In This Guide
The Belmont Stakes: The "Test of the Champion"
The Belmont Stakes is the third leg in thoroughbred horse racing's Triple Crown. While it is lesser known than the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes has provided the stage for some of horse racing's most dramatic moments, particularly when it has featured a Triple Crown candidate.
Expand All Guide SectionsThe 2008 Belmont: What Happened to Big Brown ?
Big Brown was a prohibitive favorite to win the 2008 Belmont Stakes and become the first Triple Crown winner in a generation. Not only did he lose, but he never looked like a winner at any point in the race, and was eased on the far turn and finished last. Below, findingDulcinea provides the most comprehensive coverage on the Web of Big Brown's shocking defeat, and the question of why so many horses have failed to complete the Triple Crown since 1978.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Click here for our article that offers a round-up of theories behind Big Brown's loss; click here for our internal blog post that explains that Big Brown's connections were so busy planning their victory parade that they forgot they needed to bring over a healthy, happy horse to win the race; click here for our overview of Affirmed, the last Triple Crown winner in 1978, and the reasons that 18 horses have won two legs of the Triple Crown since then, but couldn't win the third, including links to videos of the races and links to the best writing about them; click here why Big Brown never became "the people's horse" in the way the Smarty Jones and Funny Cide had; and if you're tired of reading about Triple Crown failures, click here for findingDulcinea's "On This Day" article that celebrates Secretariat's extraordinary triumph in the Belmont Stakes to capture the Triple Crown on June 9, 1973. And if you were enthralled by the drama of the 2008 Belmont Stakes, or Secretariat's win, and want to learn more about horse racing, click here for findingDulcinea's Web Guide to Horse Racing.
- findingDulcinea's Web research experts scour the Web each day to bring you a full context, "Beyond the Headlines" view on the most interesting stories of the day. To receive a listing of our daily articles in your in box, click here to sign up for our daily newsletter, which we guarantee to be spam-free, and from which you can unsubscribe at any time.
- The Belmont Stakes is a 1 1/2-mile race run by three-year old thoroughbred horses. It is held at Belmont Park, in Elmont, New York.
- The Belmont Stakes is held on the first Saturday that falls on or after June 5. This is because the Kentucky Derby is held on the first Saturday in May; the Preakness Stakes is held two weeks later, and the Belmont is held three weeks after the Preakness. Post time for the Belmont Stakes is usually at about 6:25 p.m. Eastern time.
- The Belmont is the third race of the Triple Crown, after the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Having won the Derby and Preakness, Big Brown heads into this year’s Belmont with a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years. In that time, ten horses have won the first two legs but fallen short in the “Test of a Champion.” FindingDulcinea reviewed the 30-Year Drought, linking to articles and race videos of all 17 horses who have won two legs of the Triple Crown since 1978.
- For any questions somehow not answered by this Web Guide, contact findingDulcinea's staff of research experts, via email at info@dulcineamedia.com
Dulcinea's Picks
For traditions of The Belmont Stakes...
ESPN
explains some of the traditions of the Belmont Stakes, including the flowers awarded to the winner (white carnations), the official song (New York, New York), the most popular drink (the Belmont Breeze) and the Belmont Stakes Trophy.
For history of the Belmont Stakes...
New York Racing Association
operates Belmont Park and hosts the official Web site of The Belmont Stakes, which includes a list of all winners and other historical information. The race has been run since 1867, except for a two-year hiatus in 1911-12. Originally held at Jerome Park and Morris Park in the Bronx, it moved to Belmont Park when that facility was built in 1905 and—except for a renovation period from 1964–67—has been run there since. The site also offers high-quality video replays of all Belmont Stakes since 1970, plus some earlier runnings that featured Triple Crown winners.
Sports Illustrated
writes about Woodford "Woody" Cefis Stephens, a colorful trainer who will forever be associated with the Belmont Stakes. He won the race five times in a row, from 1982 to 1986, a feat many racing writers consider as unbeatable as DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. Sports Illustrated reported on Stephens as he entered the winner's circle in 1986 to a rousing "rock star" welcome that had never been seen at a racetrack.
Call to the Derby Post
gives a brief history of the Belmont, including a list of memorable moments, champion sires and traditions.
