Belmont Park: The Championship Track

by Kim Gatto

Overview

Belmont Park is best known for the annual Belmont Stakes, the challenging final leg of racing's Triple Crown. But Belmont is also renowned because nearly every American champion Thoroughbred has competed on its grounds. Named for the illustrious Belmont family, the track has seen many exciting races since it opened in 1905. In addition to the eleven Triple Crown winners, Belmont Park has hosted legends of yesteryear--such as Man o' War and Nashua--and modern-day superstars like Curlin and Rachel Alexandra. In addition to the Belmont Stakes, the track is home to other important races, including the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Met Mile, and it periodically hosts the Breeder's Cup. Join author Kimberly Gatto as she explores Belmont's most exciting moments.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781609497538
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	05/28/2013
Series:	Sports
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Kim Gatto is the author of five horse track and farm histories, two equestrian books and six sports biographies, as well as numerous articles for equine periodicals. She is a lifelong horse owner and equestrienne and belongs to a number of riding organizations and equine charitable institutions. Michael Blowen is the founder and director of Old Friends, Midway, Kentucky.

Table of Contents

Foreword Michael Blowen 9

Acknowledgements 11

1 A Racecourse in the City 13

2 The Patriarch 19

3 The Test of the Champion 23

4 Morris Park and the End of an Era 29

5 The Birth of "Big Sandy" 35

6 Early Years 45

7 Nursery Stud's "Mostest Hoss" 55

8 The Roaring Twenties 61

9 The Reign of Belair Stud 65

10 A Decade of Triple Crown Wins 77

11 The Modern Age 87

12 Triumph and Tragedy 99

13 A "Slew" of Champions 105

14 Fan Favorites 117

15 The New Millennium 121

Appendix A Track Records 131

Appendix B Triple Crown Near Misses 133

Appendix C Winners of the Belmont Stakes Since 1867 135

Appendix D Winners of the Jockey Club Gold Cup 141

Appendix E Winners of the Metropolitan Handicap 145

Appendix F Winners of the Marlboro Cup 151

Notes 153

Index 157

About the Author 160