Belmont Stakes ? Race Details:
When:	First or Second Saturday in June
Track Location:	Elmont, New York
Race Distance:	1 ? miles (2414 metres)
Race Status:	Group 1
Race Conditions:	Three-year-olds at Set Weights
Set Weights:	Colts & Geldings ? 57kg / Fillies 55kg
Stakes:	US $1million
Inaugurated:	1867

The Belmont Stakes is the third and final leg of the esteemed United States Triple Crown series for three-year-olds. It is run over a distance of 1 ? miles under set weight conditions at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event takes place five weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes on either the first or second Saturday in June annually. First run in 1867, it is the oldest of all the Triple Crown races.

With stakes set at US $1million, it offers the lowest prizemoney of all the Triple Crown races in America, but the stakes are much higher than just the purse for those runners who won the first two legs of the series and are competing for a coveted Triple Crown victory. The Belmont Stakes boasts the fourth highest crowd attendance of any United States race, trailing only behind the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Oaks. Because of the length of the race and the fact that it is the last leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes is often referred to as the ?test of the champion?. Indeed an elite field of competitors are drawn to the race each year.

There is a large list of quality group races that make up the prep race schedule for the Belmont Stakes. Races include the first two of the Triple Crown as well as a range of other events run throughout January until the Belmont Stakes in June including the Arkansas Derby (1 1/8m) and the Wood Memorial (1 1/8m) both held in April.

The Belmont Stakes has been run over a number of distances:

1mile 5furlongs: 1867-1873
1 ? mile: 1890-1892, 1895, 1904, 1905
1mile 1furlong: 1896-1903, 1906-1925
1 ?: 1926 onwards.

The race has also been held at a few different racecourses:

Jerome Park: 1867-1889
Morris Park: 1890-1904
Aqueduct: 1963-1967
Belmont Park: 1968 onwards.

Belmont Stakes ? Records:
Race Records:	2:24.00 set by Secretariat in 1973 both the race and mile and a half record on a dirt track.
Largest Winning Margin:	31 lengths also held by Secretariat, which is the largest margin of victory in the race as well as in the history of Grade 1 American stakes races.
Most Successful Jockey:	Jim McLaughlin won the Belmont Stakes on six occasions with Forester (1882), George Kinney (1883), Panique (1884), Inspector B (1886), Hanover (1887) and Sir Dixon (1888). Eddie Arcaro also claimed Belmont Stakes victory six times with Whirlaway (1941), Shut Out (1942), Pavot (1945), Citation (1948), One Count (1952) and Nashua (1955).
Most Successful Trainer:	James G. Rowe, Snr. won eight Belmont Stakes with George Kinney (1883), Panique (1884), Commando (1901), Delhi (1904), Peter Pan (1907), Colin (1908), Sweep (1910) and Prince Eugene (1913).

Belmont Stakes ? Recent Race Results:

Year	Winner	Runner-Up	Third	Winner’s Time
2009	Summer Bird	Dunkirk	Mine That Bird	2:27.54
2008	Da? Tara	Dennis of Cork	Anak Nakal	2:29.65
2007	Rags to Riches	Curlin	Tiago	2:28.74
2006	Jazil	Bluegrass Cat	Sunriver	2:27.81
2005	Afeet Alex	Andromeda?s Hero	Nolan?s Cat	2:28.75
2004	Birdstone	Smarty Jones	Royal Assault	2:27.50
2003	Empire Maker	Ten Most Wanted	Funny Cide	2:28.26
2002	Sarava	Medaglia d?Oro	Sunday Break	2:29.71
2001	Point Given	A P Valentine	Monarchos	2:26.80
2000	Commendable	Aptitude	Unshaded	2:31.20