Belmont Stakes Facts & Trivia

First Run Counter-Clockwise in 1921

Grey Lag's 1921 Belmont was the first running of this prestigious classic to be run in the counter-clockwise custom of American racing. Previous editions of the Belmont Stakes were run clockwise in accordance with the English custom.

Belmont Stakes Trophy

The Belmont Stakes trophy is a Tiffany-made silver bowl, supported by three horses representing the three foundation thoroughbreds - Eclipse, Herod and Matchem. The bowl, with cover, is 18 inches high, 15 inches across and 14 inches at the base.

The trophy is a solid silver bowl, originally crafted by Tiffany's, and was presented by the Belmont family as a perpetual award for the Belmont Stakes in 1926.

White Carnations - The Official Belmont Stakes Flower

The white carnation is the traditional flower of the Belmont Stakes. The blanket requires approximately 350 carnations, glued to green velveteen spread and weighs between 30 and 40 pounds. The flowers are shipped from California or Bogota, Columbia.

Post Parade

Horses went directly from paddock to post until the "post parade" was introduced to American racing in the 1880 Belmont Stakes.

Belmont Stakes Leading Trainer and Jockey

Jockeys Eddie Arcaro and James McLaughlin each rode six Belmont Stakes winners, while James Rowe registered ten Belmont victories. Rowe won the Belmont a record eight times as a trainer and twice as a jockey (1872-73).

Fastest Belmont Stakes

Secretariat's 1973 Belmont Stakes victory still stands as the track and world record for the mile and one-half distance at 2:24. The second-fastest clocking is shared by Easy Goer (1989) and A. P. Indy (1992) at 2:26, while Risen Star (1988) and Point Given (2001) hold the fourth-fastest time at 2:26 2/5.

Belmont Betting Favorites

Betting favorites have won 59 of the previous 134 editions (44 percent) of the Belmont Stakes. Odds-on favorites are a less productive 12-for-30 in the Belmont and the last five were defeated. The last odds-on favorite to win the Belmont was the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed in 1978.

Belmont Stakes Highs and Lows

The highest-priced Belmont Stakes winner was Sarava ($142.50) in 2002. The lowest $2 win mutuel was Triple Crown winner Count Fleet ($2.10) in 1943.

The largest field for the Belmont Stakes was 15 in 1983 and the smallest was two in 1887, 1888, 1892, 1910 and 1920. The second largest field was 14 in 1996 (Editor's Note) and 1875 (Calvin)

The widest margin of victory was Secretariat's 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes. The smallest margin was a nose by Granville (1936), Jaipur (1962) and Victory Gallop (1998).

Worthless Handicapping Trivia? - You Decide

The letter "C" still leads the letter "S" in the Belmont Stakes alphabet race, despite the 2002 victory by Sarava. The tally is now 20-17 out of the 134 Belmont Stakes winners. Bay is the top color of Belmont winners, 52-50, over chestnuts.

Source: NYRA.com