The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park. The Belmont Stakes is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown horse racing. It is held every year at Belmont Park and occurs five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes. Known as “The Test of Champions“, it is the longest of the Triple Crown series at 1 1/2 miles in length as well as the oldest. It is also sometimes called “Run for the Carnations” because the winning horse is blanketed with white carnations.
The mood of the Belmont Stakes varies depending on whether there is a triple crown possibility involved. A triple crown occurs when the same horse wins all 3 races of the Triple Crown: The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. So far, 30 horses have entered the Belmont Stakes with a chance to win the Triple Crown, but only eleven have managed to succeed.
The Belmont Stakes was first run in 1867, making it the oldest of the Triple Crown events. It is eight years older than the Kentucky Derby and six years older than the Preakness. The first Triple Crown winner was in 1978. The Belmont winner is usually a horse that skipped both the Derby and Preakness.
The Belmont Stakes is usually less formal than the Derby or the Preakness. Because it occurs in June when the weather is quite hot, dressy attire is usually replaced by shorts and t-shirts. The traditional flower of the Belmont is the white carnation and the trophy is a silver bowl from 1869. The purse for the Belmont Stakes is $1 million.
But attending the Belmont Stakes in person is pretty special. Belmont Park is quite large, making the event easier to attend than the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness. Prices for the Belmont Stakes also tend to be cheaper than prices for the other two Triple Crown events. Driving to the Belmont is also not a problem since there are plenty of parking spaces available. Keep in mind that traffic can be quite brutal, especially when trying to get in and out of the parking area.
