© Jean van der Meulen
On June 8, 2019, the much-awaited Belmont Stakes event will take place. It will come as no surprise that horse racing fans and horseplayers are now bursting with excitement over this famous thoroughbred racing competition in the United States.
Belmont Stakes is Triple Crown's third and final leg and is reputed as the oldest event in the prestigious racing treble. In 2018, the legendary event celebrated its 150th anniversary with the promise of continuing to provide the same electrifying competition in Belmont Stakes 2019 as well as in years to come.
The first Belmont Stakes race was run in 1867 at Jerome Park racetrack in Bronx, New York. The inauguration witnessed the victory of Ruthless, an American thoroughbred filly. Then, in 1890, the venue of the race was moved to Morris Park until, 15 years later, it was transferred to Belmont Park.
The Belmont Park in Elmont, New York served as the home of the Belmont Stakes since 1905. The venue can accommodate around 90,000 people watching the live action as the greatest racehorses vye for the top spot.
On-track wagers, online bettors, and Belmont Stakes expert picks are choosing their favourite contenders to bet on and are looking forward to the Belmont Stakes. In 2014, the event made a record-setting $151 million total betting handle, making it the second most betted horse racing event in history after the Kentucky Derby.
As the third and final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes has hosted some of the most unforgettable victories and upsets in the sport. There are already 13 horses that bested their rivals to get the Triple Crown.
American Pharoah and Justify are the most recent winners of the Triple Crown. In 2015, American Pharoah got the victory and broke the 37-year Triple Crown drought. And, just last year, Justify wowed the audience with his performance in the famous racing treble.
Of course, competing in the Belmont Stakes is a no-joke feat. It's reputed to be the longest dirt race for three-year-old thoroughbreds in the United States, with a distance of 1 ½ mile. The Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, on the other hand, are only 1 ¼ mile and 1 3/16 mile, respectively.
Thus, it's no wonder that the Belmont Stakes is also nicknamed the "Test of the Champion" because it's indeed a gruelling race that will test the strength, endurance and stamina of the three-year-old thoroughbreds.
A significant amount of sports science is surely put into the training and preparation of those racehorses before the game. And, indeed, only the best breeders and trainers can mould such competitive runners in such a world-renowned race.
So it can be said that the honour and prestige of claiming the victory in the Belmont Stakes don't only go to the fastest thoroughbred, but also to its jockey, trainer and breeder.
Furthermore, the Belmont Stakes committee is strict with its pick which horses are to run in the race, so you can expect to witness a competition of only the best racehorses.
Entry limits are decided for the annual roster that typically involves 10 contenders. Of course, only the greatest and most experienced three-year-old racehorses weighing 126 lbs (for geldings and colts) and 121 lbs (for fillies) can qualify to grace the legendary event.
The total career earnings of a horse are the main factor in making it to the race, so competing in events which have the most significant prizes such as the Solomini, Bolt D'Oro, Good Magic, Wood Memorial, Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby is a must.
Racehorse owners also have to pay a significant amount of money to have a contender in Belmont Stakes. Typically, a payment of $15,000 to get to the entry box and another of the same amount for the final starters are needed. But it's undoubtedly worth it if you get the $800,000 prize if your horse finishes at the top spot of the race.
Aside from the electrifying battle of the best racehorses, the Belmont Stakes is also a traditional event for New Yorkers, so you can expect people who are wearing stylish outfits for the event. Traditionally, people love to don their fashionable monochrome dresses in Belmont Stakes.
Unlike in the Kentucky Derby where the fastest racehorse is decorated with roses, it's part of the tradition of the Belmont Stakes to adorn the victor with carnations. Hence, it's also called the "Run for Carnations".
And to refresh themselves in the summer heat, people attending the event also have a drink of choice which is called Belmont Jewel, a mixture of Woodford Reserve bourbon, orange zest, lemonade, and pomegranate juice.
Taking part in the Belmont Stakes will be a one-of-a-kind experience, while watching the event will provide not only thrills and excitement, but also fun and amusement because of the festive nature of it.
