The Belmont Derby is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred race horse run over a distance of miles on the Grass at Belmont Park in July.[
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Race history
In 2014, the race became a feature portion of the now defunct Stars and Stripes Racing Festival at Belmont Park. The race was renamed from the Jamaica Handicap, moved from October to July, increased in distance from miles to miles, and had the purse increased from $500,000 to $1,250,000.
The original race name was named after the Jamaica District in Queens, New York. The first running took place in 1929 at the Jamaica Race Course. When the Jamaica track closed in 1959, the race was shifted to the Aqueduct Race Track in Queens where it was contested in 1960, 1975 to 1977, 1979 to 1981, and 1987.
It was raced at a distance of six furlongs from 1929 to 1953 and 1957 to 1960, then at miles (9 furlongs) in 1954, and from 1997 through 2014.
The Jamaica Handicap was open to horses age three and older from 1929 to 1944, 1949 to 1953, and again in 1960. It has been a turf race since 1994.
The Jamaica wasn't run from 1933 to 1935, in 1955 and 1956, from 1961 to 1976, nor in 1995 (due to severe weather conditions). It was run in two divisions in 1946.
In 2009, the Jamaica became a Grade I event.
Of interest is that any horse winning three editions of a single race is a rare occurrence but the Jamaica Handicap had two horses accomplish that feat when it was open to older horses.
Records
Belmont Derby / Jamaica Handicap
Speed record: (at current distance of miles)
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1:58.29 – Henley's Joy (2019)
Most wins:
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3 – Overdrawn (1941, 1942, 1943)
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3 – Piet (1949, 1950, 1951)
Most wins by an owner:
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4 – George D. Widener Jr. (1931, 1936, 1941, 1942)
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a Horse trainer:
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3 – R. Emmett Potts (1949, 1950, 1951)
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3 – Bert Mulholland (1936, 1941, 1942)
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3 – C. R. McGaughey III (1987, 1990, 2014)
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3 – William I. Mott (2000, 2003, 2008)
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3 – Todd A. Pletcher (2002, 2009, 2023)
Winners
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| Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes |
| 2025 | Test Score | 3 | Manuel Franco | H. Graham Motion | Amerman Racing LLC | 1:45.56 | $750,000 | I | miles |
| 2024 | Trikari | 3 | John R. Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Amerman Racing LLC | 1:54.79 | $750,000 | I | miles |
| 2023 | Far Bridge | 3 | José Ortiz | Todd A. Pletcher | LSU Stables | 2:01.75 | $750,000 | I | miles |
| 2022 | Classic Causeway | 3 | Julien Leparoux | Kenneth G. McPeek | Kentucky West Racing LLC & Cooper, Clarke M. | 1:59.99 | $1,000,000 | I | miles |
| 2021 | Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) | 3 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien | Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg | 2:04.42 | $1,000,000 | I | miles |
| 2020 | Gufo | 3 | Junior Alvarado | Christophe Clement | Otter Bend Stables | 2:02.25 | $250,000 | I | miles |
| 2019 | Henley's Joy | 3 | Jose Lezcano | Michael J. Maker | Bloom Racing Stable | 1:58.29 | $1,000,000 | I | miles |
| 2018 | Catholic Boy | 3 | Javier Castellano | Jonathan Thomas | Robert LaPenta, Sol Kumin, Siena Farm, & Twin Creeks Racing Stables | 1:59.28 | $1,200,000 | I | miles |
| 2017 | Oscar Performance | 3 | José Ortiz | Brian A. Lynch | Amerman Racing (Jerry & Joan Amerman) | 2:00.25 | $1,200,000 | I | miles |
| 2016 | Deauville (IRE) | 3 | Jamie Spencer | Aidan O'Brien | Hay, Smith, John Magnier and Michael Tabor | 2:00.51 | $1,250,000 | I | miles |
| 2015 | Force the Pass | 3 | Joel Rosario | Alan E. Goldberg | Richard Santulli | 2:01.16 | $1,250,000 | I | miles |
| 2014 | Mr Speaker | 3 | Jose Lezcano | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 2:01.14 | $1,250,000 | I | miles |
| Jamaica Handicap |
| 2013 | Up With the Birds | 3 | Cornelio Velásquez | Malcolm Pierce | Sam-Son Farms | 1:48.74 | $500,000 | I | miles |
