Horse Racing Fantasy Community

Approach the paddock and you're greeted by a statue of Secretariat, which makes perfect sense because back in 1973, Secretariat romped to a 31-length victory to win the Belmont Stakes - a record that we will probably never see broken. Not only is Secretariat one of only 11 champions to win the Triple Crown, but the chestnut did it in amazing style and in race-record time. But, that's the whole idea behind Belmont Park. It's all about being big. The track itself is a mile-and-a-half, making it the largest thoroughbred dirt course in racing.

Opening its gates on May 4, 1905, Belmont Park has played a key role in horse racing history. The most prestigious event it hosts is the third and most grueling leg of the Triple Crown. Belmont Park has stopped many owner's egos and the dreams of their horse capturing the Triple Crown event. Is it because of the monster-sized oval and the long stretch that just intimidates the horses, or is it the fact that these young 3-year-olds are asked for just too much too soon in their racing careers? The Belmont Stakes was originally run at Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx, but has run at Belmont Park since its opening, thus the name Belmont Park carried over from the stakes race. The race was named after August Belmont, who helped fund the race initially. But, the Belmont Park Racetrack was named after his son, August Belmont II, who played a key role in creating Belmont Park.

The official drink of the Belmont Stakes is the Belmont Breeze, their competitive drink to the Kentucky Derby's mint julep. Here are a couple of interesting facts that very few people know.

For the first 12 years, Belmont racing was clockwise, like the old English racing style. This was to accommodate the rich and famous so they could actually watch the horses turn off the last turn going toward the clubhouse instead of the final turn coming off the grandstand (typically known as the top of the stretch). The original clubhouse was torn down in 1952.

There are only two features of the old Belmont Park remaining today - four stone pillars of the Hempstead Turnpike and the actual railings bordering the walking ring. They were salvaged during the 1963 demolition of the old Belmont grandstand.

Some of the largest crowds that were drawn to Belmont Park were not to watch racing but to watch aviation stunts. It is estimated that crowds in excess of 150,000 people were drawn for such events.

Thirty million dollars went into renovating Belmont Park between 1964 and 1968.

Belmont Park did not have a turf course until the reopening of the racetrack back in 1968.

Belmont's autumn racing has been commonly known as the Fall Championship Meet. This title has slowly diminished since the birth of the Breeders' Cup in the mid-1980s.

Belmont Park has been home to the Breeders' Cup four times in its 25-year history.

Belmont Park is considered one of the most beautiful racetracks in the country and can be mentioned in the same breath as Saratoga Race Course, Keeneland Racetrack, Del Mar Racetrack, Santa Anita Park and Churchill Downs.

Some of the best-known races at Belmont Park are the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Metropolitan Handicap, Woodward Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes, the Coaching Club American Oaks, Man O' War Stakes and many others.

Belmont Park sits on 430-plus acres, one of the largest racing complexes in the world. It's inner turf course was named after the Widener Family.

Yep, Belmont Park is a beautiful racetrack and loaded with culture and history. It's also featured in our game. It's a tough track to race on because of its very long deceiving stretch. Just when you think you're clear, there's plenty of time for closers to catch up. I love jockeying on the front end of Belmont Park, trying to conserve energy and saving a final burst of speed for that late stretch run. (That sounds familiar - thus my name!)

One final note, this year in the Man O' War Stakes, a turf race held at Belmont Park, Red Rocks and Curlin (currently considered the best horse in racing) met head-on. It was a great race and Curlin put in an excellent effort on his first run over the turf. Red Rocks, who was familiar with the turf (in fact had won the Breeders' Cup Turf two years prior) won the race, but had to dig deep and find more to hold off Curlin. What was disappointing was that such a big race with so prestige surrounding it drew a crowd of less than 9,000 people. Maybe they need to start putting some aviation events back in the infield.

- Stretchrun