Belmont Stakes

Location: Elmont, NY
Venue: Belmont Park
Date: Saturday, June 9, 2012

The 2012 Belmont Stakes, also named “The Run for the Carnations”, is a prestigious stakes race held yearly in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

Manhattan Package

Includes deluxe hotel accommodations in Manhattan, a reserved grandstand ticket to the Belmont Stakes, event transfers, gifts and more.

Local Package

Includes a reserved grandstand ticket to the Belmont Stakes, event transfers, gifts and more.

Event History

The Belmont Stakes is a prestigious stakes race held yearly in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown, following five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes. It is a 1.5-mile thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and geldings carrying a weight of 126 pounds and for fillies with a weight of 121 pounds.

The Belmont Stakes is called the "Run for the Carnations" because of the blanket of white carnations that is draped over the winner's neck. Through 1996, the post parade song was "Sidewalks of New York." Beginning in 1997, the audience was invited to sing the Theme from New York, New York following the call to the post. This tradition mirrors the singing of two other songs at the post parades of the first two Triple Crown races, My Old Kentucky Home at the Kentucky Derby and Maryland, My Maryland at the Preakness Stakes.

Because of its length, and because it is the final race of the Triple Crown, it is called the "Test of the Champion". Most three-year-olds are unaccustomed to the distance, and lack the experience, if not the stamina, to maintain a winning speed for so long. In a long race such as the Belmont, positioning of the horse and the timing of the move to chase for the lead can be critical.