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62-534: Although best known as a sire, Storm Cat was one of the best two-year-old racehorses of his generation, winning the Grade I Young America Stakes and finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile . Storm Cat was a dark bay horse with a white star and stripe on his forehead and white socks on his left feet. He was sired by Storm Bird , a son of Northern Dancer . His dam was Terlingua , an outstanding sprinter who

124-521: A Storm Cat colt since named Mr. Sekiguchi sold for $ 8 million, and in the 2005 sale, another of his colts, Jalil , sold for $ 9.7 million. The price was the highest ever paid for a yearling sold at the Keeneland September sale and is third-highest overall. All told, 462 of his yearlings were sold at auction for a total of about $ 319 million, including 91 yearlings that brought $ 1 million or more. In 2008, Storm Cat remained in high demand with

186-431: A couple of really great horses. I think the top ones kind of have that attitude in them that says, 'I am the best.' And I think part of that attitude is imparted on their progeny, and that, as much as good conformation, ability, tenacity and desire, is key to the success of a horse." Champions sired by Storm Cat include: Storm Cat is also a noted sire of other successful stallions. By far his most successful son at stud

248-459: A fee of $ 300,000 but was retired from service because of declining fertility. Of 30 mares covered that year, only three were reported in foal. In 2009, Storm Cat's services were offered to Quarter Horse breeders using artificial insemination , which is not allowed with Thoroughbreds. He sired one graded stakes winner this way, named Stray Cat. In 2015, it was announced that two clones of Storm Cat had been produced, though one subsequently died in

310-565: A high-spirited, well-built horse with a powerful hip, but suffered from offset knees . Peppermints were his favorite treat. Storm Cat was the focus of the well-received 2002 nonfiction book "Stud: Adventures in Breeding" by author Kevin Conley. Storm Cat made his racing debut on August 11, 1985 at Saratoga racetrack , finishing second. He then won his next two starts, a maiden special weight race at Saratoga on August 21 and an allowance race at

372-609: A nose. "If he had won that race," said Young, "he would have been a champion, and I think I would have been able to finally sell him." Instead, Storm Cat underwent surgery over the winter for bone chips in his knees, then suffered a tendon injury. He returned to the racetrack in October 1986, winning an allowance race at the Meadowlands and finishing fourth in the Annapolis Stakes. He was kept in training at age four but

434-565: A paddock accident. The clone is not considered a Thoroughbred by the rules established by The Jockey Club and the plan is to use him to breed polo ponies. At the time of his death in April 2013, he had sired 35 grade/group one winners, eight champions, 108 winners of group or graded stakes races , and 180 stakes winners worldwide, who have earnings in excess of $ 128 million. "For years Storm Cat has been very aware of who he is," said stallion manager Wes Lanter. "I've been fortunate to work around

496-585: A quarter in 1890–1892, 1895, 1904–1905, and 2024; a mile and a furlong in 1893–1894 and again in 2020; and a mile and three furlongs from 1896 to 1903 and 1906–1925. The purse for the first running in 1867 was $ 1,500 added, meaning the purse was supplemented by nomination and entry fees. This made the total purse $ 2,500, with the winner receiving $ 1,850. The purse increased sharply in the Roaring Twenties, from Man O'War's earnings of $ 7,950 in 1920 to Gallant Fox's take of $ 66,040 in 1930. Purses declined as

558-537: A refined trashcan punch". In 2011, the Belmont Breeze was again changed to the current official drink known as the "Belmont Jewel." While the origin of the white carnation as the official flower of the Belmont Stakes is unknown, traditionally, pure white carnations stand for love and luck. It takes approximately 700 "select" carnations imported from Colombia to create the 40-pound blanket draped over

620-547: A reputation as the sire of fast, precocious two-year-olds. He was the leading juvenile sire in North America in 1992, a title he would earn a record seven times (1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, and 2004). The previous record holder was Bold Ruler with six such titles. In 1994, Young received the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder , in no small part due to the success of Storm Cat's son Tabasco Cat , who won

