Much respect to Mine That Bird

[cowgirlintexas]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i thought the belmont wasn't necessarily kind to closers? a lot of people seem to think it would be, due to distance...but isn't it usually won by stalkers?

This is true.




Belmont Fast Facts

Despite what you might think given the 1 1/2 mile distance of the Belmont, more Belmont winners set the pace or stalk rather than coming from well behind. Since 1970, 14 Belmont winners led all or most of the way with 6 of these winning in wire to wire fashion. 8 winners stalked the early going and were no farther back than 4th or 5th at any point, while 9 winners came from well off the pace to win.

Since 1908 the winning best post position is #1 with 22 winners. Next are post positions #3 and #5 tied with 13 winners each, then posts #2 and #7 tied with 11 winner each.

The track and stakes record at Belmont for 1 1/2 miles is 2:24 flat set in 1973 by Secretariat. The fastest in the last 10 years is 2:26 flat for A.P. Indy in 1992 and the slowest is 2:32 for Thunder Gulch in 1995.


Only two fillies have won the Belmont out of 20 who entered. The winners were:

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Ruthless -- 1867 (the inaugural running)
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Tanya -- 1905