Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

Billy D. — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:26:37 GMT

I actually have 2. The first is the '87 Belmont, with the triple crown on the line and Woody going for his sixth straight. I could feel the tension in the air as they were going to post; even though I was 3,000 miles away (in California) at the time. It was anticlimactic when Bet Twice won however since either one of the two scenarios played out like I though they might. The second was Victory Gallop's last stride win over Real Quiet for pure excitement this was arguably the best Big race finish I ever saw. Let's not forget the '83 Belmont had Pincay & Cordero at the top of their game coming down the Belmont stretch in a thrilling victory for Pincay on Caveat who he gave a masterful ride.

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

Julie L. — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:49:42 GMT

Mike S. - My point was that it is usually stated that whether dirt or turf no horse has run it as fast or faster. I gave you the name of the horse and the date and track and final time and it still stands so if you specify on the dirt then yes Secretariat has the fastest time but please give Hawkster his due. I am not saying in the least that he was better than Secretariat because obviously he wasn't but on that day he ran 1 1/2 miles in a time faster than Secretariat.

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

roger — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:16:58 GMT

I attended the '07 Belmont with my elderly mom. To avoid the long lines at the windows we placed our wagers before going downstairs to the paddock to view the participants. I remember snickering to myself as mom put her five bucks to win on Rags. I followed her in line with my somewhat larger wager on Curlin who I thought was a bargain at even odds. Standing by the paddock rail I was moved by two moments. The warm greeting Curlin received and the torrent of women's cheers for Rags. We returned to our seats and I had somewhat mixed emotions as the race neared. I started wishing that I had played Rags as well- even underneath would have been fine. As they turned for home I completely lost it-rooting for the wrong horse. I was screaming bloody murder "C'mon Rags!" That thrilling stretch duel will remain with me until my dying day. I don't need to watch the replay any more-I get chills just thinking about it. As they crossed the wire I stopped screaming and jumping up and down long enough to give mom a big bear hug. She was momentarily confused because she knew I had bet Curlin and thought he had been nosed. "You won!" I hollered at her. The ecstatic visage on that old lady clutching her winning ticket and beaming along with all the other ladies around us made my $500 loser easy to rip up. When Rags returned to the winner's circle the cheers and ovations were at a somewhat higher pitch than usual. I have to say that I had tears rolling down my cheeks as I watched women in Chanel and fancy hats who had been total strangers hugging and high fiving as if they were lifelong friends. I'm getting a lump in my throat as I write this. Mom, to her credit, became a huge Curlin fan and I'm happy to say that a similar scene unfolded at the Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup and this time she bet Curlin. It is a shame that Rachel isn't running in the classic this year but mom's on the Mine That Bird bandwagon now. Will I bet against my own mother again? ...I think I'll just watch the race.

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

Mike S — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:47:22 GMT

Julie L...No one has ran faster than SECRETARIAT when he ran his 2:24 on dirt at Belmont Park. He broke the track record that day by 2-2/5 seconds!!! I think the second fastest 12 furlongs at Belmont was PROVE OUT's Woodward Stakes, also in 1973, when he ran 2:25-4/5. And SECRETARIAT's time is a world record, by the way.

12 furlongs on TURF and 12 furlongs on DIRT are two entirely different things. And HAWKSTER's record, to which you referred, was done on TURF, not dirt, and in a race that starts DOWNHILL. It's not the same...not even close.

It is true that no one has run faster!!!

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

Sharon — Sat, 30 May 2009 21:53:31 GMT

This one was a hard one because I liked both when Afleet Alex ran off with the Belmont and when Rags to Riches won the Battle of the Sexes.

MoodyGirl--I am going to have to agree with you on the 1973 Belmont with Secretariat. That was truly an amazing performance by a great horse (winning by 31 lengths). In all my years of watching horse racing, I never seen a horse win by that much.

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

sweet terchi — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:01:10 GMT

I agree about losing track of the question, but trying to get everyone to stick with it is like trying to herd kittens in a corral. Why try, just go with the flow!

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

Julie L. — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:27:34 GMT

Okay, as always it appears that we start losing sight on the question asked. The cut off point was 1979 and for me it was a tough decision. My heart was broken when Real Quiet lost by a nose the Triple Crown and he had been my choice that year, Afleet Alex pulling away with such power and ease from the rest of the field in his Belmont was electrifying and Point Given well he is one of my very, very favorite horses and one who really should have won the Crown but I also believe Afleet Alex was robbed of the Crown too, I couldn't believe it when Giacomo came flying past and what got me was that I had seen him in the Hollywood Futurity against Declan's Moon and Proud Accolade and told my husband that we could be looking at next year's Derby winner! But my choice was Rags to Riches win as it was a very good heartpounding race and I loved both she and Curlin and was screaming for both.

