1973 Belmont Stakes a sloppy track. However, Knightly Dawn was scratched prior to race day. The horse's scratch also reduced the winner's share from $150,200 to $90,120. There was much speculation going into the Stakes over Secretariat's bid for the Triple Crown. Since 1948, when Citation achieved the feat, there had been six horses that had won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes before failing in the Belmont Stakes. When comparing Secretariat to those six horses' health and fitness before the Belmont Stakes, writer Bonifice felt Secretariat was in the best shape, almost as good as when he entered the Kentucky
1919 Belmont Stakes 1919 Belmont Stakes The 1919 Belmont Stakes was the 51st running of the Belmont Stakes. It was the 13th Belmont Stakes held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York and was held on June 11, 1919. With a field of only three horses, heavily favored Sir Barton won the 1 –mile race (11 f; 2.2 km) by 5 lengths over Sweep On. By winning the Belmont, Sir Barton became the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes -- a feat which would later become known as the "Triple Crown." Sir Barton's time of