The final round of the Triple Crown races is almost here. Although no horse is eligible for the Triple Crown title in 2024, the event still draws thousands of people.
10 horses competing in the 2024 Belmont Stakes, including Mystic Dan winner of the Kentucky Derby, and Seize The Grey, winner of this year’s Preakness Stakes.
The final leg of the Triple Crown is the most difficult, featuring a 1 ½ mile long racetrack. It’s not called the “Test of the Champion” for nothing.
Secretariat still holds the record for the fastest time in the Belmont Stakes. (Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images | Al Bello/Getty Images)
Preakness vs. Belmont Stakes: The differences in these Triple Crown horse races
The Belmont Stakes is not only the longest, but it is also the oldest Triple Crown race. The first Belmont Stakes took place in 1867 at Jerome Park in New York.
From then on the race kept changing venues and finally concluded Belmont Park in Elmont, New York Where it still remains today.
While the race isn’t as popular as the Kentucky Derby, it still draws thousands of people to the racecourse in their best spring fashion to experience the sight of horse racing up close and personal.
People at home also enjoy watching the races in their living rooms or at the local sports bar. Many watch just for fun, but some even gamble with money on the line, such as Betting is a huge component Horse racing, especially Triple Crown events.
Attending the Belmont Stakes: Everything you need to know about the horse race and its long history
Of course, the famous Secretariat competed in the Belmont Stakes over 50 years ago, earning Triple Crown status. Even today, this beloved race horse holds the fastest time in the Belmont Stakes. The horse also set records for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes that have yet to be broken.
Below is a list of the top finishers of the Belmont Stakes and their times. The horses’ times are taken from the Belmont Stakes website.
- Secretariat, 1973 at 2:24
- Easy Goer, 1989 at 2:26
- 2:26 in AP Indy, 1992
- Risen Star, 2:26 2/5 in 1988
- Point Given, 2:26 2/5 in 2001
- Gallant Man, 2:26 3/5 in 1957
- American Pharaoh, 2:26.65 in 2015
- Confirmation, 2:26 4/5 in 1978
- Tabasco Cat, 2:26 4/5 in 1994
- Crème Fraîche, 1985 at 2:27
Secretariat, 1973 at 2:24
Since 1973, no other horse has been able to beat the fastest sprinter. Records set by the Secretariat, Others, however, have come close.
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On June 9, 1973, Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes, becoming the ninth winner of the Triple Crown.
Secretariat set the record for the fastest time in all three Triple Crown races. (Jerry Cook/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
The horse owned by Penny Chenery is still considered the best horse in history.
Easy Goer, 1989 at 2:26
Easy Goer was the winner of the 1989 Belmont Stakes.
This horse, bred and owned by Ogden Phipps, was the favorite in the race. During the Belmont Stakes, Easy Goer did not immediately get an edge over the rest of the group. Sunday Silence, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and in pursuit of the Triple Crown title, was at the front of the pack for most of the race.
Once Easy Goer reached third place, he was able to take the lead over Sunday Silence and Le Voyageur, who had been in the lead for most of the race. Easy Goer finished the race in first place, followed by Sunday Silence and Le Voyageur.
2:26 in AP Indy, 1992
AP Indy is tied for the second-fastest time. He shares the honor with Easy Goer; both were 2:26 flat.
In the 1992 race, A.P. Indy was the frontrunner, but towards the end of the race he fell slightly behind the leaders and finished level with Preakness Stakes winner Pine Bluff.
AP Indy was able to overtake My Memoirs and Pine Bluff in the closing stages of the race to secure his victory in the Belmont Stakes.
Risen Star, 2:26 2/5 in 1988
Risen Star was the winner of the 1988 Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes. Born in Kentucky By Leon J. Peters and Arthur B. Hancock III.
Winning Colours took the lead from the start, but Risen Star was not far behind.
Risen Star was not the leader from the start in the Belmont Stakes, but he managed to improve his position and secure the victory. (Getty Images)
On the first turn, he took over second place. At one point in the race, Winning Colours had a lead of almost four lengths.
Risen Star, Secretariat’s son, bridged the huge gap.
His lead over everyone behind him kept increasing and he eventually won the race by a huge margin.
Point Given, 2:26 2/5 in 2001
In 2001, Point Given received the American Horse of the Year award.
That year he won the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes after coming in fifth in the Kentucky Derby.
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The horse was bred in Kentucky by the Thoroughbred Corporation and owned by Prince Ahmed bin Salman.
Gallant Man, 2:26 3/5 in 1957
Next up is Gallant Man, who disappointed in the Kentucky Derby, missing out on victory because his jockey Bill Shoemaker misjudged the finish line, allowing Iron Liege to win the title.
However, Gallant Man was able to hold on for a win, defeating favorite Bold Ruler in the Belmont Stakes.
He held the record for the fastest time at Belmont, but it was broken by Secretariat in 1973.
American Pharaoh, 2:26.65 in 2015
The latest horse to set a Belmont record was American Pharoah in 2015.
American Pharoah was the Triple Crown winner in 2015. (Rich Gressley/Ikon Sportswire/Corbis/Ikon Sportswire via Getty Images)
American Pharoah was the horse to win the Triple Crown, the 12th in history. He became the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Since American Pharoah, only one other horse has been a Triple Crown winner. In 2018, Justify also joins the list.
Confirmation, 2:26 4/5 in 1978
Affirmed, the 1978 Triple Crown winner, was one of the fastest runners ever in the Belmont Stakes.
He finished the race with a time of 2:26 4/5 in the 1978 Belmont Stakes. His biggest rival in his pivotal racing year was Alydar.
While Affirmed was capable of becoming a Triple Crown winner, Alydar wasn’t far behind, finishing second in all three races.
Tabasco Cat, 2:26 4/5 in 1994
Tabasco Cat was the winner of the 1994 Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes. He equaled Affirmed’s Belmont Stakes time with his 1994 win.
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Tabasco Cat was the second horse in the 1994 Belmont Stakes.
Go For Gin remained in first place for most of the race, but Tabasco Cat gradually moved to the outside.
Tabasco Cat took the lead at the end of the race and became the winner of the Belmont Stakes.
Crème Fraiche, 2:27, 1985
Last on the list is Crème Feche with a time of 2:27.
Crème Fraîche trailed for most of the race, and the horses maintained a fast pace throughout the race.
Crème Fraîche won the race by a slim margin.
