The Belmont Stakes (The Run for the Carnations)
The Belmont Stakes (The Run for the Carnations) Named after the first president of the American Jockey Club August Belmont, the Belmont Stakes is the third and the oldest and longest leg of the “Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.” The Belmont Stakes is held three weeks after the Preakness Stakes and five weeks after the Kentucky Derby. The Belmont Stakes takes place at the Belmont Park in Elmont New York. The Belmont Stakes changed its official venue several times. The first Belmont Stakes was held at Jerome Park in 1867. The facility was the event’s official racetrack until 1889, when the Belmont Stakes was moved to Morris Park. The event transpired at that place until 1904. The year after that, Belmont Park opened and the event then was held in that place ever since. During the reconstruction of the Belmont Park from 1963-1967, the Belmont Stakes was held at The Aqueduct. However, during the antigambling campaigns of the late 1890s and the early 1900s, the Belmont Stakes did not take place in 1911 and 1912. The Belmont Stakes also had its share of distance changes, but at present the course length is 1.5 miles — the track’s initial distance during the event’s early years. Due to the event’s length and being the last leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes is also called the “Test of the Champion.” The winner of the Belmont Stakes will be declared the winner of the Triple Crown, if and only if the event’s winner also won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Due to winning the recent 2008 Kentucky Derby and 2008 Preakness, Big Brown is the heavy favorite in winning the 2008 Belmont Stakes. If victorious, Big Brown will be the 12th Triple Crown winner.
Learn more about horse competitions on the Horse Sports site.
Rocking Ranches are ranches where competitive cutting horses are trained.
Alice Walton, founder of the Rocking W Ranch, is a horse enthusiast.
