The Belmont Stakes is the oldest event in horseracing's esteemed Triple Crown.
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First held at Jerome Park racetrack in the Bronx, the race dates all the way back to 1867 -- six years before the inaugural Preakness and eight years before the Kentucky Derby.
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It was named after August Belmont I -- a New York financier, politician and society figure -- and has only missed two editions, when anti-gambling laws in New York forced its cancellation in 1911 and 1912.
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One of the most celebrated champions was Secretariat, which won by 31 lengths in a record time of 2:24 in 1973.
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This year's race takes place Saturday June 10 on Long Island, New York.
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It boasts a prize purse of $1.5 million, with the winning connections taking home $800,000.
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American Pharoah is undoubtedly the most famous runner in recent years. Among the favorites in 2017 are Classic Empire, Irish War Cry, and Japan's Epicharis.
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One-eyed Patch has Derby-winning jockey John Velazquez onboard after finishing 14th in Kentucky.
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