The track where the 2012 Belmont Stakes will be run is affectionately known as “Big Sandy,” and since the opening of Belmont Park, Big Sandy has been making horse racing history. History can be dry at times, but Belmont Park — as you are about to see — is a site where it comes alive.
BELMONT PARK: Opening Day
August Belmont II and William Collins Whitney led a group of prominent investors who built the original Belmont Park. For the first 15 years, all races were run clockwise as was the case in the United Kingdom, a source of bloodstock patronized by prominent American and Canadian owners-breeders. The clockwise direction also resulted in the finish line being directly in front of the clubhouse, where racing nobility would be seated.
August Belmont II was an avid racing patron and breeder; he is also remembered for being the breeder of the legendary Man O’ War. The Whitneys were another of the founding families of American racing who, like the Belmonts, James Robert Keene and the Alexanders nurtured the sport from its inception to the present. Without their diligence, commitment and enthusiasm, there would have been little chance for the Sport of Kings to flourish “across the pond.”
When the Belmont track opened on May 4, 1905, it was the running of The Metropolitan that provided the buzz, since the race would feature James R. Keene’s undefeated colt, Sysonby. The innovation of a Long Island Railroad extension from the Queens Village Station, making it possible for fans of more modest means to attend on opening day, made the trip to Belmont Park easy and affordable.
The Metropolitan, or “Met Mile” as it came to be known, was the featured race at Belmont on May 4, 1905. The expectation was that James R. Keene’s brilliant colt would win.
Sysonby was ranked by at least one prominent turf writer of the day, Neil Newman, as one of the best three thoroughbreds he had ever seen (the other two were Colin and Man O’ War). The bay colt was not much of a looker and it had been Keene’s intent to sell him overseas, but his trainer, James G. Rowe Sr. persuaded him otherwise.
A son of 1885 Epsom Derby winner, Melton, and Keene’s mare, Optime (a granddaughter of the great Ormonde), Sysonby was to prove himself almost invincible on the track. Sysonby was only defeated once in 15 starts — by the fillies Artful and Tradition in the Futurity Stakes — but in that instance, it was discovered that Sysonby’s groom had been bribed to drug the colt before the race.
Even drugged, Sysonby came home a valiant third.
COLIN
Another thoroughbred champion associated with Belmont Park was Colin, who broke his maiden over the dirt there in 1907 and went on to win the Belmont Stakes as a 3 year-old in 1908.
Bred by James R. Keene at his Castleton Farm, Colin’s sire was Commando, a son of the incomparable Domino, both of whom were owned by Keene, who was also the breeder of Commando. The colt was arguably the most prominent of Commando’s offspring, he Domino sire line as an American (thoroughbred) foundation family.
Colin’s Belmont win — his fouteenth in 14 starts — was dramatic: the colt was entered even though he had come up lame, either as a result of dual bows in his front legs or severe soreness. His chief rival would be none other than the gritty Fair Play, whom Colin had met and defeated before. On the day of the Belmont it poured and the horses started off in the rain. Fat curtains of fog obscured the track…….
……how Colin did it, we will never really know, but he made it to the wire just before the quick closing Fair Play whizzed passed him. His great heart as well as his racing prowess resulted in his taking Horse of the Year in 1908.
Undefeated in 15 starts, Colin was retired at age 4 and went on to have a moderate influence on the thoroughbred of today, through such descendants as Alsab, Ack Ack, Youth, Broad Brush and Concern. Even though Colin had several owners after his retirement, James R. Keene considered him the best colt he ever bred — and this was the ultimate compliment from a man who had bred many outstanding thoroughbreds during his lifetime.
Below, Alsab returns to Belmont to capture the Withers.
OTHER GREATS WHO TOOK ON BIG SANDY
It’s fair to say that since its opening in 1905, Belmont Park has been visited by all the greats of American thoroughbred racing at one time or another. Below are a few of the many that raced right into history over Big Sandy, as well as into our hearts and imagination……..
Shown below is Gallant Man’s impressive victory in the 1957 Belmont Stakes. Probably the most famous story of Gallant Man’s racing ,career was his loss to Iron Leige in the Kentucky Derby, due to a misjudgement on the part of his jockey, Bill Shoemaker. Mistaking the exact position of the finish line, Shoemaker stood in the stirrups too early. Accordingly, Gallant Man slowed down just before the finish line, allowing Iron Leige to surge passed him to win. The blunder was arguably the worst in American horse racing and Shoemaker never really lived it down.
But in the Belmont, Gallant Man made it all look too easy. The Nerud-trained colt won by 8 lengths, beating Bold Ruler among others, and in a record time that stood until Secretariat.