Now for those who love the horses that they do remember that there are others who have opinions and though they may not agree with us it is their opinion for which they have the right to. I am not a follower of Secretariat he was a great horse but believe there are some that are as great or greater. His time of 2:24 for 1 1/2 miles was bettered by a horse named Hawkster who ran it in 2:22 4/5 at Santa Anita on 10/14/89 and that record still stands now it was on the turf but to say that no horse has ever ran it has fast or faster really isn't true. And after awhile some tire of always having Secretariat rammed down our throats. It's not sour apples it's just that we hear it ALL THE TIME! And yes Draynay makes everyone crazy but he is who he is. And now in my opinion the greatest Belmont ever is Affirmed and Alydar. Enough said!

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

MOODYGIRL — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:16:29 GMT

RAGS TO RICHES VS CURLIN WAS THE MOST EXCITING BELMONT DURING THAT TIME. I ALWAYS GET EXCITED, BUT THAT TIME I WAS SCREAMING & JUMPING UP AND DOWN. IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR THE ADRENALIN RUSH TO GO AWAY. I JUST COULDN'T IMAGINE A FILLY WINNING THE BELMONT, LET ALONE TO A GREAT HORSE LIKE CURLIN. Glad you didn't include 1973 because SECRETARIAT was simply THE BEST, ever.

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

Tammie — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:11:14 GMT

I'd have to vote for Rags to Riches. The duel with Curlin was spectacular. The most disappointing Belmont would be where neither the KD or Preakness raced in the Belmont. I don't remember what year it was. Many years ago they used to have a thing where the horse that placed highest in points from the 3 classic races would win some money. I believe it was a million to that horse or 3 million if the horse won the triple crown. Even if the amount were smaller, starting that program again would give incentive for horses to run and add lots of spectator appeal. I remember the trainer of Street Sense when asked if Street Sense would run in the Belmont after losing the Preakness said,"Why, what's the point?" To get the fans back you need horses that they recognize and can root for. Someone should start that program again.

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

sweet terchi — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:16:12 GMT

wendyg, if you were to see Zen in person, she would give you GOOSE BUMPS!! Such beauty

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

wendyg — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:28:34 GMT

I remember the last words I heard that day were "IT's a filly in the Belmont." Still brings tears to my eyes. WE have been fortunate to have lived in an era when great fillies run and lived... Genuine Risk, Eight Bells, Rags to Riches, Rachel Alexandra, and Zenyatta. Zenyattas name gives me goose bumps.

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

sweet terchi — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:56:35 GMT

Mike S, excellently put.

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

thw_wiz — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:17:34 GMT

Best Belmont memory for me, hitting mutiple tri's and supers last year when Da Tara shocked the world.

Worst most recent belmont memory, draynay's incessant whining after big brown totally crashed and burned. Some people can't handle when they are wrong and look for any excuse they can. It mattered none to him that all the problems started when he broke wildly and continued until KD in an act of mercy pulled him up after being passed by every horse in the race.

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

Mike S — Mon, 25 May 2009 19:54:15 GMT

I didn't mean to diminish SEATTLE SLEW, I was only pointing out that SECRETARIAT was far more accomplished through the end of their respective 3 year old seasons. SEATTLE SLEW was one of the greatest horses of all time. I just think that SECRETARIAT and SPECTACULAR BID were slightly better, though there wasn't much separating them.

Is one race "proof" that one horse is better than another? Was AFFIRMED's victory clear "proof" that he was better than SPECTACULAR BID? I don't think it was, because it seems that 12 furlongs was slightly too long for 'The Bid,' though they were certainly very close in ability. Was RACHEL ALEXANDRA's Preakness win "proof" that she is better than all the boys and "has nothing left to prove?" I don't think so. Was the Belmont Stakes "proof" that DA' TARA was better than BIG BROWN?

I don't think one race necessarily "proves" that one horse is better than another, and that's why we race horses....so that we can see, over time, and after a good amount of competition, how they stack up!

re: Poll: What is Your Most Memorable Belmont Stakes?

Matthew W — Mon, 25 May 2009 18:32:44 GMT

How good was Citation???...I believe he beat the older horse champion in FEB of his THREE year old season.....There's something to be said about a horse that wins so often---cuz you don't feel great EVERY day---horses that bring it every time are the definition of great.....