| With both Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro and | | | | challenge and tradition, it part summed up by |
| Preakness winner Bernardini out of the race, | | | | its trophy, a solid silver bowl and cover |
| the 138th Belmont Stakes, horse racing's | | | | made by Tiffany & Co. Topped by a silver |
| final leg of the Triple Crown, appears to be | | | | figure of 1869 Belmont winner Fenian the bowl |
| up for grabs. | | | | is supported by three horses - Herod, Eclipse |
| | | | and Matchem, representing the respective |
| This year's best prospect for the Triple | | | | superior grandsons of the three Foundation |
| Crown, Barbaro, is recovering from a life | | | | Sires of Thoroughbreds: the Byerly Turk, the |
| threating injury sustained in the Preakness. | | | | Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Barb. The |
| In 131 years of horse racing history 31 | | | | trophy was presented by the Belmont family as |
| horses have gone to the starting gate with | | | | a perpetual award for the Belmont Stakes in |
| the Triple Crown on the line, but only 11 | | | | 1926 and the winning owner keeps the trophy |
| horses have managed to accomplish what is | | | | for a year until the next Belmont Stakes |
| arguably the most difficult event in all of | | | | winner is crowned. |
| sports. | | | | |
| | | | In an era of athletes pumped up on steroids, |
| As the race that can make or break a Triple | | | | rampant drug abuse and fixed games, horse |
| Crown champion, the Belmont Stakes has | | | | racing has come to represent what is great |
| established itself as the ultimate test of | | | | and noble about athletic endeavor. For this |
| championship stamina in this country. At a | | | | year we can only applaud the Belmont winner, |
| mile and a half, its distance is a rarity in | | | | wish a speedy recovery and long life to |
| American dirt races although it has been | | | | Barbaro and wait for next year to cheer on a |
| shortened from its original mile and five | | | | new Triple Crown contender. |
| eights length. First run in 1867, it's the | | | | |
| oldest of the Triple Crown races and the | | | | The Triple Crown stands as the ultimate test |
| fourth oldest Stakes race in North America | | | | of greatness and the Belmont Stakes is the |
| behind the Phoenix Stakes (now Keeneland's | | | | final jewel in its crown. |
| Phoenix Breeder's Cup) in 1831, The Queen's | | | | |
| Plate (Canada) in 1860 and the Travers | | | | Belmont Stakes Facts: |
| (Saratoga) in 1864. | | | | |
| | | | The Belmont Stakes was first run in 1867 for |
| Open to 3 year colts and geldings carrying | | | | $2,500.00 at the Jerome Park Race Course in |
| 126 pounds and fillies carrying 121 pounds it | | | | New York, and was originally a mile and five |
| truly deserves its soubriquet "the Test of | | | | eights, but has also been run at a mile and |
| the Champion" as few 3 year olds have the | | | | one eighth and a mile and three eights before |
| strength or stamina to maintain a winning | | | | settling at a mile and a half in 1926 |
| speed across such a distance. Starting with | | | | |
| Silver Charm in 1997 we've seen 6 horses | | | | The first Belmont Stakes was won by a filly, |
| enter the Belmont with the Triple Crown | | | | Ruthless, who received $1,850.00; second |
| within reach, only to see them fall victim to | | | | place took $300.00 and an English racing |
| this demanding race. In some cases, like | | | | saddle |
| 2004's Smarty Jones, we've seen them end | | | | |
| their careers here. | | | | The Belmont Stakes is known as the "Run for |
| | | | the Carnations" and was named after August |
| Even without the Triple Crown at stake, the | | | | Belmont Sr. |
| Belmont is deserving of attention for its | | | | |