Tag: Belmont Stakes

While many of the country's biggest tracks fell short of their 2019 handles, Remington Park in Oklahoma watched its handle hit nine figures for the first time in the track's 32-year history. (Image: Remington Park)

Despite Topsy-Turvy Year, Horseracing’s 2020 Handle Falls Only 1.3%

- 3 min read

Tracks closed, spectators were absent, and schedules were changed beyond recognition. Yet, amid a year unlike any other in Thoroughbred racing, the total 2020 US handle dipped only 1.3% from its 2019 totals. What was remarkable about that modest dip — from $10.871 billion in 2019 to $10.727 billion in […]

This image of Tiz the Law pulling away from his foes in the stretch played out for the sixth and final time in August's Travers Stakes. The four-time Grade 1 winner and Belmont Stakes champion suddenly retired Wednesday after suffering bone bruses in his leg. (Image: Spencer Tulis/The Saratogian)

Tiz the Law Prematurely Retired After Injury During Workout

- 4 min read

Reigning Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Tiz the Law was retired to stud Wednesday, ending one of 2020’s most storied campaigns due to a veterinarian’s diagnosis. That diagnosis revealed bone bruises to his front leg bone. Those bruises were discovered when assistant trainer Robin Smullen noticed Tiz the Law […]

Tiz the Law and exercise rider Heather Smullen turned in a strong pre-Travers workout last Saturday. The Belmont Stakes champion is even-money to win Saturday's Travers Stakes. (Image: Skip Dickstein/ Albany Times Union)

Upstarts, Baffert Star All Chasing Travers Stakes Favorite Tiz the Law

- 4 min read

The reigning Belmont Stakes victor is in the field as your deserved race favorite. So is one member of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s 3-year-old Derby Legion of Doom. And so are a wealth of upstarts seeking to make Saturday’s Grade 1 Travers Stakes another trip into Saratoga’s “Graveyard […]

Ete Indien's front-running style brought him the Fountain of Youth title. But he may miss the Kentucky Derby with an unspecified injury. (Image: Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photo)

Despite Different Perils, Ete Indien, Sole Volante Remain on Derby Trail

- 3 min read

One of trainer Patrick Biancone’s two Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Ete Indien, is safely in the Derby. The other, Sole Volante, is literally on the points bubble. But Biancone said both remain on the Derby trail, despite a “setback” that puts Ete Indien’s path to Churchill Downs in jeopardy. That setback, […]

Tiz the Law and Manny Franco captured the 2020 Belmont Stakes in front of an empty Belmont Park grandstand. His next race is expected to be the Aug. 8 Travers Stakes at Saratoga. (Image: Getty)

Tiz the Law Rules Again, Captures 152nd Belmont Amid Falling Handle

- 3 min read

Even with Tiz the Law passing the “Test of a Champion” with flying colors, the all-sources handle for the 152nd Belmont Stakes and its stakes-packed undercard declined by 33.7% — yet another byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic. Belmont Park normally welcomes nearly 100,000 people for Belmont Saturday, usually the first […]

Veteran trainer Barclay Tagg and Tiz the Law are the team to beat in Saturday's 152nd Belmont Stakes. Tagg, 82, seeks his first Triple Crown title since Funny Cide won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2003. (Image: NY Jockey Club)

Breaking Down The 152nd Belmont Stakes, Worst To First

- 6 min read

Yes, it’s condensed to 1 1/8 miles, instead of its typical hearty 1 ½ miles, meaning the Belmont Stakes goes from the longest Triple Crown race to the shortest. Yes, the Belmont Stakes leads off the Triple Crown season, rather than batting in the power-hitting three-hole. And yes, even in […]

Tiz the Law set the speed rating bar for this year's Belmont Stakes field back in January. His speed figures illustrated why he is the 6/5 morning line favorite. (Image: Eclipse Sportswire)

By the Numbers, Tiz the Law Rules the Belmont Speed Court

- 4 min read

The concept that speed wins horse races is elemental to the sport. And when you look at the various speed figures for the 10 horses in the 152nd Belmont Stakes, Tiz the Law’s 6/5 favored status seems elementary. Tiz the Law’s January victory in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream […]

Trainer Mark Casse lifted the Belmont Stakes trophy courtesy of Sir Winston last year. He could do it again this year with Tap It To Win. (Image: Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday)

History Calling Trainer Casse; Can Tap It To Win Answer the Call?

