The $1.5 million final leg of the Triple Crown will run THIS Saturday, June 8th at 6:37 EST. The Belmont Stakes is the longest race at 1.5 miles and is referred to as the “Test of the Champion” as it challenges not only speed, but the endurance and perseverance of horse and jockey. All eyes are on War of Will as a possible contender with his impressive victory at the Preakness Stakes.
Here’s a breakdown of how the $1.5 million Belmont purse will be divided among the eight winning ownership teams:
First place: $800,000
Second place: $280,000
Third place: $150,000
Fourth place: $100,000
Fifth place: $60,000
Sixth place: $45,000
Seventh place: $35,000
Eighth place: $30,000
Check out these Triple Crown Fun Facts!
1. A Triple Crown-winning horse earns the winner’s share of the purse for each of the three races. Currently, this is $1.86 million for the Derby, $900,000 for the Preakness, and $800,000 for the Belmont. This years total Triple Crown purse of $3 million is the highest purse set in race history.
2. The three races have been around since 1875 (Kentucky Derby), 1873 (Preakness), and 1867 (Belmont), respectively, but the term Triple Crown wasn’t widely used until 1930 when it was won for the second time.
3. Secretariat is known for his Triple Crown win due to his fast times and his win in the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths in a record time of 2:24- a world record that many argue may never be broken.
– 1919 Sir Barton
– 1930 Gallant Fox
– 1935 Omaha
– 1937 War Admiral
– 1941 Whirlaway
– 1943 Count Fleet
– 1946 Assault
– 1948 Citation
– 1973 Secretariat
– 1977 Seattle Slew
– 1978 Affirmed
– 2015 American Pharoah
– 2018 Justify
5. The Triple Crown races are only open to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds, which means each horse only has one shot to win it in his or her lifetime.
6. If a horse wins the Triple Crown and goes on to run in the Breeders Cup Classic and wins, it will be known as a Grand Slam win, which is what American Pharoah accomplished in 2015.
10 Belmont Stakes Starters
- Bourbon War
- Everfast
- Intrepid Heart
- Joevia
- Master Fencer
- Sir Winston
- Spinoff
- Tacitus
- War of Will
- Tax