The Belmont Stakes has a wealthy historical past relationship again to its inception in 1867, which suggests there isn’t any scarcity of attention-grabbing numbers related to the race that’s usually referred to as the “Check of the Champion.”
This 12 months’s 156th working of the Belmont Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets might be held June 8 at Saratoga Race Course. If, for some cause, you’ve been out of the horse racing loop for some time, you may not bear in mind that Belmont Park is within the technique of an enormous renovation, which led the New York Racing Affiliation to shift the ultimate jewel of the Triple Crown to Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for each 2024 and 2025.
That venue change additionally led to adjusting the gap of the race to 1 1/4 miles from its common distance of 1 1/2 miles, as a result of Saratoga’s important grime observe is a 1 1/8-mile oval whereas Belmont’s 1 1/2-mile oval is right for a race at that distance. Additionally of be aware, there might be no Triple Crown bid for the sixth straight 12 months, nevertheless, the 2024 Belmont is predicted to attract each Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve winner Mystik Dan and Preakness Stakes victor Seize the Gray.
Learn on for a slew of enjoyable figures upfront of the 2024 Belmont Stakes.
1 – The variety of occasions the Belmont preceded each the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. It occurred for the primary and solely time within the race’s historical past in 2020 when Tiz the Regulation gained the race after it was pushed again two weeks as a result of pandemic and shortened to 1 1/8 miles. The Kentucky Derby was postponed that 12 months to the primary Saturday in September as a result of COVID-19 pandemic whereas the Preakness Stakes moved to the primary week in October.
1 1/4 miles – The Belmont Stakes at 1 ½ miles normally is the longest race of the Triple Crown however this 12 months the gap has been adjusted to 1 ¼ miles to accommodate the venue change to Saratoga Race Course. The Belmont Stakes might be held at 1 ¼ miles for the seventh time in its historical past. The race additionally has been held at 1 1/8 miles, 1 3/8 miles, and 1 5/8 miles.
$2.10 – The $2 win payout when Depend Fleet gained the 1943 Belmont Stakes (and Triple Crown), the bottom win payout ever.
2:24 – The quickest profitable time for the Belmont Stakes at its normal 1 ½-mile distance. Secretariat set the report in 1973 when he swept the Triple Crown.
4 – The variety of occasions the Belmont Stakes was determined by a nostril (the smallest margin of victory) or much less since 1905, with the latest coming in 2016 when Creator edged Destin.
4 – The variety of racetracks the Belmont Stakes has been held at so far: Jerome Park (1867-1889), Morris Park (1890-1904), Aqueduct (1963-1967), and Belmont Park (1905-2023, besides when closed for building). Saratoga Race Course will grow to be the fifth host observe June 8.
5 – Corridor of Fame coach Woody Stephens gained a report 5 consecutive Belmont Stakes from 1982 to 1986, a benchmark that might be exceptionally tough to equal or break. Stephens’ winners have been: Conquistador Cielo (1982), Caveat (1983), Swale (1984), Creme Fraiche (1985) and Danzig Connection (1986). No different coach has gained greater than three straight editions of the race.
6 – James R. Keene and Belair Stud share the report for many Belmont Stakes winners by an proprietor with six every. Keene owned Belmont victors Spendthrift (1879), Commando (1901), Delhi (1904), Peter Pan (1907), Colin (1908), and Sweep (1910); Belair Stud raced Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox (1930) and Omaha (1935) in addition to Belmont winners Faireno (1932), Granville (1936), Johnstown (1939), and Nashua (1955).
9 – The variety of horses bred outdoors the USA who’ve gained the Belmont Stakes, most not too long ago Canadian-bred Victory Gallop in 1998 when he defeated Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Actual Quiet by a nostril.
11 – The variety of 3-year-olds that accomplished the Kentucky Derby-Belmont Stakes double (not counting Triple Crown winners), most not too long ago Thunder Gulch in 1995. Mystik Dan can grow to be the twelfth June 8 with a win at Saratoga.
