Triple Crown 2018: How long is the Belmont Stakes?
By Zach Bigalke
No dirt track race in the U.S. runs longer than the 12 furlongs of the Belmont Stakes. That covers the full 1.5 miles of the “Big Sandy” at Belmont Park.
Part of the allure of the Triple Crown series is that it tests three-year-old thoroughbreds on a variety of courses. The Belmont Stakes caps the five-week series with a trip to Long Island. While the first two races offer showdowns at legendary venues, though, it is the third race that offers the greatest challenge.
Both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes fall within normal lengths for dirt races in the United States. The 10 furlongs of the Kentucky Derby are the same length as the Breeders Cup Classic and other races held throughout the season. Similarly, the 9.5 furlongs of the Preakness fall right between the nine furlongs of many early spring races and the 10 furlongs of the Kentucky Derby and other later summer races.
The Belmont Stakes offers a completely different challenge for trainers, jockeys, and the horses on which their fortunes rise and fall. No other dirt race in the United States runs anywhere near the 1.5 miles of the Belmont Stakes. Thanks to the unique design of the race course, the Belmont Stakes covers the full 12 furlongs of the dirt track.
To race a comparable length, horses would have to race overseas. And even then, most races of this length and longer are held on turf courses rather than on the dirt. It is unlikely that any horse will ever come to Belmont Park with a race like Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez, a 12-furlong dirt race held every January in Montevideo, on its record.
Next: Triple Crown 2018: Schedule for Derby, Preakness, Belmont
With the added distance, the race lasts around two and a half minutes, give or take a few seconds. Secretariat still holds the race record with his 1973 run of 2:24.0 to secure the Triple Crown.
For more from the Triple Crown, wrapping up with the Belmont Stakes, make sure to follow FanSided and stay tuned to our horse racing hub for all the latest news and results.