History Of The Belmont Sprint.
Feature racing returns to Belmont Park on Saturday with the running of the Group 3 Belmont Sprint. Here is an overview of the race that has seen notable horses like Luckygray, Grand Nirvana, Elite Belle, Let Go Thommo, Modem, Burgess Queen and Rock Magic grace its honour roll.
BELMONT SPRINT OVERVIEW
The Belmont Sprint was first staged in 1963 and won by Free Style.
It was held over 1200m from 1963-72 & 1974-77, 1300m from 1973 & 1978-81 and 1400 since 1982.
Since 1980 it has held Group 3 status.
BELMONT SPRINT JOCKEYS.
Paul Harvey and Dan Staeck share the best Belmont Sprint riding record with three wins each.
Harvey: Modem (2004), Marasco (2008) & Universal Ruler (2009).
Staeck: Grand Nirvana (2010-2011) & Kerrific (2013).
Staeck, Harvey and John Wilson are the only hoops to win the Belmont Sprint in successive years.
Wilson won on National Boy (1978-1979).
BELMONT SPRINT TRAINERS
Fred Kersley has trained four Belmont Sprint winners. His first arrived in 1993 courtesy of Dynamor and continued with Marasco (2008), Grand Nirvana (2010-2011).
Grant & Alana Williams have won three: Elite Belle (2014), Shining Knight (2015) & Galaxy Star (2019).
BELMONT SPRINT GENDER
The boys have it over the girls since the inception of the Belmont Sprint.
35 geldings have recorded wins.
Mares have won it on eight occasions, the last Galaxy Star.
BELMONT SPRINT BARRIERS
Barrier five has recorded eight wins.
Barrier one has seven wins including three from the past six years.
Barriers two and six are the next best starting positions.
BELMONT SPRINT/FASTEST TIME
Fastest time recorded over current distance (1400m): Another Omen. 1.21.68 in 1987.
BELMONT SPRINT AGE
Four and five-year-old’s have won the race on 18 and 19 times respectively.
Six-year-olds have been successful on 10 occasions
Three three-year-old’s have shone six times
As seven-year-olds Rock Magic (2017) and Countlike (1970) are the oldest horses to win the Belmont Sprint.
BELMONT SPRINT/ROMA CUP
Santaland (1968), Firelight (1969), Clear Mak (1973), Craigie Boy (1975), National Boy (1979), Tangiers (1980), Tribula (2003), Modem (2004), Grand Nirvana (2011), Luckygray (2012), Rock Magic (2017).
PREVIOUS RUN
Since 2000 11 of the past winners were successful at their previous starts, four of those winners were first up. (Material Man-2018), Universal Ruler-2009), Corporate Bruce (2001) & News Review-2000).
WINNERS SINCE 2000
2019-Galaxy Star
2018-Material Man
2017-Rock Magic
2016-Wink And A Nod
2015-Shining Knight
2014-Elite Belle
2013-Kerrific
2012-Luckygray
2011-Grand Nirvana
2010-Grand Nirvana
2009-Universal Ruler
2008-Marasco
2007-Beat The storm
2006-Let Go Thommo
2005-Who Did It
2004-Modem
2003-Tribula
2002-Dark ‘N’ Dangerous
2001-Corporate Bruce
2000-News Review
Julio Santarelli