The 155th Belmont Stakes - at Saratoga in 2024

 This year's running of the 155th edition of the Belmont Stakes will, once again, have an asterisk beside it.  The Belmont Stakes began running at old Jerome Park in 1867, and the first winner of the Belmont was a filly named Ruthless.  Horse racing was banned in New York state in the years 1911 and 1912, and the race was not run.  It had been run at various distances between 1867 and 1920, but in 1921 it was decided that the length of the Belmont Stakes would be 1 and 1/2 miles (12 furlongs) and would stay at that length.  The 12 furlong length was decided to be used as a "grueling test of champions" as the climax of the Triple Crown races.  If a thoroughbred could run and win at 10 furlongs on the first Saturday in May in Kentucky; run and win a race of 9.5 furlongs two weeks later in Maryland; and then run and win a race of 12 furlongs on the track known as "Big Sandy" in New York 5 weeks after the first one - then that horse was truly a champion.  That's why there have been only 13 Triple Crown winners since 1875.  With Belmont Park closed this year, the Belmont Stakes will be run at Saratoga, and the race will only be at 10 furlongs - the same distance as the Kentucky Derby.

   The post time for the 2024 Belmont Stakes is at 6:41 EDT; the ten colts entered will carry 126 pounds each in the 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) race.  The purse amount this year is $2 million.  There will be no Triple Crown champion this year, as Mystik Dan won the Kentucky Derby and Seize the Grey won the Preakness Stakes.  Both colts are entered in the Belmont, but the morning line betting favorite is the colt who finished second in the Derby, Sierra Leone.

   There are ten colts entered in the Belmont, each representing a different sire.  Five of the 10 ran in the Derby, and only the winner of the Preakness is from that race.  Eight of the 10 colts were bred in Kentucky, while The Wine Steward is a New York-bred, and Mindframe was bred in Maryland.  Eight of the ten colts are bays; Seize the Grey is a gray/roan, and Antiquarian is a chestnut.  The five colts who ran in the Derby finished first, second, sixth, eighth and tenth; in order of finish they are: Mystik Dan, Sierra Leone, Resilience, Honor Marie, and Dornoch.

   As usual, I will list the post position and entry name, morning line betting odds, sire, and dam.

Belmont Stakes     1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs)     Purse: $2,000,000     Post Time: 6:41 EDT

1.    Seize the Grey    8 to 1     Arrogate     Smart Shopping

2.    Resilience    10 to 1     Into Mischief     Meadowsweet

3.    Mystik Dan    5 to 1     Goldencents     Ma'am

4.    The Wine Steward    15 to 1     Vino Rosso     Call to Service

5.    Antiquarian    12 to 1     Preservationist     Lifetime Memory

6.    Dornoch    15 to 1     Good Magic     Puca

7.    Protective    20 to 1     Medaglia d'Oro     Grace Hall

8.    Honor Marie    12 to 1     Honor Code     Dame Marie

9.    Sierra Leone    9 to 5     Gun Runner     Heavenly Love

10.  Mindframe    7 to 2     Constitution     Walk of Stars

Sierra Leone is the morning line betting favorite in the Belmont Stakes