History was made at Belmont Park on Saturday, June 6, in the 147th Running of the Belmont Stakes with American Pharoah, the horse with the misspelled name and a too-short tail, earned the Triple Crown, something that hasn’t been accomplished since 1978. For some racing fans, this was their first time witnessing a Triple Crown victory, a triumph, albeit seemingly elusive, was proven achievable by American Pharoah and his jockey Victor Espinoza.
Frosted, winner of the Grade 1 TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial, ran valiantly to finish second, two lengths ahead of third-place finisher Keen Ice, but was no match for American Pharoah.
Keen Ice, seventh in the Derby, gave trainer Dale Romans his second consecutive third-place finish in the Belmont and fourth overall.
Mubtaahij, winner of the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby and eighth in the Derby, checked home fourth, followed by Frammento, Madefromlucky, Tale of Verve and Materiality.
All-sources combined betting totals on Belmont Stakes Day, which saw American Pharoah become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, was the second-highest in the history of the New York Racing Association (NYRA), with $134,839,391 wagered on Saturday’s 13-race card at Belmont Park, according to a NYRA spokesperson.
On-track wagering was more than $16.8 million, also the second-highest in history, with off-track betting totaling more than $117.9 million.
Total handle on the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, was the second-highest in history, with $81,681,147 wagered on the race that crowned American Pharoah as racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner and first since Affirmed.
More than $6.6 million was wagered at Belmont Park with off-track betting totaling $75 million.
Last year, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome’s failed bid at racing immortality in the 1 ½-mile Belmont saw record all-sources handle of more than $151 million and record on-track handle of more than $19 million on the card. Total handle on the “Test of the Champion” itself was $90 million, also a record.
