So what do we make of the beginning of the second half of the 2017 race season, where in the space of one week we’ve seen the defeats of Arrogate, Always Dreaming, Cloud Computing, Irish War Cry, and Timeline with nary a battle offered?
Humans and animals overcoming physical handicaps and going on to achieve great things has always been a sure way to bring out the sentimental side of people, who admire grit and resolve in the face of adversity.
To set the stage for Hansel's Belmont victory, one must go back to Churchill Downs, where the colt had thrown in an inexplicably bad performance in the Kentucky Derby, finishing 10th after looking like a winner at the top of the stretch.
Tapit—North America's leading sire three years running—didn't get a chance to run in the Belmont Stakes (G1), but his presence in the American classic race certainly has been felt the last few years.
Tonalist...Frosted...Creator...Tapwrit. If not for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah defeating Frosted in 2015, Tapwrit would have been Tapit's fourth consecutive Belmont Stakes winner.
Tired but good was the official declaration of how Tapwrit was doing Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after his two-length victory in the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Claire Novak pays a visit to Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit and checks in on the status of several other Belmont contenders including Irish War Cry, Patch, Gormley, Senior Investment, and Hollywood Handsome.
While the scratch of Epicharis (JPN) impacted the amount of money wagered, the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park still became the first United States classic simulcast into Japan.
Total handle for the Belmont Stakes day card June 10 at Belmont Park was down 5.8% to $93,666,832 although handle for the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival increased 1.6% to $124,740,193.
Claire Novak recaps the Belmont Stakes, where Tapwrit ran down Irish War Cry to become the third Belmont Stakes winner sired by Gainesway's Tapit, and trainer Todd Pletcher's third Belmont Stakes winner as well. Also an update on Hollywood Handsome.
Comments from the connections of 2017 Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit, including trainer Todd Pletcher.
With an inside trip just off favored Irish War Cry, Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Robert LaPenta's Tapwrit angled out late in the final turn under jockey Jose Ortiz and kicked well clear of the rest in the 1 1/2-mile classic.
Claire Novak with news updates on Belmont Stakes day morning on June 10, 2017, at Belmont Park.
With the first two classic winners of 2017 skipping the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and a pair of hopefuls not making the race, the big-event approach to the day by the New York Racing Association could prove key June 10.
Despite the scratch of Japan-based Epicharis from the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) the morning of June 10, the Japan Racing Association will still accept the simulcast signal of the 1 1/2-mile classic.
Epicharis, who traveled from Japan to contest the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1), was a vet scratch the morning of the race June 10, after he failed to train several days in a row at Belmont Park.
Both total handle and on-track handle for the first two days of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival increased significantly over 2016's festival, the New York Racing Association announced June 9.
Images from the days leading up to the races of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival
In the days and weeks after Royal Mo's breakdown at Pimlico Race Course, in his last timed workout for the Preakness Stakes (G1), it was difficult for the trainer to power forward, but the other horses in his care deserved his best.
The Triple Crown trail comes to an end on Long Island Saturday, June 10, with the 149th running of the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) the last of 10 stakes to be run on a marathon 13-race card that gets underway at 11:35 Eastern.
What has been an ever-shifting landscape for this year's 3-year-old runners is set to conclude its first-half act June 10 with a wide-open edition of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1).
After capturing the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) with Always Dreaming, trainer Todd Pletcher will try to close out the Triple Crown season with another classic victory when he sends out Tapwrit and Patch in the Belmont Stakes.
Silverton Hill's Bonnie and Tommy Hamilton have an impressive cattle and horse farm, but it's an hour outside the heart of the Bluegrass in Springfield, KY, where Belmont hopeful Meantime laid up late last year.
For the third consecutive day, Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) entrant Epicharis did not go to the track June 9, two days after he received a treatment of phenylbutazone for "lameness" in his right front leg.
Claire Novak reports on the status of Belmont Stakes contender Epicharis, who was seen Friday morning by the New York Racing Association's chief examining veterinarian. Also includes footage of Tapwrit, Meantime, Senior Investment, and more!
