The Belmont Stakes, first run in 1867, is final jewel in the triple crown and the oldest of the three races. Since 1905, the race has been held in Long Island’s Belmont Park (except for 1911 & 1912, when anti-gambling legislation shut the track’s operations down, and 1963-67, when the race was held at Aqueduct in as Belmont Park was being rebuilt). The Stakes’ 1 ½ miles is a demanding distance for the horses, most of which have run the both the Derby and the Preakness within the previous five weeks, a grueling race schedule. Known as “The Test of Champions,” 17 horses have prevailed at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness only to fail to capture the glory at Belmont.
The official flower of the Belmont Stakes is the white carnation, and in the winners circle the champion is presented with a blanket of over 350 of the flowers. In the past, the crowd would hear “Sidewalks of New York” as the horses paraded to the post; but since 1997 the Preakness theme has been “New York, New York.” Of course, The Belmont has its own cocktail as well: a sweet, fruity, fizzy concoction of whiskey, sherry, lemon juice, simple syrup, orange juice, cranberry juice, 7-Up and club soda.