1973 Kentucky Derby entered the homestretch, Secretariat passed Sham in the final furlong and distanced himself to consolidate his lead. Secretariat would go on to win the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the succeeding weeks, thus becoming the ninth horse to complete the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. Thirteen horses entered the Derby, which could have at most twenty participants. Horse owners had to pay a final entry fee of $2,500 to have their horses officially entered. The field was larger than anticipated because of new entries following Secretariat's loss at the Wood Memorial Stakes in New York. The Wood Memorial had
Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes set a track record at Belmont Park when winning the 2014 renewal in 1:19.96. In 2017, the race was raised to Grade II status and became part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series – the winner will receive an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Speed record: Most wins by a jockey: Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes The Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and up. It is held over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt and is currently run in early