Belmont Stakes Tidbits and Trivia

By: From The Sports Network

                   

(Sportnetwork.com) -

POST PARADE

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

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 PERMANENT 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.

The owner of the Belmont Stakes winner receives a trophy designed to resemble the permanent trophy. A smaller version is presented to the winning trainer and jockey, while mementos are provided to the exercise rider and groom.

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.

KENTUCKY DERBY & PREAKNESS STAKES VIDEO REPLAYS

Race Recall, located in the 2nd Floor Grandstand and Clubhouse, will offer video replays of this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. NYRA replays are always available on Race Recall.

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 by Easy Goer (1989) at 2:26, while A. P. Indy (1992) and Point Given (2001) share the third fastest at 2:26 2/5.

BELMONT BETTING FAVORITES

Betting favorites have won 59 of the previous 135 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).

RECORD ATTENDANCE & HANDLE

The 2004 Belmont Stakes broke the record for attendance at 120,139. The old mark was 2002 - 103,222. Additional high attendance marks are: 85,818 in 1999 (Lemon Drop Kid denies Charismatic the Triple Crown); 82,694 in 1971 (Pass Catcher denies Canonero II the Triple Crown); and 80,162 in 1998 (Victory Gallop denies Real Quiet the Triple Crown).

New wagering records were established for the Belmont Stakes: the on-track handle was $4,981,840; the total commingled handle was $55,400,707.

Belmont Stakes Day, June 9, 2012, produced an on-track handle of $13,866,953 with a total handle at $98,654,995. (The 2001 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships produced an on-track handle of $13,087,814, a commingled handle or $98,757,581 and a total handle from all sources of $103,257,457.)

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 20-18 out of the 135 Belmont Stakes winners. Bay is the top color of Belmont winners with 55, followed by chestnut at 54.