For books and pictures ...
Amazon
offers "To the Swift: Classic Triple Crown Horses and Their Race for Glory," a collection of writing on the Triple Crown from famous authors and sportswriters.
Amazon
offers "Finished Lines: A Collection of Memorable Writings on Throughbred Racing," which “captures the essence of the sport that is both exhilarating and breathtaking, frustrating, and cruel.”
Amazon
offers "Belmont Park: A Century of Champions" features portraits of 70 Belmont Stakes champions by Richard Stone Reeves, with accompanying essays.
Amazon
offers a signed photograph of jockey Ron Turcotte riding Secretariat to a 31-length win in the 1973 Belmont Stakes.
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Belmont Stakes News and Handicapping Information
Whether you're an expert handicapper or just trying to find out which horses are running in the race, this section features the best news sources on the Internet about the Belmont Stakes.
Dulcinea's Insight
- For more horse racing news and handicapping information sources, visit the findingDulcinea Horse Racing Web Guide.
- For large sports Web sites featuring horse racing sections, visit the findingDulcinea Sports Web Guide. ESPN and FOX Sports have particularly good horse racing coverage.
Dulcinea's Picks
Equidaily
is the single best source of online information about horse racing. It aggregates links to informative, interesting and provocative horse racing stories and opinion from global newspapers and blogs.
The Daily Racing Form
offers news and information about the race, and data for making selections. It offers news, analysis and transcripts of chats with racing experts. Accessing news stories requires free registration. Data about horses' past performances generally costs money to access, but is usually free for major races such as the Belmont Stakes.
The Blood-Horse's
Triple Crown Mania features news and analysis of the Triple Crown, including video coverage and a “Blog Stable.”
Thoroughbred Times
offers the most up-to-date news about thoroughbred horse racing, including profiles of each horse in the Belmont.
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Attending The Belmont Stakes
While the Kentucky Derby and Preakness are known for their raucous, fraternity-style infield parties and over-the-top fashion, the Belmont Stakes is a more understated affair. Use this section to find the best advice on attending the Belmont Stakes.
Dulcinea's Insight
- General Admission tickets, at $10 for the grandstand and $20 for the Clubhouse, are available at the gate on race day. Crowds as high as 120,000 attended the Belmont Stakes earlier this decade, but NYRA raised admission prices and no longer allows patrons to bring in their own alcohol on Belmont Stakes Day. This has dampened attendance somewhat in recent years, but it allows fans who come to see the races—rather than to party—to enjoy themselves in relative comfort.
- The 2008 Belmont's 35,000 reserved seats were sold out long ago. There is an active secondary market on eBay, where reserved seats are generally selling for between $125 and $500 each. Before you buy, review this Buying Guide to Belmont Stakes tickets. Tickets can also be purchased on one of the many online ticket brokers listed in the findingDulcinea Sports Web Guide.
- The Long Island Railroad, a commuter railroad, runs dedicated trains to Belmont Park from Manhattan's Penn Station, Brooklyn's Flatbush Avenue Terminal, and Jamaica Station. For information on fares, ticket-buying, handicap accessibility and travel tips, visit the LIRR’s Belmont Stakes page.
Dulcinea's Picks
For Belmont Park and Belmont Stakes information ...
The official Web site of the Belmont Stakes
includes a PDF file about the activities around Belmont Park on Sunday, while the New York Racing Association includes information about accommodations in the area, getting to the track, eating at the track and other Belmont Park basics.
For New York and Long Island travel information ...
Newsday,
Long Island's principal newspaper, offers its "Explore Long Island Guide.” Use the search feature to find restaurants, nightlife and activities in the South Shore, Nassau region.
The findingDulcinea Web Guide to New York
contains information and insight on where to stay, play and eat in New York City.
The findingDulcinea Travel Web Guide
links to the Web's best resources for making travel and accommodation arrangements. Belmont Park is located at the junction of Hempstead Turnpike and Cross Island Parkway, on the border between Queens County and Nassau County. Fans who want to be as close as possible to the track generally stay in hotels in Nassau County, or near JFK Airport. For Nassau hotels, the nearby villages of Garden City, Westbury, Roslyn, Rockville Centre, Carle Place or Uniondale offer the best and closest possibilities.
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