Here is Lady’s Secret, winning the Beldame at Belmont:
Undoubtedly, one of the most dramatic runs on the Belmont track came in 1996 in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where Skipaway and Preakness winner, Louis Quatorze, took on Cigar in what would be the great horse’s last race at Big Sandy.
“IT WAS LIKE GOD WAS HOLDING THE REINS AND SECRETARIAT WAS ONE OF HIS CREATURES…”
It would be impossible to conclude this article without honouring one of the greatest performances in the whole history of thoroughbred racing.
Big Sandy is many things — a site of history, victory and loss. But it is first and foremost the crucible of thoroughbred racing in this part of the world. And perhaps no horse will ever again dwarf a track that is the deepest, the longest and the most challenging in North America the way Secretariat did on that afternoon in June, 1973.
Told in the words and reminiscences of those who were there to see it, this is a particularly touching tribute to a big red colt who walked onto the track as a possible Triple Crown winner and left it a thoroughbred legend, as beloved today as he was 39 years ago.
I just skimmed through it, but it is awesome, Abigail! As you know, I love the history of the sport, the horses, the people, the places, the races, and this piece is one I will savor many times.
I’m looking forward to more and hope you will have the time (and the energy!) to cover the entries in the Belmont, especially the “new shooters”, to see if there will be any surprises that could jump up and ruin our, what looks to be, best chance for a Triple Crown in 34 years with I’ll Have Another. I wonder what the “spoilers” in past TC attempts have in common with some of the possible spoilers on the current list of Belmont entries?
Just saw Mike Watchmaker’s early odds as of today, and he has improved Little Red’s odds from 4-5 to 3-5, and he has downgraded Dullahan and Union Rags slightly. Paynter has improved slightly from 12-1 to 10-1 (he had a bullet work the other day). I don’t know what all of this means, except that at least according to DRF’s senior handicapper, he thinks we have a pretty good chance to end the dry spell! How are we ever going to get through the next 11 days!! I am just beside myself with excitement! And it must be doubly exciting to those like yourself who have followed the sport since the early 1970s with Secretariat’s spectacular win and that wonderful “golden age of racing”. To have had hopes dashed 11 times since Affirmed’s TC in 1978 must have been just unbearable.
Thank you for the depth and breadth of the sport you bring to every single column and that you share so lovingly and generously with your many fans. Big hugs!
LikeLike
Abigail, just skimmed through your latest effort and can’t wait to settle in and take my time reading this wonderful narrative. As you know I love all the history surrounding the sport, the horses, the races, the people. This will be a column I will savor and go back to often.
I’m hoping you have the time (and the energy!) to delve a little bit into the horses entered in the Belmont, especially the “new shooters”. It would be interesting to know what the past eleven “spoilers” may have in common with the current long shots. And, nearly all of the entries this year could be classified as “long shots”, with the possible exceptions of Dullahan and Union Rags, who are the only two with single-digit odds, according to Mike Watchmaker.
Watchmaker came out with his latest early odds chart: He has upgraded I’ll Have Another from 4-5 to 3-5; downgraded slightly Dullahan and Union Rags, from 5-1 to 6-1 and from 6-1 to 8-1, respectively. He has upgraded Paynter from 12-1 to 10-1 (he had a bullet work the other day), downgraded Atigun from 15-1 to 30-1. I don’t know what all of this means, except it looks like, at least to DRF’s senior handicapper, that Little Red’s chances of ending the dry spell are looking pretty good. I don’t know how we are going to get through the next 11 days! It must be doubly hard for those like yourself who have been around during the “golden age” of the sport only to see the Triple Crown slip away 11 other times since those halcyon. From all that I’ve been reading, this seems to be the closest anyone who has shared an opinion seems to think we have been since 1978. With Mario and Little Red, I think we are in excellent hands and it will be a “race for the ages,” I have no doubt. I get chills just thinking about it!
Thank you for the depth and breadth of the sport you bring to every single column and for sharing so generously with your fans. Hugs!
LikeLike
Thanks, Ann Maree. Let me know what you think when you’ve had the time to read it!!!! HUGS, Abigail
LikeLike
A wonderful article full of interesting facts about the track and the horses. Love your presentations, your passion for the subjects comes through in your writing. I truly enjoy it. Thank you.
LikeLike
Superb ….just love your articles…they are so jammed packed with information
LikeLike
How does it get any better than this? My heart still constricts at Secretariat’s Belmont. This is a wonderful history compilation and with each bit of information comes a greater love of this sport. Thanks so much for this.
