Wagering On Horses - Test Of Champions
The mile and a half 2011 Belmont Stakes betting is referred to as the ‘Test of Champions”. But each of the stops on the online sports book Triple Crown Trail brings a unique perspective and on-line horse bettors should be aware that the race this season will offer its own new set of challenges.
Before we get to that race it should be noted about the role of the Preakness over the years in Sophomore Eclipse Awards.
Since 1971, 18 runners that won the 2nd Jewel of the Triple Crown went on to become champions at 3.
Tradition is steep when talking the Belmont Stakes. The filly Ruthless won the first running in 1867 at Jerome Park. Count Fleet completed his Triple Crown quest taking the 1943 edition winning by 25 lengths. It was the largest margin of victory until Secretariat set the record of 2:24 winning off by 31 in 1973.
As far as time is concerned, Secretariat holds the horse betting Belmont Stakes record for the fastest Belmont.
Both Easy Goer and A.P. Indy ran the next fasters in the third jewel of the triple as both with timed a full 2 seconds slower than Secretariat.
Risen Star and Point Given are tied for 4th at 2:26 2/5 while Affirmed is the next fastest at 2:26 4/5.
Speed was king in the Preakness as Shackleford was on the pace from the get go but speed in the Belmont can be tricky.
Da’Tara wired his Belmont Stakes foes in 2008 but he was the first to go flag fall to that’s all since Swale in 1984.
Over the decades, there have been some blowouts in this race starting in 1973 and continuing with Conquistador Cielo’s 14-length win in 1982 to Point Given’s 12 and a half length success in 2001.
When handicapping the Belmont, bettors have to be concious of the trend when the race is run on a sloppy strip. Over 26% of the Belmonts have been run on off surfaces.
Being drawn inside has been a good thing in the Belmont as the rail has dominated since 2005 with over 20 wins.
The first post parade in the United States was at the 14th Belmont, in 1880.
Before 1921, the race was run in the clockwise tradition of racing across the pond. Since then, the race has been run in the American, or counter-clockwise, direction.
Because of its length (one lap around the enormous Belmont main track), and because it is the final race of the Triple Crown, is why the fixture is called the "Test of the Champion".
Since this will be the farthest most of these horses will every run in their life, you have to be dead fit to win this race.
Most sophomores are intimidated by the distance, and many don’t have the foundation or stamina needed to maintain a winning turn of speed for so long.
In races like this, positioning of the horse and the timing of the move to chase for the lead can be critical.
As the days dwindle down and the Third Jewel gets closer, bettors should pay strict attention to how each candidate has handled his training coming to this race.
Remember, even the great Spectacular Bid, who was as dominating as almost any horse in history, could not sustain his form when a little off because of a needle in the foot the evening before the race.
Listen to the connections intently and try to read in between the lines
