Belmont Stakes

BELMONT STAKES

Here comes the Belmont Stakes!

Horse racing in America has had a long tradition, and the Belmont Stakes is one race which continues to hold it together. It’s an American Grade 1 category race, which is held on an annual basis. The city which is lucky enough to host the Belmont Stakes year after year is New York. June is the month when the Belmont Stakes kick off, throwing the audiences into rapture. It’s held in the infamous Belmont Park in Elmont, which is historically famous for the number of high class horse racing events held in the region.

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The total length for which the Belmont Strakes is conducted over is a distance measured at 1.5 miles or a total of 2.4 kilometres. Only thoroughbred horses are taken into the race, which have to follow certain entry rules and regulations. The first is that the horses need to be older or equal to 3 years in age – for colts and geldings, the weight needs to be equal to 57 kilograms, while the fillies need to be 55 kilograms in weight. Online gambling has been an important participant in the Belmont Stakes.

Punters and online gamblers have been visiting this centre of excellence for horse racing since a very long time. It is primarily due to the quality of horses and the amount of money put on the line at the Belmont Stakes. More so, the entire region of North America has been extracting immense benefits from the online gambling industry. And it’s a two way process – similarly, the gambling industry has grown over the years due to it’s participation in the horse racing industry.

Due to the immense importance of the audiences in the city of New York, the Belmont Stakes is the fourth most watched and attended event in the entire North American continent. This does not come as surprises as the history of the Belmont Stakes is full of horses and jockeys who have gone on to win the world of horse racing. The Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks and the Preakness Stakes are the only three races which have a higher attendance number than the Belmont Stakes.

The Belmont Stakes has been given the nickname of the "Run for the Carnations" because of a historical tradition which carries on from the great chapters of history. Each year, the winner’s neck is covered with a drape which is a white and black blanket. Owing to this tradition, the nickname "Run for the Carnations" has been developed over the past so many years of exciting horse racing at the Belmont.

A historical perspective!

A part from this wonderful tradition, the Belmont Stakes is showered with some wonderful practices and customs. Back in the year 1996, the song "Sideways of New York" was sung after the parade of the horses had been completed – adding colour and excitement to the entire day’s proceedings. The year 1997 saw the audiences were invited to go along the theme song New York, New York, during the post parade activities.

Almost all the traditions at the Belmont Stakes have been remembered because of their additional entertainment value that they brought into the race. Such was the excitement and the following of these traditions that the Triple Crown race, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes all continued to follow them.

Special home songs were prepared such as My Old Kentucky Home for the Kentucky Derby and Maryland, My Maryland for the Preakness Stakes. Though online gambling has been a latest addition to the world of horse racing, the Belmont Stakes has a long history in the making.

The Jerome Park Racetrack has the honour of conducting the first ever Belmont Stakes on its turf which is till today functioning in the area of The Bronx. This stadium was built in the year 1866 and named after its proud owners Leonard Jerome and August Belmont. The Belmont Stakes was thus the name given to the race in honour of its owner.

Till the year 1890, the Belmont Stakes continued to be held at the same venue until the new facility, Morris Park Racecourse was built. The race has been conducted on a number of venues and till the year 1905, the Morris Park Racecourse remained its home track. But the same year saw another twist in the tale when the Belmont Stakes was shifted to the new Belmont Park racetrack.

This was the third and the final change of venues for the Belmont Stakes. Thus, the move in the year 1905 to the racetrack in Elmont, New York has been the final one, which has held races till the present times. The only two years between 1911 and 1912 saw the race not being conducted due to anti-betting laws and regulations imposed by the New York State. The Belmont had to be cancelled and all sorts of betting were said to be illegal.

Online gambling's impact!

Considering the high number of punters and bookmakers associated with the Belmont Stakes, there was little that the organisers could do but to close the shop. Before the year 1921, the influence of British horse racing continued to remain at the Belmont Stakes as the races were conducted in a clockwise direction. Realising that it needed to change, the same year saw an anti-clockwise direction of races being imposed by the administration.

The winner of the Belmont Stakes is supposed to be one of the finest horses in the business. This is why the presentation ceremony for the winner is conducted with great fanfare by giving out the August Belmont Trophy. The trophy has immense value to the horse racing fraternity across the United States because it’s thought to be the test of the champion horse. The horses need to be very strong, athletic and agile.

But to defeat a good horse at the enormous Belmont track, stamina is the key. The first Saturday after June 5th is the date which is when the Belmont Stakes is conducted. Considering the importance given by all horse owners to this race, many online gamblers and bookmakers have been making their mark over here.

Online gambling’s introduction to the world has also influenced a lot of decisions. Some races are thought to be a greater success, depending on the amount of money put on bets at the race. Even then, the Belmont Stakes out performs any other race in the entire North American region.