In all, 28 horses have come to the Belmont Stakes looking for the Triple Crown, and 17 have failed. The last horse to succeed in winning the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978. Smarty Jones is undefeated in eight career starts. In 1977, Seattle Slew became the first unbeaten colt to sweep the Triple Crown. His Belmont victory was his ninth in a row. Seattle Slew died at age 28 at Hill 'n' Dale Farm, Lexington, Ky. on May 7, 2002 - 25 years to the day that he won the Kentucky Derby.
THE CHALLENGE: Because the Triple Crown races are only for three-year-olds, horses only have one opportunity at this coveted prize. To succeed, they have to race three times in five weeks at three different tracks, carry 126 pounds, handle shipping, two turns, huge crowds and three different distances, not to mention the normal racing problems of traffic, pace, weather, track condition and dumb luck. Incidentally, the term "Triple Crown" was not used until 1930, when Charles Hatton of Daily Racing Form coined the term while writing about Gallant Fox's exploits.
THE PRIZE: For nine years, Visa USA has been the sponsor of the Triple Crown. In that span, Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), Charismatic (1999), War Emblem (2002) and Funny Cide (2003) all came to the Belmont Stakes with the Triple Crown - and a $5 million bonus from Visa -- on the line. If Smarty Jones wins the Belmont Stakes, the Visa Bonus would make him Thoroughbred racing's leading money-earner. He would also assuredly clinch Horse of the Year and the three-year-old championship - and would take his place in history next to Triple Crown winners Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978).
Admission, Wagering, and Security
Parking, Directions, and Accessibility
