The Greatest Belmont Stakes Finishes of the Last 50 Years
The Belmont Stakes is the longest leg of the Triple Crown and the one that makes legends. Since 1973, horses have battled fatigue, fierce rivals, and the weight of history. Here are 15 of the most incredible Belmont finishes that left fans stunned, thrilled, or cheering for more.
Secretariat Leaves the Field Behind (1973)
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No Belmont list starts anywhere else. Secretariat’s 2:24 time still stands as the fastest Belmont ever, and his 31-length lead remains surreal to watch. Broadcasters had to zoom out just to capture him. It was a dominant finish that became the standard for greatness in American horse racing.
Victory Gallop Steals It at the Wire (1998)
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Real Quiet was so close, fans were already celebrating. Then Victory Gallop stormed in like a late plot twist before stealing the win by a nose. It was one of the narrowest losses in Belmont history and a gut punch to anyone hoping to see a Triple Crown winner that year.
Rags To Riches Beats the Boys (2007)
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Rags to Riches stumbled early but rallied to beat Curlin in a stretch duel with the crowd roaring. She became the first filly to win the Belmont in over a century. That battle showed grit, power, and why she belongs among racing’s greats.
American Pharoah Ends the Drought (2015)
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Thirty-seven years. That’s how long fans had waited for a Triple Crown winner. Then American Pharoah showed up. He led wire to wire, finishing in 2:26.65, and finally ended the drought. Fans leapt from their seats at Belmont Park and witnessed the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed.
Easy Goer Ends Sunday Silence’s Run (1989)
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After losing to Sunday Silence twice, Easy Goer had something to prove. And at Belmont, he did. He crushed the field by eight lengths with one of the fastest times ever. Fans at his home track finally saw him flip the script, and the rivalry hasn’t been forgotten since.
Afleet Alex Shuts the Door (2005)
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Afleet Alex just waited until the final stretch and then dropped the hammer. His last quarter-mile at 24.4 seconds was pure fire, and he coasted home with one of the strongest finishing kicks in Belmont memory. It was the exclamation point on an already wild Triple Crown season.
A.P. Indy Lives Up To the Hype (1992)
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No Derby? No problem. A.P. Indy skipped Churchill with a sore hoof but showed up at Belmont fresh and focused. He ran like a machine and clocked in 2:26.13, one of the fastest times ever. After bouncing back from injury, he delivered one of the race’s most composed and efficient wins.
Point Given Powers Through (2001)
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After a fifth-place flop in the Derby, people started doubting Point Given. Big mistake. He came to Belmont on a mission, unleashed a monster run, and earned the nickname: “The T-Rex.” At over 12 lengths ahead, the only thing he didn’t pass was Secretariat’s record.
Tiz The Law Wins In A Shortened Race (2020)
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The pandemic year changed everything—even Belmont. The race was shortened to 1 1/8 miles and became the first leg of the Triple Crown. Tiz the Law adjusted beautifully by cruising to victory in 1:46.53. While it wasn’t a traditional Belmont, handling the format shift still took precision and control.
Sir Winston Slips Past the Field (2019)
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Sometimes the best wins come unexpectedly. Sir Winston wasn’t favored, but his late move past Tacitus turned heads. It was calculated and clean, since he stayed patient and waited until the perfect time to surge.
Justify Completes an Unbeaten Crown (2018)
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Justify made history as he became the second horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated and the only one to do it without racing at two. In the Belmont, he set the pace and never looked back before finishing in 2:28.18. That’s all it took to cap a flawless campaign.
Summer Bird Surprises Everyone (2009)
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Few saw Summer Bird coming, but he surged late and left the favorites behind. The win made him the first since Easy Goer to also take the Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup in the same year. He pulled away with his famous deep drive kick.
Conquistador Cielo Crushes It Off Short Rest (1982)
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Conquistador Cielo just won the Metropolitan Handicap six days earlier. Still, he showed up to Belmont, and his 14-length win on a muddy track proved his durability and talent. Unlike most horses that need recovery, this one needed a week and then ran away with the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Go And Go Breaks Through for Ireland (1990)
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Go and Go wasn’t a U.S. superstar, but the Irish colt made his presence felt in 1990. He became the first Irish-bred horse to win the Belmont since 1958. In a field of American favorites, Go and Go’s finish was an upset that made history on both sides of the Atlantic.
Risen Star Channels His Father (1988)
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When your father is Secretariat, expectations are sky-high. Risen Star came closest to delivering by winning the Belmont by nearly 15 lengths in a blazing 2:26.40. After falling short in the Derby, he made up for it in grand style here. He was a reminder that greatness sometimes runs in the family.