| 2012 | King David | 3 | Rosie Napravnik | Michael J. Maker | Scarlet Stable | 1:52.91 | $400,000 | I | miles |
| 2011 | Western Aristocrat | 3 | Corey Nakatani | Jeremy Noseda | Vinery Stables | 1:50.34 | $250,000 | I | miles |
| 2010 | Prince Will I Am | 3 | Jose Lezcano | Michelle Nihei | Casa Farms | 1:50.07 | $250,000 | I | miles |
| 2009 | Take the Points | 3 | Edgar Prado | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Partners | 1:48.51 | $300,000 | I | miles |
| 2008 | Court Vision | 3 | Ramon Domínguez | William I. Mott | IEAH Stables/WinStar Farm | 1:49.75 | $250,000 | II | miles |
| 2007 | Nobiz Like Shobiz | 3 | Javier Castellano | Barclay Tagg | Tommy Valando | 1:46.80 | $300,000 | II | miles |
| 2006 | Showing Up | 3 | Cornelio Velásquez | Barclay Tagg | Lael Stable | 1:47.81 | $300,000 | II | miles |
| 2005 | Watchmon | 3 | Javier Castellano | Pat Reynolds | Paul Pompa Jr. | 1:49.28 | $300,000 | III | miles |
| 2004 | Artie Schiller | 3 | Richard Migliore | James A. Jerkens | Timber Bay Farm et al. | 1:45.50 | $200,000 | II | miles |
| 2003 | Stroll | 3 | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | Claiborne Farm | 1:46.02 | $200,000 | II | miles |
| 2002 | Finality | 3 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Dogwood Stable | 1:46.66 | $200,000 | II | miles |
| 2001 | Navesink | 3 | Edgar Prado | Alan E. Goldberg | Jayeff B Stables | 1:51.53 | $200,000 | II | miles |
| 2000 | King Cugat | 3 | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | Centennial Farms | 1:49.63 | $200,000 | II | miles |
| 1999 | Monarch's Maze | 3 | Joe Bravo | Patrick J. Kelly | Live Oak Plantation Racing | 1:51.66 | $150,000 | II | miles |
| 1998 | Vergennes | 3 | John Velazquez | Mark Hennig | December Hill Farm | 1:50.42 | $150,000 | II | miles |
| 1997 | Subordination | 3 | Jorge Chavez | Gary Sciacca | Klaravich Stable | 1:49.00 | $150,000 | II | miles |
| 1996 | Allied Forces | 3 | Richard Migliore | Kiaran McLaughlin | Ahmed Al Tayer | 1:40.91 | $125,000 | II | miles |
| 1995 | Race not run |
| 1994 | Pennine Ridge | 3 | John Velazquez | David G. Donk | December Hill Farm | 1:35.13 | $100,000 | II | 1 mile |
| Race run on dirt track |
| 1993 | Mi Cielo | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Peter M. Vestal | Thomas M. Carey | 1:35.20 | $100,000 | II | 1 mile |
| 1992 | West by West | 3 | Jean-Luc Samyn | George R. Arnold II | John H. Peace | 1:34.27 | $100,000 | II | 1 mile |
| 1991 | Sultry Song | 3 | Chris Antley | Patrick J. Kelly | Live Oak Plantation Racing | 1:34.44 | $100,000 | II | 1 mile |
| 1990 | Confidential Talk | 3 | Jorge Chavez | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1:35.60 | $75,000 | II | 1 mile |
| 1989 | Domasca Don | 3 | Sandy Hawley | Robert P. Tiller | Frank Di Giulio Sr. | 1:35.40 | $100,000 | II | 1 mile |
| 1988 | Ruhlmann | 3 | Gary Stevens | Robert J. Frankel | Jerry Moss | 1:35.40 | $100,000 | II | 1 mile |
| 1987 | Stacked Pack | 3 | Randy Romero | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1:34.80 | $75,000 | III | 1 mile |
| 1986 | Waquoit | 3 | Richard Migliore | Guido Federico | Joseph Federico | 1:34.20 | $75,000 | III | 1 mile |
| 1985 | Don's Choice | 3 | Don MacBeth | Marvin L. Moncrief | Sondra D. Bender | 1:36.00 | $75,000 | III | 1 mile |
| 1984 | Raja's Shark | 3 | Richard Migliore | Mark E. Casse | Irwin Feiner | 1:36.60 | $75,000 | III | 1 mile |
| 1983 | Bounding Basque | 3 | Gregg McCarron | Woodrow Sedlacek | J. D. Wimpfheimer | 1:34.00 | $75,000 | III | 1 mile |
| 1982 | John's Gold | 3 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 1:37.00 | $50,000 | III | 1 mile |
| 1981 | Pass The Tab | 3 | Jorge Velásquez | Albert Barrera | Leopoldo Villareal | 1:35.20 | $50,000 | III | 1 mile |
| 1980 | Far Out East | 3 | Cash Asmussen | Thomas J. Kelly | John M. Schiff | 1:34.00 | $50,000 | III | 1 mile |
| 1979 | Belle's Gold | 3 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Walter A. Kelley | John R. Murrell | 1:33.60 | $50,000 | III | 1 mile |
| 1978 | Regal And Royal | 3 | Jeffrey Fell | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Aisco Stable | 1:35.00 | $50,000 | III | 1 mile |
| 1977 | Affiliate | 3 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Lazaro S. Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 1:35.20 | $50,000 | | 1 mile |
| 1976 | Dance Spell | 3 | Ruben Hernandez | James W. Maloney | Christiana Stable | 1:34.00 | $50,000 | II | 1 mile |