682-656: A respectable 13% win rate when entered. For context, three fillies have won the Kentucky Derby while six have won the Preakness Stakes. On average, fillies have won between 2% and 3% of the Triple Crown races, with similar numbers for geldings ; while about 95% of these races have been won by colts. The last filly as of June 11, 2022 to run in the Belmont was in 2022 when Nest ran second (placed) behind

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744-506: A result of the Great Depression, with War Admiral earning only $ 28,020 in 1937, then began to recover. Throughout the sixties and early seventies, the value to the winner was roughly $ 100,000, depending on the added money generated by entry fees (larger fields thus leading to higher prize money). The purse was repeatedly raised in the eighties and nineties, reaching $ 500,000 added, with the winner receiving roughly $ 400,000. In 1998,

806-419: A silver miniature for permanent use. The term Triple Crown was first used when Gallant Fox won the three races in 1930, but the term did not enter widespread use until 1935 when his son Omaha repeated the feat. Sir Barton was then honored retroactively. Since 1931, the order of Triple Crown races has been the Kentucky Derby first, followed by the Preakness Stakes, and then the Belmont Stakes. Prior to 1931,

868-496: A television audience of 21.9 million viewers, and had the highest household viewing rate since 1977 when Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown. Justify won the 150th Belmont Stakes in 2018 to become the 13th Triple Crown champion. The first Belmont Stakes was held at Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx , built in 1866 by stock market speculator Leonard Jerome (1817–1891) and financed by August Belmont Sr. (1816–1890), for whom

930-417: A then-record margin of twenty-five lengths. He also set a stakes record of 2:28 1/5, a record tied by Citation. In 1957, the stakes record was smashed when Gallant Man ran the Belmont in 2:26 3/5 in a year when the Triple Crown series was split three ways. The Belmont Stakes race was held at Aqueduct Racetrack from 1963 to 1967, while the track at Belmont was restored and renovated. The largest crowd of

992-516: Is run over the worldwide classic distance of 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (12 furlongs; 2,414 metres). Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds (57 kg); fillies carry 121 pounds (55 kg). The race, nicknamed The Test of the Champion , The Test of Champions and The Run for the Carnations , is the traditional third and final leg of the Triple Crown . It is usually held on

1054-464: Is the great-grandsire of American Pharoah , winner of the 2015 U.S. Triple Crown and the great-great-grandsire of Justify , winner of the 2018 U.S. Triple Crown. No other horse appears within five generations of both champions' bloodlines. Young died in 2004 and the Overbrook stock was dispersed in 2009. However, Storm Cat remained at the farm until his death at the age of 30 on April 24, 2013. He

1116-479: Is traditionally called "The Test of the Champion" because it is by far the longest of the Triple Crown races (1.5 miles–a full lap around the enormous Belmont main track). It is also one of the longest first-class races on dirt in the United States. Most three-year-olds are unaccustomed to the distance, and lack the experience, if not the stamina , to maintain a winning speed for so long. In a long race such as

1178-511: The 2024 Belmont Stakes would be held on Saturday, June 8 at Saratoga Race Course because of ongoing construction and renovations at Belmont Park. The purse of the race will be increased to US$ 2 million and, pending approval of the American Graded Stakes Committee , it will be run at a shorter distance of 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles (2.0 km) instead of the usual 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (2.4 km) due to

1240-455: The COVID-19 pandemic , when the national racing schedule underwent significant changes. Additionally, the distance of the Belmont Stakes has been changed during the race's temporary relocation to Saratoga in 2024 and 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Besides 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles, the Belmont has been run at the following distances: a mile and five furlongs in 1867–1873; a mile and

