Belmont Stakes blanket finishes

[Calzone Lord]

I only have Belmont Stakes charts going back to 1991. Is anyone aware of an edition of this race where the top 5 finishers, finished within less 2 lengths of each other?

The year Drosselmeyer won, the top five were only separated by 3 lengths...but virtually every year, it's a long way back to the 5th place finisher. In fact fifth place is usually beaten by a city block in this race.

Obviously, 12 furlongs on dirt is the perfect recipe for a huge margin of victory. Since 1973, five different editions of the Belmont Stakes have been won by more than twelve lengths.

Considering field sizes have only been so large in recent years, I'd wouldn't be surprised if this is the first time in the 146 year history of the race, where the top five finishers, finished within less than 2 lengths of each other.

Obviously, Norumbega ran a much faster final time going 12 furlongs on dirt in race #3.

Needless to say, blanket finishes coupled with slow final times, equal relative mediocrity.

They're saying California Chrome grabbed a quarter at the start, that's the rumor on Twitter anyway. Still, he REALLY did not have to do much in order to beat this hapless field today.