The oldest of America's three Triple Crown races, the Belmont Stakes was first run on June 19, 1867, at the Jerome Park race course, an oddly shaped, English-style track that required its runners to negotiate three turns instead of two because of a dip in the middle of the backstretch. A filly, Ruthless, won the first Belmont's $1,850 winners purse, outlasting DeCourcey by a head. The race has been run every since, with the exception of 1911 and '12, and the Belmont has established itself as the ultimate test of championship stamina in this country. Its 1-1/2-mile distance now has become a rarity in American dirt races.

The Belmont was even longer in its early days, contested at 1-5/8 miles through 1873. But from 1890 through 1926, the race dropped down to distances varying between 1-1/8 and 1-3/8 miles.

The 1926 Belmont was run at 1-1/2 miles and was won by Crusader, a son of the legendary Man o' War, in a time of 2:32-1/5. The race has been run at that distance ever since.

Because of its distance and status as the race that can make or break a Triple Crown champion, the Belmont Stakes has been the venue for some of the most famous moments in American racing. There was Count Fleet destroying two nondescript rivals by 25 lengths in the 1943 renewal; Secretariat one-upping his fellow Triple Crown victor 30 years later, winning by 31 lengths in record time; and there was Affirmed and Alydar, slugging away at each other for nearly a mile before Affirmed prevailed to become a Triple Crown winner in 1978.

Belmont Trophy

The Belmont Stakes trophy is a Tiffany-made silver bowl, with cover, 18 inches high, 15 inches across and 14 inches at the base. Atop the cover is a silver figure of Fenian, winner of the third running of the Belmont Stakes in 1869. The bowl is supported by three horses representing the three foundation thoroughbreds Eclipse, Herod and Matchem. The trophy, a solid silver bowl originally crafted by Tiffany's, was presented by the Belmont family as a perpetual award for the Belmont Stakes in 1926. It was the trophy August Belmont's Fenian won in 1869 and had remained with the Belmont family since that time. The winning owner is given the option of keeping the trophy for the year their horse reigns as Belmont champion.

SOME FACTS ABOUT BELMONT RACE TRACK:

Main Course: 1 1/2 Miles
Last Turn to Finish on Main Track: 1,097 feet
Widener Turf Course: 1 5/16 Miles
Inner Turf Course: 1 3/16 Miles
Attendance Capacity: 85,000 - 90,000
Parking Capacity: 18,500 Cars
Trackside Dining: 2,300
Total Seating Capacity: 32,941

Dress code: Suits or Sport Coats required for box seats. Absolutely no shorts or jeans; For the Garden Terrace Restaurant, gentlemen are asked to wear collared shirts, and women are asked to wear dresses, skirts for slacks outfits. Absolutely no short or jeans; For the Clubhouse, proper attire is required at Management’s discretion. No abbreviated wear. No tank tops.

2009 Possible Belmont Stakes Contenders

Belmont Stakes Odds Mine That Bird
Trainer: Bennie Woolley, Jr. Jockey: TBA

Belmont Stakes Odds Chocolate Candy
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer Jockey: TBA

Belmont Stakes Odds Charitable Man
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin Jockey: TBA

Belmont Stakes Odds Dunkirk
Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: John Velazquez

Belmont Stakes Odds Flying Private
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas Jockey: TBA

Belmont Stakes Odds Luv Gov
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas Jockey: TBA

Belmont Stakes Odds Miner's Escape
Trainer: Nick Zito Jockey: TBA

Belmont Stakes Odds Mr. Hot Stuff
Trainer: Eoin Harty Jockey: John Velazquez

Belmont Stakes Odds Rachel Alexandra
Trainer: Steve Asmussen Jockey: Calvin Borel

Belmont Stakes Odds Summer Bird
Trainer: Tim Ice Jockey: TBA

Belmont Stakes Past Winners