The Belmont Gold Cup Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old and older held over two miles on the turf scheduled annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.
| Grade II race | |
| Location | Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2014 (as Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing - Widener Turf |
| Website | nyra.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2 miles |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Four years old and older |
| Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | $250,000 (2023) |
| Bonuses | Automatic entry to Melbourne Cup |
History
editThe race was inaugurated in 2014[1] with a stakes purse of $200,000.[2]
In 2017 the event was classified as Grade III[3] and was reclassified as Grade II for 2018.
The event is longest graded event in North America and attracts many entrants from Europe where long distance staying races on the turf are more numerous.[3]
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, NYRA did not schedule the event in their updated and shortened spring-summer meeting.[4]
In 2024 the event was moved to Saratoga Racetrack as part of the Belmont Stakes carnival due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.. The Irish-bred winner The Grey Wizard set a new track record for the two-mile journey.[5]
Records
editSpeed record:
- 3:16.68 - Loft (GER) (2022)
Largest margin of victory:
- 2+3⁄4 length - Baron Samedi (GB) (2021)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 – John R. Velazquez (2014, 2021, 2024)
Most wins by a trainer:
- No trainer has won this race more than once.
Most wins by an owner:
- No owner has won this race more than once.
Winners
edit| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Saratoga – Belmont Gold Cup Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2024 | The Grey Wizard (IRE) | 5 | John R. Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and The Estate of Albert Frassetto | 2 miles | 3:18.35 | $250,000 | II | [6] |
| At Belmont Park | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Siskany (GB) | 5 | William Buick | Charles Appleby | Godolphin | 2 miles | 3:23.94 | $250,000 | II | [7] |
| 2022 | Loft (GER) | 4 | Andrasch Starke | Marcel Weiss | Manfred Ostermann | 2 miles | 3:16.68 | $400,000 | II | [8] |
| 2021 | Baron Samedi (GB) | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Joseph O'Brien | LECH Racing | 2 miles | 3:27.30 | $400,000 | II | [9] |
| 2020 | Race not held | |||||||||
| Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2019 | Amade (IRE) | 5 | Flavien Prat | Alessandro Botti | OTI Racing, Laurent Dassault & Elisa Berte | 2 miles | 3:19.95 | $400,000 | II | [10] |
| 2018 | Call To Mind (GB) | 4 | Javier Castellano | William Haggas | Queen Elizabeth II | 2 miles | 3:16.78 | $400,000 | II | [11] |
| 2017 | Red Cardinal (IRE) | 5 | Eduardo Pedroza | Andreas Wohler | Australian Bloodstock | 2 miles | 3:18.79 | $400,000 | III | [12] |
| 2016 | Da Big Hoss | 5 | Florent Geroux | Michael J. Maker | Phillips Racing Partnership | 2 miles | 3:17.29 | $300,000 | Listed | [13] |
| 2015 | Innovation Economy | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence | 2 miles | 3:22.17 | $250,000 | Listed | [14] |
| 2014 | Charming Kitten | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 2 miles | 3:21.52 | $200,000 | [15] | |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "BELMONT GOLD CUP INVITATIONAL STAKES - BELMONT PARK, NY". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ^ "Belmont Gold Cup Invitational S. Black Type -". equibase. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ^ a b Shea, Erin (4 June 2017). "Euro Invaders to Line Up for Belmont Gold Cup". Bloodhorse. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ^ McCalmont, Keith (19 May 2020). "NYRA announces stakes schedule for 25 day Belmont Park spring summer meet". New York Racing Association. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ Ehalt, Bob (6 June 2024). "The Grey Wizard Strikes 'Gold' at Saratoga Gets a guaranteed spot in the Melbourne Cup for victory in two-mile grass stakes". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "2024 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "2023 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "2022 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "2021 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ "2019 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "2018 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "2017 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "2016 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "2015 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "2014 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes Black Type - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2021.