1302-534: The Meadowlands on September 9. He then finished second in the World Appeal Stakes on September 28 before winning the Grade I Young America Stakes on October 10, both races held at the Meadowlands. Storm Cat entered the 1985 Breeders' Cup Juvenile as the favorite and led by as much as three lengths down the stretch. In the last strides however, he was run down by Tasso and finished second by

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1364-609: The Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes . In 1995, Storm Cat's stud fee increased to $ 100,000, which was considered a bargain after yearlings from that crop sold for an average of $ 500,000. The crop foaled in 1996 included Aljabr , a multiple Group One winner in Europe on the turf, and Cat Thief , a Grade I winner in America on the dirt whose wins included the 1999 Breeders' Cup Classic . These wins propelled Storm Cat to

1426-460: The Triple Crown was Sir Barton , in 1919, before the series was recognized as such. In 1920, the Belmont was won by the great Man o' War , who won by 20 lengths, setting a new stakes and American record, while under a stout pull. Starting in 1926, the winner of the Belmont Stakes has been presented with August Belmont Trophy . The owner may keep the trophy for one year, and also receives

1488-539: The $ 500,000 race in a time of 1:45, winning by 1¼ lengths to give Velásquez his fourth winner in the 11th running of the race. There was another "Young America Stakes" raced in the last decades of the 19th century at a racetrack in Nashville, Tennessee . Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York . It

1550-418: The 13th Triple Crown winner and only the second horse to do so while undefeated. The 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes took place without in-person fans on June 20, 2020, delayed from June 6 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leading to the announcement, NYRA considered various dates after evaluating the spring-summer meeting at Belmont Park and after the other three majors set their respective dates:

1612-542: The 20th century was in 1971 with over 80,000 people, supplemented by the city's Latino community, there to cheer on their new hero, Cañonero II , the Venezuelan colt who had won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and was poised to win the U.S. Triple Crown . However, due to a foot infection that had bothered the horse for several days, Cañonero II failed to win the Triple Crown when he struggled across

1674-590: The Belmont Stakes is held three weeks after the Preakness (five weeks after the Derby). The earliest possible date for the Derby is May 1, and the latest is May 7; the earliest possible date for the Belmont is thus June 5, and the latest is June 11. In 2020, due to the cancellation of the original dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the order changed with the Belmont first on June 20, the Kentucky Derby on September 5 and

1736-407: The Belmont, positioning of the horse and the timing of the move to chase for the lead can be critical. It is also known as "The Run for the Carnations" because the winning horse is draped with a blanket of white carnations after the race, in similar fashion to the blanket of roses and black-eyed Susans for the Derby and Preakness, respectively. The winning owner is ceremonially presented with

1798-513: The Irish 2,000 Guineas and St. James Palace Stakes. Storm Cat's stud fee increased to $ 200,000 in 1999, then to $ 300,000 in 2001. From 2002 to 2007, his fee was $ 500,000, the highest in North America at the time. His yearlings continued to be in high demand, reaching a peak in 2005 when 28 of his offspring were sold for an average price of $ 1,763,750. At the September 2004 Keeneland yearling sales ,

1860-422: The Kentucky Derby and " Maryland, My Maryland " at the Preakness Stakes. The change of song gave rise to "the myth of Mamie O'Rourke", a reference to a character in the lyrics of "The Sidewalks of New York." Before American Pharoah won the Triple Crown in 2015, some claimed that changing the official Belmont song "cursed" the Triple Crown and was why no horse had won since Affirmed in 1978. Others note that there

1922-467: The Kentucky Derby moving to September 5, the Preakness Stakes moving to October 3, and the Breeders' Cup Classic slated for November 7. Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York announced on May 16 that horse racing tracks statewide, including Belmont Park, would be permitted to resume races without in-person fans on June 1. The 2020 contest also marked the first time in history that the Belmont Stakes served as

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1984-410: The Preakness on October 3—all with no spectators—before the Triple Crown races resumed their normal schedule in 2021. In 1937, War Admiral became the fourth Triple Crown winner after winning the Belmont in a new track record time of 2:28 3/5. In the 1940s, four Triple Crown winners followed: Whirlaway in 1941, Count Fleet in 1943, Assault in 1946 and Citation in 1948. Count Fleet won the race by