LikeLike
I know, Never Spoiled …. my heart goes thump too and I fall in love with him all over again! Thanks so much for taking the time to write. It’s hugely appreciated! Abigail
LikeLike
Hello Abigail! Thank you so much once again for your wonderful tribute to the Big Sandy, as aside from my beloved hometown Saratoga, there is not a Track in the World that I have more passionate feelings & affection for! I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t point out that the Whitney has always been the 1st big Saturday draw every August in my Saratoga followed by the Alabama, Travers & Hopeful, and of course more recently, they moved the Woodward up from Belmont to be run in Saratoga for the closing Labor Day weekend attraction! Please forgive me for having to make this correction, but trust you understand that when it comes to Saratoga I’m quite particular! ;~} I very much look forward to your next edition, and perhaps it could be on Saratoga! I wish you & any of our other friends/aficionados could make a trek to Saratoga sometime (or perhaps you already have!) as aside from my personal bias, I think every true racing fan should make a point to put the Hall of Fame on their bucket list! Nothing compares to attending the Fasig Tipton Select Yearling Sales early in the week (August 6th & 7th this year!), walking a half block over to the Hall of Fame, and then crossing Union Avenue for a “Day at the Races”! And…perhaps best of all is finishing your week off with a birds eye seat for free at the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony back at the Fasig Tipton Pavillion! It’s quite wonderful that this always enjoyable event is free & open to the public! You must think I work for Saratoga’s Chamber of Commerce by now, but I’m afraid I’m just unabashedly very proud of the very special & unique little town I was born & raised in! Take care, Weezie
LikeLike
Weezie: Thanks for this. I just love your passion for Saratoga and, yes, I will ABSOLUTELY put it on my list of future topics. It’s always such a pleasure to hear from you. Who knows? One year we may be meeting up in your hometown! Hugs from me, Abigail
LikeLike
I would love that Abigail & I will kindly offer up my services as official tour guide for the Track & Downtown & all around town! You just let me know if you ever decide to make that trip!
LikeLike
As usual…wonderful reading and the gift of selecting what counts. I too love what you do.
LikeLike
Seacatbx LA Dumpling: Ah-hah! A dumpling eh? Well, this makes your lovely comment doubly flattering!!!! Thanks so much for the encouragement. I love what I do too but it’s readers like you that make it so much fun and so rewarding. Abigail
LikeLike
I am saving this piece to read tomorrow morning at leisure with my morning coffee. I first started watching horse racing as a horse-crazy girl in 1972–“my” first race was the 1972 Kentucky Derby won by Riva Ridge. Then of course Secretariat followed in 1973…ha, I remember thinking both that horse racing was always that wowee-zowee, while also realizing how fortunate I was to be witnessing history happening before my eyes (knowing how long the Triple Crown drought had been).
My dad used to take me to Breakfast At Belmont to watch the horses work out in the wee hours of a summer morning. Wonderful times.
And Secretariat even found time to answer one of my fan letters to him 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, Christina. What a great horse racing history you have! WOW! I hope you enjoy the article over your morning coffee and that it makes you smile. Thank you so much for taking the time to write. I really appreciate hearing from VAULT readers! Abigail
LikeLike
Another gem in my mailbox. But then every new post from you is most eagerly awaited and devoured. I am in total agreement with Weezie. I would love to see your take on Saratoga.
Saratoga would have to be the jewel in the crown of racing in the USA. Taking nothing away from Churchill or any other track. Saratoga feels like this is where it all began. There is so much history there. The town, the residents, the track all live and breathe racing history.
I urge anyone who has not been to go and see for themselves, and soon.
With grateful thanks, Lorrie
LikeLike
Lorrie! I’m so glad someone “seconds my emotion”! Will you be in Saratoga this year?! It would be so grand if some of us who so appreciate Abigail’s blog & horse racing in general could convene at The Spa!
LikeLike
Weezie, I move Heaven and Earth every year to be at Saratoga for the meet. I certainly hope to be there some of the time this year.
I love to walk through town and drive round and admire the buildings. I can imagine what it was like in the early days. If Saratoga is your home town then you are so very lucky.
LikeLike
Yes I am which is why I moved Heaven & Earth to buy a little home there a few years back so I always have somewhere to stay! Most evenings after the Races you can find me (along with many others from the horse racing world!) at my friends’ Dave & Chris Harmon’s West Side Stadium on Congress St. up the hill from Congress Park! Dave is a Horse Racing Photog who you can see daily at the Track which is why many from the Track frequent his spot! Sooooooo…if you make that move hopefully we can meet up sometime Lorrie!
LikeLike
Wonderful, Abigail!! It is so welcome to find another new blog from you even though I’m day late so to speak. I marvel at how your weaving the photos and the comments becomes such a work of art and a very entertaining and enlightening read! Thank you for sharing your research, your passion and your talent with the rest of us!!
LikeLike
Hi Celeste. My turn to send apologies but it has been a busy time and I’ve been too slow to respond to your kind comments, I know. But I’m always delighted to hear from you and appreciate so much that you take the time to drop me a line. HUGS! Abigail
LikeLike