Here we are at the end of the road--the often unpredictable Belmont Stakes, without the Kentucky Derby or Preakness winner, without the favorite Classic Empire, and with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the head of the Japanese invader Epicharis.
Unbeaten on dirt since he was transferred to the barn of Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, Twisted Tom has a chance to become the poster child for outside-the-box thinking in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).
Martin Panza pioneered recruiting Japanese horses to the American Oaks at Hollywood Park last decade, and he's doing the same thing at NYRA as Epicharis follows Lani as a Belmont Stakes entrant
Lookin At Lee will not be carrying a lunch pail during the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park, but trainer Steve Asmussen knows his horse will bring that mental approach to the 1 1/2-mile classic.
Claire Novak shares information on Belmont Stakes contender Epicharis, who did not go to the track to train Thursday morning after being treated for lameness. Plus footage of Irish War Cry and Gormley in their first trips over the track!
Newly minted Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) favorite Irish War Cry got his first look at the massive Belmont Park oval the morning of June 8, when he hit the main track for a 1 1/2-mile gallop with trainer Graham Motion keeping tabs.
The status of Japanese contender Epicharis is in question for the June 10 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) after the colt was treated with bute June 7 and did not go out to train June 8 at Belmont Park.
Brian Lynch, back from temporarily surrendering his trainer's license a year ago, has Meantime in the June 10 Belmont Stakes after scoring June 3 with Oscar Performance in the Pennine Ridge Stakes.
With champion Classic Empire out of the June 10 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) with a hoof abscess, Irish War Cry inherited the position of favoritism for the 1 1/2-mile race, and was installed as the 7-2 morning-line choice.
A foot abscess knocked Classic Empire out of the June 10 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), and left the rest of the entrants' connections to wonder how the race will play out in his absence.
Claire Novak interviews trainer Mark Casse about Classic Empire's defection from the Belmont Stakes (G1), and checks in on the juvenile champion on a busy Wednesday morning as the remaining Belmont contenders gear up for the race.
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay has purchased a 25% interest in Belmont Stakes (G1) contender J Boys Echo, Jason Loutsch of owner Albaugh Family Stable announced June 7.
In search of a yearling with classic potential, Albaugh Family Stable stepped up to acquire J Boys Echo for $485,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Champion Classic Empire will not run in the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) because of a hoof abscess in his right front, trainer Mark Casse said June 7.
Saturday’s Belmont Stakes card promises to be one of the most exciting events of the year for Thoroughbred racing fans and bettors alike.
Gratitude and humility flow freely from jockey Channing Hill, something the 29-year-old is particularly mindful of these days. He remembers all too well when that wasn't necessarily the case.
Customers looking for customization of their racing experience should find a useful tool in the new NYRA Now app, which not only provides access to all things New York Racing Association but lets the user determine the experience.
Japanese-bred colt covered five furlongs in 1:06, but ran the last three in :37 on the Belmont Park training track.
Robert LaPenta, who dethroned Big Brown in 2008 with longshot Da' Tara, hopes to score his second Belmont Stakes victory as one of the co-owners of Tampa Bay Derby winner Tapwrit.
Preakness Stakes (G1) third-place finisher covered a half-mile in :50 1/5.
Let's start off by saying what has happened in the past often has no bearing on what is going to happen in the future. In Thoroughbred racing, they call them past performances for a reason.
When Victor Espinoza returns to ride in the Belmont Stakes (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park for the first time since guiding American Pharoah to a Triple Crown sweep in 2015, the memory of that day will still be fresh.
Belmont Stakes (G1) hopeful Multiplier, a colt from the first crop of The Factor, went unsold on a final bid of $120,000 at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales' April sale.
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) runner-up Lookin At Lee breezed four furlongs in :48.33 under the early morning sunshine on the Belmont Park main track June 4 in preparation for the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1).
Both Isabelle de Tomaso's homebred Irish War Cry and Mark and Nancy Stanley’s Hollywood Handsome have been confirmed for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park.