2046-449: The Preakness was run before the Derby eleven times. On May 12, 1917, and again on May 13, 1922, the Preakness and the Derby were run on the same day. On eleven occasions, the Belmont Stakes was run before the Preakness Stakes. The date of each event is now set by the Kentucky Derby , which is always held on the first Saturday in May. The Preakness Stakes is currently held two weeks later; and

2108-462: The Triple Crown's opening leg, with its running length shortened accordingly to 1 + 1 ⁄ 8 miles (9 furlongs), its shortest distance since 1894. The 154th running of the Belmont Stakes was held on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Mo Donegal won with a time of 2:28.28. Principal owner was Jerry Crawford. Mo Donegal was trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. On December 6, 2023, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced that

2170-540: The Young America Stakes evolved to become an important end of October/early November event for two-year-olds. The race was contested over a distance of 1 1/16 miles. Run on dirt from inception in 1977 through 1990, at its peak in the mid-1980s it was a Grade 1 event offering a purse of $ 500,000 and had been attracting such horses as U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Spectacular Bid and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame colt, Deputy Minister . However,

2232-459: The Young America Stakes in November 1977, winning the purse of $ 144,500 with a victory by a neck in 1:45.6 over Believe It. National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame jockey Jorge Velásquez won this race four times; in 1978 with Spectacular Bid , in 1979 with Koluctoo Bay, in 1980 with Lord Avie and in 1987 aboard Firery Ensign. After a disappointing start, Firery Ensign came back to win

2294-422: The attendance record was shattered when 120,139 people saw Smarty Jones upset by Birdstone . In 2007, Rags to Riches became the first filly to win the race since Tanya in 1905. Three more failed Triple Crown bids followed: in 2008, Big Brown lost to Da' Tara ; in 2012, I'll Have Another was withdrawn due to injury; and in 2014, California Chrome was beaten by Tonalist . This fueled debate about whether

2356-465: The event was hurt by the advent of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 1984 which was raced at around the same time and on dirt. In an attempt to survive, in 1991 the Young America was shifted to a race on turf . Already having lost it Grade 1 status, in 1993 it was downgraded from a Grade II event to a Grade III. Forevere Casting, ridden by jockey Eddie Delahoussaye won the inaugural running of

2418-423: The fastest running of the Belmont Stakes and an American record for 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles on the dirt. In 1977, Seattle Slew became the first horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated. Affirmed was the last winner of the Triple Crown in the 20th century, taking the Belmont Stakes in 2:26 4/5 on June 10, 1978. Ridden by eighteen-year-old Steve Cauthen, Affirmed defeated rival Alydar with Jorge Velásquez in

2480-462: The finish line in 4th place behind Pass Catcher , ridden by Walter Blum . Despite this loss, Cañonero II was named the winner of the first Eclipse Award for Outstanding Three-Year-Old Male Horse . On June 9, 1973, Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes by thirty-one lengths in a record time of 2:24, becoming a Triple Crown champion, ending a 25-year gap between Citation , the Belmont and Triple Crown winner in 1948. Secretariat's record still stands as

2542-466: The first or second Saturday in June, five weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes . The 1973 Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown winner Secretariat holds the track record (which is also a world record on dirt) of 2:24. The race covers one full lap of Belmont Park, known as "The Championship Track" because nearly every major American champion in racing history has competed on

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2604-466: The purse was changed to $ 1,000,000 guaranteed, with the winner receiving $ 600,000. In 2014, the purse was raised to $ 1,500,000. With one exception, the race has been run at a level weight of 126 pounds (with a 5-pound allowance for fillies) since 1900. The 126 pounds comes from the English Classics , where the standard weight is 9 stone, with one stone equaling 14 pounds. In 1913, the Belmont