| 1975 | Funalon | 3 | Vincent Bracciale Jr. | Leonard Imperio | Old Bombast Farm (F. Di Paolo/J. Mavronicela/A. Pamiccia/L. Imperio) | 1:34.00 | $50,000 | II | 1 mile |
| 1961–74 | Race not scheduled |
| 1960 | Rare Rice | 4 | Ray Broussard | Clyde Troutt | Ada L. Rice | 1:10.60 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1959 | Crafty Skipper | 3 | Bobby Ussery | Lucien Laurin | Charfran Stable | 1:09.60 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1958 | Levelation | 3 | Paul J. Bailey | A G (Bob) Robertson | Albert Warner | 1:10.80 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1957 | Pertshire | 3 | Ted Atkinson | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:11.20 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1956 | Race not run |
| 1955 | Race not run |
| 1954 | Magic Lamp | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Preston M. Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1:50.00 | | | miles |
| 1953 | Sagittarius | 7 | Bennie Green | William G. Williams | Winding Way Farm | 1:11.00 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1952 | Tea-Maker | 9 | Hedley Woodhouse | J. Dallet Byers | F. Ambrose Clark | 1:11.20 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1951 | Piet | 6 | Jim Nichols | R. Emmett Potts | Peter A. Markey | 1:11.20 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1950 | Piet | 5 | Nick Combest | R. Emmett Potts | Peter A. Markey | 1:11.20 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1949 | Piet | 4 | Chris Rogers | R. Emmett Potts | Peter A. Markey | 1:11.40 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1948 | Royal Blood | 3 | Douglas Dodson | James W. Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 1:13.00 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1947 | Jet Pilot | 3 | Johnny Longden | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 1:11.60 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1946 | Bonnie Beryl | 3 | James Stout | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:11.40 | | | 6 furlongs |
| Blunt Remark | 3 | Basil James | Buster Millerick | Frank Frankel | 1:13.20 |
| 1945 | War Jeep | 3 | John H. Adams | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 1:11.40 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1944 | Doublrab | 6 | Eddie Arcaro | Harris B. Brown | Lillian Christopher | 1:11.40 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1943 | Overdrawn | 5 | Sterling Young | Pete Battle | Dearborn Stable (James Powers & Morton Donnelly) | 1:13.00 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1942 | Overdrawn | 4 | Nick Coule | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:12.40 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1941 | Overdrawn | 3 | Herb Lindberg | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:11.80 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1940 | Wise Bee | 3 | Don Meade | Merritt A. Buxton | William H. Gallagher | 1:12.60 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1939 | Fighting Fox | 4 | James Stout | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:12.00 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1938 | Clodion | 4 | Nick Wall | Walter A. Carter | Walter A. Carter | 1:12.20 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1937 | Whopper | 5 | Harry Richards | Duval A. Headley | Hal Price Headley | 1:11.60 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1936 | Sation | 6 | John Gilbert | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:10.80 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1935 | Race not run |
| 1934 | Race not run |
| 1933 | Race not run |
| 1932 | Halcyon | 4 | Earl Steffen | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. Whitney | 1:12.60 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1931 | Panetian | 3 | Linus McAtee | A. Jack Joyner | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:12.40 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1930 | Judge Schilling | 5 | Frank Catrone | Fred E. Kraft | Rudolph Spreckels | 1:11.40 | | | 6 furlongs |
| 1929 | Polydor | 4 | Mack Garner | William J. Spiers | William Ziegler Jr. | 1:11.80 | | | 6 furlongs |
* In 1954 Tea-maker, who won this race in 1952, finished first again but was disqualified.
See also
List of American and Canadian Graded races
External links
