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



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Known Names of the 2024 Chincoteague Pony Foals

Image
 This information is from the Chincoteague Pony Pedigree Database - a free service - where you can list the name of a Chincoteague Pony foal that you purchase.  Having the foal's name listed in the CPPD is completely free.  Their information page can be seen at:   https://chincoteaguepedigrees.com/pedigree/about.php       You may also register your new Chincoteague Pony - for a fee - via the International Chincoteague Pony Association & Registry, at:   https://www.chincoteagueponyassociation.com/    There has been one foal born since Pony Penning - a solid black filly out the black pinto mare Gracey; with a possibility of 4 different sires - Beach Boy, Riptide, Legacy. or Prince.  She was born 6 August: I am posting a photo of the pony first (with the 2024 foal number); the Registered name, then the "call" or "barn" name, if different; and the winning bid.   Here are the names of the 2024 Chincoteague Po...
Read more

All Chincoteague Pony Foals Born So Far in 2024 (93 at the Moment)

Image
 It looks as though the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company will have a bumper crop of foals for its' Pony Auction on Thursday, 25 July.  The people who live on Chincoteague Island do not pay a tax to support their Fire Department and Ambulance Service.  The purchase of fire fighting equipment, fire engines, ambulances, rescue vehicles, all training for both services, and the few paid positions in both services, come through the sales of the Chincoteague Pony foals, the annual Firemen's Carnival in July, fund-raising events and donations.  The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company was established in May of 1924 - 100 years ago this month - after two horrendous fires wiped out downtown areas, and then when a third fire occurred, the previously purchased fire-fighting equipment would not work.  Fourteen men passed a hat around, raised $4.16, and the CVFC was formed.    *** The photos I use in this specific blog are NOT mine.  They are the copyrighted,...
Read more

Auction Prices of the Chincoteague Pony Foals on Wednesday, 27 July 2023

Image
 Here are the prices this years' foals brought in at auction on the Carnival Grounds at Chincoteague Island, Virginia.  Foal 70 was Queen Neptune and was raffled off on Wednesday night, after the swim.  Tickets for the raffle were sold at $1 apiece, and all 10,000 ticket chances were sold, so she raised $10,000 for the CVFC.  Seven Buy Backs had been announced - one chosen early and auctioned early to benefit the Museum of Chincoteague Island in their quest to purchase the Beebe Ranch - and near the end of today's auction, an 8th foal was announced as a Buy Back, number 79.     Six other items were donated to the auction for money raising purposes - a large photo by DSC Photography of ponies coming to approaching the corral during a round-up; a "wooden quilt" wall hanging made from fence pieces of the old North corrals; a signed print from Michael Bernstein; a collection of 3 items - a 1985 Pony Penning poster owned by Maureen Beebe, a horseshoe-shaped foot...
Read more