Today is the Belmont Stakes! The Belmont Stakes is the third race in the Triple Crown. It is both the oldest and the longest of the three events. The first running took place in 1867 at Jerome Park in Elmont, New York. The track is 1.5 miles long and has become known as the “Test of the Champion.” Another nickname for the race is “the Run for the Carnations” because the winning horse is draped in a blanket of white carnations.

Only eleven horses have won all three races in the Triple Crown. The first was Sir Barton in 1919, and the most recent was Affirmed in 1978, but there have been many famous winners in between. Perhaps the most notable are War Admiral and Secretariat.

To celebrate the annual running of the Belmont Stakes, grab your fancy hat and gather around the TV to witness this exciting event!