’s existence, it has been used for other horse races other than the Belmont stakes.
Eventually, the Belmont Stakes was moved to the Morris Park Racecourse in 1890, up until 1905, when it was permanently moved to the then-new Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island.
The first race created amongst the Triple Crown.
Despite being the last leg to the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes is the oldest among the three. The first-ever Belmont Stakes race was conducted in 1867 in the Jerome Park Racetrack located in the Bronx.
Back then, the race was mainly held as entertainment for the elite, who arrived at the event via train or horse-drawn carriages.
This also improved the county of New York and further elevated the area as the place-to-be for the well-off.
Most attendees for the Belmont are the socialites of American high society, such as Leonard Jerome, who gave a piece of his land to create the racetrack for the Belmont races.
It is the Champions racetrack.
As the last racetrack for the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes holds the longest horse racetrack among the three races.
With a staggering 1.5 miles, the racetrack is also called “The Big Sandy” by avid fans as the track is made up of sandy soil, unlike the typical muddy trails observed in other races.
This makes the weather a great factor for the race. On good days, the racetrack favors all horses, but on rainy days or cloudy days, it favors horses with longer gaits and those running at speed.
The racetrack is also called the fairest racetrack among the three due to its slopes and soft turns.
The Belmont Stakes race did not race for two years
During 1895, the race was almost cancelled due to the new laws prohibiting bookmaking in New York Country. However, due to its popularity among the people, it was still held but moved to November. During the prohibition era in New York, gambling was also prohibited.
This caused the stakes to be halted for two years from 1911-1912 as the Hart-Agnew Law did not exempt horse racing.
This did not discourage horse race enthusiasts from ending the stakes; it only increased horse races’ popularity in New York.
There were many times that the race was compromised, but fans and the Belmont Stakes race organizers always made sure that the race was held annually.
The Belmont Stakes is the biggest race – in terms of bets.
What sets the Belmont Stakes apart from the other races is found in its other name – the “Test of the Champions.”
As the Triple Crown’s last leg, bettors anticipate the race with one thing in mind – a triple crown champion horse. With this kind of anticipation, it is no question that fans would flock on to Belmont Park to witness another Triple Crown winner.
The Belmont Stakes also has the biggest purse, with the winner earning about 1.5 million dollars.
The current purse also depends on the match bets and tickets sold during the race. The biggest purse counted for the event is 1.7 million dollars and was recorded in 1992.
With such big stakes, bettors who are betting the belmont stakes are eager to place their money on the most promising horse.
Summary
With its grand history, the Belmont Stakes is another example of the history of American grace and prestige. Despite being the oldest stakes race, the Belmont Stakes isn’t short of passion from its loyal fans.
It is no wonder that out of the three, the Belmont Stakes is the most supported by the fans of the horse racing community.
Having started as a passion for horses, it turned into the biggest horse racing event in America. It’s time to pay homage to the race by betting on that favorite horse you love.