The Belmont Stakes: Run for the Carnations

To complete the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes is a 2.4 km horse race held every June in Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It occurs just three weeks after the Preakness. It has also been called the “Test of the Champion” since the longer distance challenges the three year-old horses in terms of stamina and speed. This Grade 1 stakes race is older than both the two derbies that precede it. It is older than the Kentucky Derby by 8 years and the Preakness Stakes by 6. It was first run in 1867.

Secretariat set the speed record when he finished the 1973 Belmont in 2 minutes 24 seconds. He also holds the record victory margin in that same race at 31 lengths. Julie Krone became the only female jockey to win the Triple Crown when she rode Colonial Affair and won the Belmont Stakes in 1993.

Like the other two races, the Belmont is also rich in tradition. It has also been called the “Run for the Carnations” because of the blanket of carnations that is wrapped around the winning horse on race day. More than 700 white carnations are ordered from Bogota, Columbia and glued onto a velvet green spread on the day itself. It takes five hours to do this. A silver trophy is also presented to the winner. It also has an official drink known as the “Belmont Breeze” (for a long time, it used to be the “White Carnation”).

What makes betting at the Belmont even more exciting is that this leg determines the ultimate winner of the Triple Crown. There are many betting options to choose from too. You can put your money on the outright winner, a first or second place winner or a show winner (a horse that comes in either first, second or third place). Other betting variations are available for the more versatile and experienced players as well.

So far, only 11 have swept the Triple Crown, with the last one over 30 years ago. The horses who took the Triple Crown with a final win at the Belmont were: Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978).

This 32-year gap is the longest period ever that no one was able to bag Triple Crown. In all this time, 21 horses came to the Belmont with high expectations of victory, only to realize that they didn’t have what it takes to win the 1 ½-mile “Test of the Champion.”