2666-543: The race was named. The first race in 1867 saw the filly Ruthless win, while the following year was won by General Duke . The first post parade in the United States was at the 14th Belmont, in 1880. The race continued to be held at Jerome Park until 1890, when it was moved to the nearby facility, Morris Park Racecourse . The 1895 race was almost not held because of new laws that banned bookmaking in New York: it

2728-445: The race, the best of any Triple Crown race since these ratings were first published in 1987. For three years in a row, horses came to the Belmont Stakes with a Triple Crown on the line only to fail. In 2002, Belmont Park hosted what was then the largest crowd in its history when 103,222 saw War Emblem lose to longshot Sarava after stumbling at the start. In 2003, 101,864 watched Funny Cide finish third behind Empire Maker . In 2004,

2790-471: The racetrack. Belmont Park, with its large, wide, sweeping turns and long homestretch, is considered one of the fairest racetracks in America. Despite the distance, the race tends to favor horses with tactical speed: relatively few winners close from far behind the early leaders. The attendance at the Belmont Stakes is among the American thoroughbred racing top-attended events . The 2004 Belmont Stakes drew

2852-425: The saddle. At the time the race was the third-slowest start and the third-fastest finish with the quarter in 25, the half in 50, 3/4 in 1:14, the mile in 1:37 2/5. In 1988, Secretariat's son Risen Star won the Belmont in 2:26 2/5, then the second-fastest time in the history of the race. The next year, Easy Goer lowered the mark for second-fastest time to 2:26. Easy Goer also holds a Beyer Speed Figure of 122 for

2914-425: The series needed to be changed, for example by lengthening the period between races. American Pharoah won the 2015 race, becoming the 12th horse in history to win the Triple Crown and the first in 37 years. The crowd that year was limited for the first time, to 90,000. His time of 2:26.65 was the sixth-fastest in Belmont Stakes history, and the second-fastest time for a Triple Crown winner. In 2018, Justify became

2976-424: The silver winner's trophy , designed by Paulding Farnham for Tiffany and Co. It was first presented to August Belmont Jr. in 1896 and donated by the Belmont family for annual presentation in 1926. Despite the fact that the Belmont Stakes is the oldest of the Triple Crown races, its traditions have been more subject to change. Until 1996, the post parade song was " The Sidewalks of New York ". From 1997 to 2009,

3038-514: The sire of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify . Bluegrass Cat and Freud are successful regional sires in California and New York. Tiger Ridge became a successful sire when exported to South Africa. His daughters have also made him a noteworthy broodmare sire. He was the leading broodmare sire in North America from 2012 to 2014 and has been in the top 10 every year between 2005 and 2015. Progeny produced by daughters of Storm Cat include: Storm Cat

3100-538: The smaller size of the Saratoga dirt track. In March 2024 the New York Racing Association announced that the 2025 Belmont Stakes would also be moved to Saratoga, pending regulatory approval. Over the years the race has been held at the following racetracks: The Belmont Stakes has been run at a mile and a half from 1874 to 1889 and 1926 to the present. An exception was made in 2020 during

3162-458: The song was changed to a recording by Frank Sinatra of the " Theme from New York, New York " in an attempt to appeal to younger fans. In 2010, the song was changed to Jay-Z 's " Empire State of Mind " sung by Jasmine V before reverting to "Theme from New York, New York " from 2011 through the present. This tradition is similar to the singing of the state song at the post parades of the first two Triple Crown races: " My Old Kentucky Home " at

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3224-433: The stud fee in exchange for part ownership of the resulting foal. In some cases, Young even gave seasons away for free to keep Storm Cat's stud career alive. Storm Cat's first crop of 39 foals started racing in 1991 and were only moderately successful, with average earnings of just $ 16,850. Even so, two members of that crop eventually became Grade I winners. When his second crop started racing in 1992, he started to establish