13 – The variety of 3-year-olds who accomplished a sweep of the three jewels of the U.S. Triple Crown within the Belmont Stakes: Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), Warfare Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Depend Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Quotation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah (2015), and Justify (2018).
15 – The variety of odds-on favorites who’ve gained the Belmont Stakes, from 37 horses despatched off at even-money odds or much less, together with Tiz the Regulation at 4-5 odds in 2020.
18 – The variety of 3-year-olds that accomplished the Preakness-Belmont Stakes double (not counting Triple Crown winners), most not too long ago Afleet Alex in 2005. Seize the Gray will attempt to grow to be the nineteenth in 2024.
20 – The variety of Belmont winners who have been sired (fathered) by a Belmont winner, most not too long ago 2009 winner Summer season Chook, who was sired by 2004 winner Birdstone. The legendary Man o’ Warfare, winner of the 1920 Belmont Stakes, sired three Belmont winners: American Flag (1925), Crusader (1926), and Warfare Admiral (1937).
24 – The variety of fillies who’ve raced within the Belmont. Three of them gained: Ruthless (1867), Tanya (1905), and Rags to Riches (2007). In 2022, Longines Kentucky Oaks runner-up Nest grew to become the latest filly to compete within the race and completed second to stablemate Mo Donegal.
24 – The variety of Belmont Stakes winners (since 1905) to begin from post-position No. 1. Whereas the within put up place has not produced a Kentucky Derby winner since Ferdinand in 1986, the within put up within the Belmont Stakes has produced eight extra wins than another place within the beginning gate, together with most not too long ago Justify in 2018 when he grew to become the 13th Triple Crown winner. Submit place No. 3 has produced 16 winners, together with Arcangelo a 12 months in the past.
31 lengths – Report margin of victory when Secretariat gained the 1973 version to grow to be the primary Triple Crown winner in 25 years.
37 – The variety of occasions inclement climate has led to the Belmont Stakes being contested on an “off” observe, for 23.9% of the overall. The newest was in 2011 when Ruler On Ice gained on a “sloppy/sealed” observe.
42 – The variety of horses who’ve gained the Belmont and no less than one different Triple Crown race, together with 13 Triple Crown winners who swept the sequence.
60 – The winningest colour of Belmont Stakes winners is bay with 60; chestnut ranks second with 55. Mo Donegal in 2022 is the latest bay winner of the Belmont Stakes. Arcangelo in 2023 grew to become simply the sixth grey or roan Belmont Stakes winner within the race’s storied historical past.
66 – The variety of profitable favorites within the 155-year historical past of the Belmont Stakes, which quantities to a 42.6% win fee for the highest betting alternative.
105 – Kentucky is the main state for producing Belmont Stakes winners with 105 winners bred within the Bluegrass State. Virginia is a distant second with 11 Belmont Stakes victors.
138 – The variety of years between New York-bred winners within the Belmont Stakes. Tiz the Regulation gained the race in 2020 to grow to be the primary state-bred winner of New York’s Triple Crown race since Forester in 1882, ending an extended drought.
$142.50 – The profitable payout on a $2 wager on 2002 winner Sarava, a report.
156 – This 12 months is the 156th working of the Belmont Stakes.
700 – The approximate variety of white Colombian carnations that adorn the Belmont winner’s blanket.
1867 – The 12 months the primary Belmont Stakes was contested, making it the oldest of the three Triple Crown races.
$2,500 – The purse of the first-ever Belmont Stakes.
120,139 – The biggest crowd ever to attend the Belmont Stakes was 20 years in the past in 2004, when Bridstone spoiled the Triple Crown bid of fan favourite Smarty Jones. Learn extra concerning the fervor main as much as that version of the Belmont Stakes.
$2 million – The purse for the 2024 Belmont Stakes, with $1.2 million going to the winner.
$83,054,106 – The report {dollars} guess from all sources on the Belmont Stakes, which occurred in 2014 when California Chrome was unsuccessful in his bid to win the Triple Crown. Final 12 months, there was $56,533,820 guess on the race.
$150,249,399 – Report {dollars} guess on Belmont day races, additionally occurring in 2014.