Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes-G1 is not only the longest of the Triple Crown races but it is also the oldest. First run in 1867 at Jerome Park, a filly named Ruthless took the inaugural running in a time of 3 minutes and 5 seconds. The Belmont Stakes predates the Preakness-G1 by six years and the Kentucky Derby-G1 by eight. In 1890 the race was moved to Morris Park before taking its place at historic Belmont Park in 1905. And it wasn't until 1921 when the Belmont Stakes was run in the counter-clockwise direction that we are accustomed to today.

Despite having history on its side, the Belmont Stakes at times finds itself in an awkward position. If a potential Triple Crown is on the line then the eyes of a racing world descend on New York City. If the Kentucky Derby winner has failed to repeat in the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes loses some of its allure and to some becomes just another Grade I race.

Eleven three-year-olds have conquered "The Test of the Champion" and earned their place in history as a Triple Crown winner. Sir Barton was the first in 1919 and Affirmed was the last in 1978. The 30-year drought since Affirmed is the longest span in history without a Triple Crown winner. But we have come close, and on those days Belmont Park is the center of the racing universe.

In 1997 Bob Baffert and Silver Charm came to New York in search of their place in history, only to go home empty-handed when Touch Gold scored the upset. Baffert was right back in 1998 with Real Quiet and once again saw history snatched away in the shadow of the wire. In 1999 Charismatic saw his bid at a Triple Crown spoiled by 29/1 long shot Lemon Drop Kid, a race in which Charismatic suffered a career-ending injury. In 2002 Sarava scored the biggest upset in Belmont Stakes history, beating War Emblem and returning $142.50. In 2003 Empire Maker upset fan favorite Funny Cide, and in 2004 it was 36/1 Birdstone running past Smarty Jones in Belmont's long stretch.

While each of those races provided memorable moments, for all the wrong reasons to many Triple Crown enthusiasts, the Belmont Stakes has also provided some of the brightest moments in the game. The mere mention of the Belmont Stakes will always bring to mind the remarkable performance of Secretariat.

Some call it the greatest performance in the history of racing. Following his victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, fans were clearly expecting Secretariat to complete the sweep in New York. But no one could have imagined what they were about to witness. From the start Secretariat was eager to run and he quickly engaged Sham entering the first turn. Those two continued as a pair through fractions of: 23.3,:46.1 and 1:09.4, extremely fast for this 1 1/2-mile distance. The duel was too much for Sham who quickly tired and would ultimately finish last. For Secretariat, it was as if he was just warming up.

As they entered the far turn Secretariat was seven lengths in front. When they came out of the turn and entered the stretch Secretariat had increased his lead to 20 lengths. In mid-stretch he was clear by 28 and when they crossed the wire the official margin of victory became 31 lengths. His final time of 2 minutes 24 seconds was a world record. Jockey Ron Turcotte had not moved a muscle. As long as there is thoroughbred racing there may never be a performance to equal that of Secretariat in 1973.

While there was no Triple Crown on the line in 2007, the Belmont Stakes once again put history on display. Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense had narrowly lost the Preakness to Curlin and was now being given some time off to prepare for a late summer return. Curlin would be back in the Belmont Stakes as would Hard Spun who had finished second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness. But it was the presence of a fresh face that generated the most excitement — that of the filly Rags to Riches.

Rags to Riches had won the Kentucky Oaks-G1 five weeks earlier and talk had been circulating that she may face the boys in New York. Once word was out that Street Sense would pass the race, trainer Todd Pletcher wasted little time confirming that indeed his filly would load into the starting gate. Riding a four-race win streak, Rags to Riches made her move on the far turn and when they hit the top of the stretch she was a head in front of Curlin. He would get no closer. For 1,097 feet, the length of the Belmont stretch, this classy filly simply would not let her rival go by. At the wire the official margin of victory was a head, the same advantage she had held 1,097 feet earlier. While a filly had won the very first Belmont Stakes back at Jerome Park, it was Rags to Riches who ended a 102-year drought for the ladies.

Trainers of these majestic thoroughbreds have also earned a place in the rich history of the Belmont Stakes, maybe no one more than Woody Stephens. As unlikely as it may be that we will ever see another Secretariat-like performance on the racetrack, it is almost a certainty that we will never witness a feat like that accomplished by Stephens in the 80's. From 1982 through 1986 Woody Stephens saddled the winner of five consecutive Belmont Stakes: Conquistador Cielo, Caveat, Swale, Creme Fraiche and Danzig Connection. Horseplayers are known to be a hard-headed bunch but it is still difficult to believe that during this historic streak only Swale went to post as the favorite!

D. Wayne Lukas took a shot at Stephens' record in the mid-90's, sending out three consecutive Belmont Stakes winners in Tabasco Cat ('94), Thunder Gulch ('95) and Editor's Note x(196). He would return to win again in 2000 with Commendable, but Stephen's record was safe, and probably will be forever. To underscore that point consider that the last seven Belmont Stakes winners were trained by seven different trainers: Todd Pletcher (Rags to Riches,'07), Kiaran McLaughlin (Jazil, '06), Tim Ritchey (Afleet Alex. '05), Nick Zito (Birdstone, '04), Bobby Frankel (Empire Maker, '03), Ken McPeek (Sarava, '02) and Bob Baffert (Point Given, '01), a victory he surely would have traded for a win in 1997 or 1998.

While the potential for a Triple Crown winner certainly adds excitement, history has shown us that great moments can present themselves even in the absence of a chance at racing's greatest prize. The Belmont Stakes should not be decried for what it is not, but embraced for what it is.

It is the oldest of the Triple Crown races, and the fourth-oldest race in North America. It is 1 1/2miles at historic Belmont Park. It is the beauty of a thoroughbred about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. It is awe-inspiring victories and gut-wrenching defeats.

It is "The Test of a Champion."