3286-539: The top of the North American sire list in 1999. Storm Cat's next crop included 'iron horse' Giant's Causeway, who won five straight Group One races in Europe and then finished second in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic. Storm Cat repeated as the leading sire in North America, and also finished second in the standings for Great Britain and Ireland. The crop foaled in 1998 was the first to average more than $ 1 million at auction and included Black Minnaloushe , who won

3348-459: The winner of the Belmont Stakes. The NYRA has long used The Pennock Company , a wholesale florist based in Philadelphia to import the carnations used for the mantle. Speed record: Biggest Margin of Victory: Most wins by a jockey : Most wins by a trainer : Most wins by an owner: Only 24 fillies have run in the Belmont; three of which have won: This gives them

3410-609: Was Giant's Causeway, who was a three-time leading sire in North America. Like Storm Cat, Giant's Causeway produced Grade/Group One winners on both turf and dirt, and left behind several promising sons at stud, including dual French classic winner Shamardal . Storm Cat also left behind numerous other sons at stud, including Harlan, Hennessy, Forest Wildcat, Forestry, Stormy Atlantic, Tale of the Cat, and Bernstein . These sons have also produced further generations of good sires such as his grandson Harlan's Holiday and great-grandson Scat Daddy ,

3472-535: Was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age. He may also have been suffering from cancer at the time, but it was felt the testing would have been too taxing for a horse of his age. Young America Stakes The Young America Stakes is a discontinued Thoroughbred horse race that was run annually at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey . Inaugurated in 1977,

3534-608: Was eventually rescheduled for November 2. The race remained at Morris Park Racecourse until the May 1905 opening of the new Belmont Park , 430-acre (1.7 km ) racetrack in Elmont, New York, on Long Island , just outside the New York City borough of Queens . When anti-gambling legislation was passed in New York State, Belmont Racetrack was closed, and the race was cancelled in 1911 and 1912. The first winner of

3596-401: Was funny", said Young in a later interview. "Storm Cat might have tested positive for EVA, but he never had it. Anyway, Keeneland wanted me to bring him back in the September sale, but I just decided to keep him and race him." He was trained by Jonathan Sheppard , who was best known as a steeplechase trainer. Storm Cat stood 16  hands (64 inches, 163 cm) high at maturity. He was

3658-460: Was never fit enough to race. He retired with a record of four wins from eight starts. Storm Cat retired to stud at Overbrook Farm in Lexington, Kentucky in 1988 with modest expectations. His initial stud fee was $ 30,000, dropping to $ 20,000 in 1991. Even at this price, demand was low so Young would sometimes enter into foal-sharing agreements with the owners of quality mares – Young would pay

3720-418: Was no Triple Crown winner between 1979 and 1996, even though "Sidewalks" was still played. Along with the change of song in 1997, the official drink was also changed, from the "White Carnation" to the "Belmont Breeze." The New York Times reviewed both cocktails unfavorably, calling the Belmont Breeze "a significant improvement over the nigh undrinkable White Carnation" despite the fact that it "tastes like

3782-480: Was run as a handicap with the winner carrying only 109 pounds compared to the runner-up carrying 126 pounds. Races run prior to 1900 had varied weight conditions. The first post parade in the United States was at the 14th Belmont, in 1880. Before 1921, the race was run in the clockwise tradition of English racing. Since then, the race has been run in the American, or counter-clockwise, direction. The Belmont Stakes

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3844-689: Was sired by Secretariat . William T. Young of Overbrook Farm purchased Terlingua in partnership with Bill Lockridge, who arranged the mating with Storm Bird. Lockridge then sold his share of Terlingua to Young, who thus became Storm Cat's breeder of record. Storm Cat was foaled at Derry Meeting Farm in Pennsylvania. As a yearling in July 1984, Young intended to offer Storm Cat at the Keeneland Sales . However, Storm Cat tested positive for equine viral arteritis (EVA), and had to be withdrawn. "It

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