| Â | | | | in over one hundred years. Currently, the Belmont |
| The Belmont Stakes is the final race of the American | | | | Stakes is held at Belmont Park in New York; however, |
| Thoroughbred Triple Crown series of races and is | | | | this has not always been the case. The very first |
| known to horseracing fans by many different names. | | | | running of the Belmont Stakes took place at Jerome |
| The Belmont Stakes of often referred to as the Test | | | | Park, which was located in The Bronx. The race was |
| of the Champion for many different reasons. One of | | | | held at this location until 1905, when it was moved to its |
| the reasons why the race is referred to as the test of | | | | current location. The prestigious race was held at |
| the champion is that it is the longest race of the Triple | | | | Aqueduct Racetrack during the years of 1963-1967 |
| Crown series at a mile and a half, or twelve furlongs. | | | | while Belmont Park was undergoing renovations. |
| Another reason why the Belmont Stakes is such a | | | | Â |
| challenge is that the horses that are running in all of the | | | | Unlike the other Triple Crown races, the Belmont |
| Triple Crown races will be forced to run three races in | | | | Stakes was not run for two years due to anti-betting |
| six weeks, which is a very grueling task. Another | | | | legislation that was passed in New York during the |
| reason why the race is such a challenge is that most | | | | years of 1911 and 1912. Another interesting fact that |
| of the horses in the race will never have raced at | | | | makes the Belmont Stakes different from the other |
| such a long distance and are not experienced enough | | | | Triple Crown races is that it was run in the English |
| to be able to maintain their endurance for such a long | | | | style of racing with right hand turns until 1921. |
| race. | | | | Â |
| Â | | | | In 1973, Secretariat set several records running in the |
| The first Belmont Stakes was run in 1867 and since | | | | Belmont Stakes that still hold to this day. The first |
| this time, there have only been three fillies to ever win | | | | record that he set was the world record time for the |
| the race. History was made in 2007 when Rags to | | | | distance of a mile and a half. He also set the record |
| Riches became the first filly to win the prestigious race | | | | for the largest margin of victory at thirty one lengths. |