Winners
The Belmont Stakes has been run 146 times since its inaugural year in 1867, with the winners claiming over half of the $1.5 million purse available on race day. This race is also the final leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, and the last Belmont Stakes winner to take home this distinction was Affirmed in 1978. The most recent winner of the Belmont Stakes was Tonalist in 2014.
Other notable winners include Seattle Slew (1977), Secretariat (1973), Citation (1948), Gallant Fox (1930), and Peter Pan (1906). The legendary Secretariat still holds the race record, finishing with a 31-length margin of victory at 2:24.00. The fastest time in the new millennium was set by Point Given (2001) at 2:26.80 which matched the marks set by Affirmed and Tabasco Cat (1994).
Only nine horses of foreign origin have been Belmont Stakes winners. However, only England, Ireland and Canada have submitted Belmont Stakes winners. The last was Victory Gallop in 1998, a Canadian stud.
The Belmont Stakes is open to three-year-old geldings with the strong majority of entries taken by colts. Only three fillies have been Belmont Stakes winners. These include Ruthless (1867), Tanya (1905) and Rags to Riches (2007).
Below is a list of Belmont Stakes winners dating back to 1978.
Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
2014 |
Tonalist |
Joel Rosario |
Christophe Clement |
Robert S. Evans |
2013 |
Palace Malice |
Mike Smith |
Todd Pletcher |
Dogwood Stable |
2012 |
Union Rags |
John Velazquez |
Michael Matz |
Phyllis M. Wyeth |
2011 |
Ruler on Ice |
Jose Valdivia, Jr. |
Kelly Breen |
George and Lori Hall |
2010 |
Drosselmeyer |
Mike Smith |
William Mott |
WinStar Farm LLC |
2009 |
Summer Bird |
Kent Desormeaux |
Tim Ice |
Jayaraman |
2008 |
Da’Tara |
Alan Garcia |
Nick Zito |
Robert V. LaPenta |
2007 |
Rags to Riches |
John Velazquez |
Todd Pletcher |
M. Tabor & D. Smith |
2006 |
Jazil |
Fernando Jara |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
Shadwell Farm |
2005 |
Afleet Alex |
Jeremy Rose |
Timothy Ritchey |
Cash is King LLC |
2004 |
Birdstone |
Edgar Prado |
Nick Zito |
Marylou Whitney Stables |
2003 |
Empire Maker |
Jerry Bailey |
Robert Frankel |
Juddmonte Farms |
2002 |
Sarava |
Edgar Prado |
Kenneth McPeek |
New Phoenix Stable |
2001 |
Point Given |
Gary Stevens |
Bob Baffert |
The Thoroughbred Corp. |
2000 |
Commendable |
Pat Day |
D. Wayne Lukas |
Bob & Beverly Lewis |
1999 |
Lemon Drop Kid |
Jose Santos |
Scotty Schulhofer |
Jeanne G. Vance |
1998 |
Victory Gallop |
Gary Stevens |
W. Elliott Walden |
Prestonwood Farm |
1997 |
Touch Gold |
Chris McCarron |
David Hofmans |
Frank Stronach |
1996 |
Editor’s Note |
Rene R. Douglas |
D. Wayne Lukas |
Overbrook Farm |
1995 |
Thunder Gulch |
Gary Stevens |
D. Wayne Lukas |
Michael Tabor |
1994 |
Tabasco Cat |
Pat Day |
D. Wayne Lukas |
Reynolds/Overbrook |
1993 |
Colonial Affair |
Julie Krone |
Scotty Schulhofer |
Centennial Farms |
1992 |
A.P. Indy |
Ed Delahoussaye |
Neil Drysdale |
Tomonori Tsurumaki |
1991 |
Hansel |
Jerry Bailey |
Frank L. Brothers |
Lazy Lane Farm |
1990 |
Go And Go |
Michael Kinane |
Dermot K. Weld |
Moyglare Stud Farm |
1989 |
Easy Goer |
Pat Day |
C. R. McGaughey III |
Ogden Phipps |
1988 |
Risen Star |
Ed Delahoussaye |
Louie J. Roussel III |
Louie J. Roussel III |
1987 |
Bet Twice |
Craig Perret |
Jimmy Croll |
Blanche P. Levy |
1986 |
Danzig Connection |
Chris McCarron |
Woody Stephens |
Henryk de Kwiatkowski |
1985 |
Creme Fraiche |
Eddie Maple |
Woody Stephens |
Brushwood Stables |
1984 |
Swale |
Laffit Pincay, Jr. |
Woody Stephens |
Claiborne Farm |
1983 |
Caveat |
Laffit Pincay, Jr. |
Woody Stephens |
August Belmont IV |
1982 |
Conquistador Cielo |
Laffit Pincay, Jr. |
Woody Stephens |
Henryk de Kwiatkowski |
1981 |
Summing |
George Martens |
Luis Barrera |
Charles T. Wilson, Jr. |
1980 |
Temperence Hill |
Eddie Maple |
Joseph B. Cantey |
Loblolly Stable |
1979 |
Coastal |
Ruben Hernandez |
David A. Whiteley |
William Haggin Perry |
1978 |
Affirmed |
Steve Cauthen |
Laz Barrera |
Harbor View Farm |