- 3 min read

While 10 trainers can claim Triple Crowns – Jim Fitzsimmons and Bob Baffert have two apiece – no one has ever accomplished what Mark Casse could achieve should Tap It To Win capture the Belmont Stakes. To better understand what Casse can achieve at this Saturday’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes […]

Tiz the Law and Manny Franco can afford to relax right now. Tiz the Law is the 6/5 morning-ione favorite for Saturday's Triple Crown-opening Belmont Stakes. (Image: Ryan Thompson/Gulfstream Park)

Starting From Post 8, Tiz the Law Tabbed Belmont Stakes Favorite

- 3 min read

To nobody’s surprise, Tiz the Law opened as your healthy 6/5 favorite for Saturday’s 152nd running of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. He’ll do so out of the eight post in the 10-horse field, drawn Wednesday afternoon at Belmont Park. And Tiz the Law will do so as the only […]

Sole Volante isn't doing much walking these days. The busy 3-year-old heads to New York for Saturday's Belmont Stakes only 10 days after winning an allowance race. (Image: SV Photography)

Sole Volante Turning Around on 10 Days Rest, Headed to Belmont

- 3 min read

The fact Sole Volante’s connections announced late Monday he will run in Saturday’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes is noteworthy on a couple of fronts. First, it’s a horse committing to the first leg of a revamped Triple Crown. This has become a novelty over the last three weeks, with defections […]

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sends three horses into the June 20 Belmont Stakes field. (Image: Sarah Andrew/Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners)

Belmont Stakes Field Undergoes a Thursday Tremor

- 3 min read

The Belmont Stakes field underwent a shakeup on Thursday, losing powerful Nadal to a broken leg and Wells Bayou to other Kentucky Derby preps. On the plus side, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed three of his horses, Dr. Post, Farmington Road, and Gouverneur Morris, will be in the […]

Honor A.P. is one of the sleeper Kentucky Derby picks. His trainer, John Shirreffs, opted to bypass the Belmont Stakes for home-track Santa Anita Park. (Image: Santa Anita Park)

New Kentucky Derby Trail Presents Options, Tough Choices for Trainers

- 4 min read

Sole Volante is off to the Belmont Stakes. His stablemate, Ete Indien, heads to the Haskell Stakes. And Honor A.P. stays home for the Santa Anita Derby. These three Kentucky Derby contenders illustrate how many different paths have emerged on the Derby Trail during the COVID-19 era. Even in a […]

NYRA instituted new safety and claiming regulations the organization said should create a safer, more equitable track for horses. (Image: Brad Penner/USA Today)

NYRA Institutes New Safety Regulations for Belmont Park Meet

- 2 min read

Now that the New York Racing Association has set a new date for the Belmont Stakes and a new schedule for its Belmont Park spring/summer meet, the organization moved to creating new entry rule requirements and safety regulations. The organization announced in a release several new entry rule changes that […]

King Guillermo, seen here winning the Tampa Bay Derby in March at 49/1, won't sneak up on anyone in the Belmont Stakes. His connections decided to bypass the June 20 first leg of the Triple Crown. (Image: Coolmore Farm)

Connections Bench King Guillermo From Belmont Stakes

- 2 min read

The Belmont Stakes already has Bob Baffert’s powerful unbeaten duo of Charlatan and Nadal. It has Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law. But it won’t have King Guillermo. Juan Carlos Avila, King Guillermo’s trainer, tweeted the Tampa Bay Derby winner won’t run the June 20, 1 1/8-mile Belmont Stakes. Instead, […]

The coronavirus moved the Belmont Stakes to a new June date and a new shorter distance. It will run 1 1/8 miles instead of 1 1/2. (Image: AP Photo)

Triple Crown Picture Finished: Shorter Belmont Stakes Will Run in June

- 3 min read

The final jewel to the 2020 Triple Crown fell into place Tuesday morning when the New York Racing Association announced the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes will run Saturday, June 20. With that date, the 152-year-old race opens the Triple Crown for the first time in history. That’s not the only […]

The starting gate for the 2020 Preakness Stakes opens Oct. 3 instead of May 16. The second jewel of the Triple Crown runs outside May for the first time in 75 years. (Image: Emma Patti Harris/Zuma Press)

2020 Preakness Stakes Finally Gets Its New October Date

- 3 min read

On the day the Preakness Stakes would normally run, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced the 2020 race’s new date of Oct. 3 – a move made necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic. That puts the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, the shortest of the Triple Crown events, four weeks after the Kentucky Derby. […]

After postponing racing due to the coronavirus, Belmont Park does not have a date for either its spring/summer meet or the Belmont Stakes. (Image: Getty Images)

Belmont Park Opening Date TBD, Belmont Stakes Still Scheduled for June

- 3 min read

The status of the Belmont Stakes remains up in the air while the New York Racing Association has grounded racing at Belmont Park. The organization delayed the spring/summer meet due to the coronavirus pandemic. Belmont Park’s meet was to last 51 days, running from April 24 through July 12. From […]

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