The Belmont Stakes - The Third Jewel in Horse Racing's Triple Crown

With both Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro and Preakness winner Bernardini out of the race, the 138th Belmont Stakes, horse racing's final leg of the Triple Crown, appears to be up for grabs.

This year's best prospect for the Triple Crown, Barbaro, is recovering from a life threating injury sustained in the Preakness. In 131 years of horse racing history 31 horses have gone to the starting gate with the Triple Crown on the line, but only 11 horses have managed to accomplish what is arguably the most difficult event in all of sports.

As the race that can make or break a Triple Crown champion, the Belmont Stakes has established itself as the ultimate test of championship stamina in this country. At a mile and a half, its distance is a rarity in American dirt races although it has been shortened from its original mile and five eights length. First run in 1867, it's the oldest of the Triple Crown races and the fourth oldest Stakes race in North America behind the Phoenix Stakes (now Keeneland's Phoenix Breeder's Cup) in 1831, The Queen's Plate (Canada) in 1860 and the Travers (Saratoga) in 1864.

Open to 3 year colts and geldings carrying 126 pounds and fillies carrying 121 pounds it truly deserves its soubriquet "the Test of the Champion" as few 3 year olds have the strength or stamina to maintain a winning speed across such a distance. Starting with Silver Charm in 1997 we've seen 6 horses enter the Belmont with the Triple Crown within reach, only to see them fall victim to this demanding race. In some cases, like 2004's Smarty Jones, we've seen them end their careers here.

Even without the Triple Crown at stake, the Belmont is deserving of attention for its challenge and tradition, it part summed up by its trophy, a solid silver bowl and cover made by Tiffany & Co. Topped by a silver figure of 1869 Belmont winner Fenian the bowl is supported by three horses - Herod, Eclipse and Matchem, representing the respective superior grandsons of the three Foundation Sires of Thoroughbreds: the Byerly Turk, the Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Barb. The trophy was presented by the Belmont family as a perpetual award for the Belmont Stakes in 1926 and the winning owner keeps the trophy for a year until the next Belmont Stakes winner is crowned.

In an era of athletes pumped up on steroids, rampant drug abuse and fixed games, horse racing has come to represent what is great and noble about athletic endeavor. For this year we can only applaud the Belmont winner, wish a speedy recovery and long life to Barbaro and wait for next year to cheer on a new Triple Crown contender.

The Triple Crown stands as the ultimate test of greatness and the Belmont Stakes is the final jewel in its crown.

Belmont Stakes Facts:

The Belmont Stakes was first run in 1867 for $2,500.00 at the Jerome Park Race Course in New York, and was originally a mile and five eights, but has also been run at a mile and one eighth and a mile and three eights before settling at a mile and a half in 1926

The first Belmont Stakes was won by a filly, Ruthless, who received $1,850.00; second place took $300.00 and an English racing saddle

The Belmont Stakes is known as the "Run for the Carnations" and was named after August Belmont Sr. who help finance Jerome Park

The first "post parade" in America was at the fifth running of the Belmont Stakes in 1871

The first Belmont Stakes to be run at Belmont Park was in May, 1905

Due to the passage of anti-betting legislation in New York State, Belmont Park was closed and there were no Belmont Stakes races in 1911 and 1912

Until 1921 the race was run clockwise in the tradition of English racing

From 1963 until 1967 the Belmont was run at Aqueduct while Belmont Park was undergoing reconstruction

Julie Crone became the first female jockey to ever win a Triple Crown race when she won the Belmont Stakes in 1993 aboard Colonial Affair

Two men have won the Belmont as both a jockey and as a trainer, James Rowe and George Martin Odom

Hall of Fame jockey Bob Ussery has the peculiar distinction in the Belmont, finishing dead last on Folk Dancer in 1962, Bonjour in 1963 and on Jade Amicol in 1968 though he did manage to interrupt the string by finishing next to last on Fleet Shoe in 1966

In 1973 Secretariat set the record for the Belmont and for the mile and a half on dirt that stills stands, his win by 31 lengths is the largest margin of victory in American Grade I Stakes history