Secretariat Tops List of the Fastest Belmont Stakes Times in History

Secretariat

Secretariat’s run at the 1973 Belmont Stakes tops the list of the fastest Belmont Stakes times in history.

With Belmont Stakes 2022 taking place on Saturday, we’ll rank the best Belmont Stakes times and the go over some of horses that made history at Belmont Park.


The 2022 Belmont Stakes takes place on Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. This will be the 154th running of the third race of the Triple Crown. After drawing the rail with post position 1, We The People has emerged as the early betting favorite at the Belmont Stakes.

While Daily Racing Forum has We The People at 2-1 odds, MyBookie is offering We The People at +250 odds. To place a bet for the 2022 Belmont Stakes, go to MyBookie, one of the best horse racing betting sites available in the US.

Before the Triple Crown race at Belmont Park this week, let’s take a look at some of the most spectacular Belmont Stakes performances of years past.

Here are the five fastest times in Belmont Stakes history by a winning horse.


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5) Gallant Man (1957) – 2:26:60

In 1957, Gallant Man had a winning time of 2:26.60.

He beat favourite Bold Ruler by eight lengths. It was jockey Bill Shoemaker’s second Triple Crown race win as he previously won the 1955 Kentucky Derby while riding Swaps. In all, Shoemaker won 11 Triple Crown races including five Belmont Stakes.

The winning trainer was John Nerud and the winning owner was Ralph Lowe. This was Nerud’s only Triple Crown win. The native of Minatare, Nebraska lived until he was 102 years old before passing away in 2015.

The fact that Gallant Man did not win the 1957 Kentucky Derby was shocking, because Shoemaker misjudged the finish line, and was beaten by Iron Liege.

4) Risen Star (1988) – 2:26:40

In 1988, Risen Star had the fourth fastest Belmont time ever by a winning horse at 2:26.40.

The son of the great Secretariat, Risen Star won the Preakness, Belmont, and Louisiana Derby in 1988. The horse that prevented Risen Star from winning the Triple Crown was Winning Colors, who won the 1988 Kentucky Derby. Risen Star finished third.

Risen Star’s jockey, Eddie Delahoussaye won five triple crown races in his career.

3) A.P. Indy (1992) – 2:26:13

In 1992, A.P. Indy had a winning Belmont time of 2:26.13.

The horse had a hoof problem, but was able to come out on top despite being in only fourth place after the first mile. Like Risen Star, A.P. Indy’s jockey was Delahoussaye. For Delahoussaye this was his fifth and final triple crown win at age 40.

In addition to winning the 1988 Preakness and Belmont on Risen Star, he won back-to-back Kentucky Derby titles in 1982 and 1983 on Gato Del Sol and Sunny’s Halo respectively.

A.P. Indy’s owner was Tomonori Tsurumaki, who was also the president of Nippon Autopolis Limited, and involved in Formula One racing.

2) Easy Goer (1989) – 2:26:00

In 1989, Easy Goer had a winning Belmont time of 2:26.00, also 2:26 flat.

By winning the Belmont Stakes, the horse prevented Sunday Silence from winning the Triple Crown.

At the 1989 Kentucky Derby, Easy Goer finished 2 1/2 lengths back of Sunday Silence in second place, and then at the 1989 Preakness, Easy Goer was beaten by a nose by Sunday Silence, despite being the favourite. Then at the Belmont, Easy Goer clobbered Sunday Silence by eight lengths.

Jockey Pat Day won his second of nine Triple Crown races as he previously won the 1985 Preakness on Tank’s Prospect.

Its owner, Ogden Phipps, was considered one of the best court tennis players in the world.

1) Secretariat (1973) – 2:24:00

In 1973, Secretariat won the Triple Crown by winning the Belmont with a record time of 2:24.00.

Considered the fastest horse of all-time, his performance at the 1973 Belmont, where he beat his nearest competitor by 31 lengths is considered as legendary.

Even though the horse was American, there were strong Canadian connections to Secretariat. The horse’s jockey was Ron Turcotte of Drummond, New Brunswick, and its owner was Lucien Laurin of Joliette, Quebec.

 

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