Horse Racing Belmont Stakes Winners in Horse Country June 1, 2026 The G1 Belmont Stakes is the final jewel of the Triple Crown, and takes place five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes. The 158th Belmont Stakes will take place on June 6th at Saratoga Racecourse, where the race has been run since 2024 due to construction at Belmont Park. The race returns to its original home in 2027. The Belmont Stakes was first held in 1867, making it the oldest Triple Crown race, and the fourth oldest race in North America. The winning horse dons a blanket of white carnations, consisting of 700 flowers! The winning connections receive a silver bowl made by Tiffany’s. The original trophy was crafted for the Belmont family in 1926, and is passed down by each winning owner of the Belmont Stakes. Let’s take a look back at some of the recent winners of this historic race. Each of these horses resides at a farm of a Horse Country touring partner, which means you could meet each of these champions! 2024 – Dornoch Dornoch won the 156th Belmont Stakes in 2024, under jockey Luis Saez and trained by Danny Gargan. He was a long shot with odds of 17-1 and started at the front to remain the winner at the finish line with a thrilling upset against Mindframe. Dornoch is now standing as a stallion at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He was born and raised at Runneymade Farm in Paris, Kentucky. He is a full bother to Kentucky Derby winner Mage, who now stands at Airdrie Stud. 2023 – Arcangelo Arcangelo won the 155th Belmont Stakes for trainer Jena Antonucci, who became the first female trainer to win a Triple Crown race. He ran a stalker style off the pace setters before moving up along the rail to win by a length and a half under jockey Javier Castellano. Arcangelo now resides at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, where he is a breeding stallion. His prominent grandsire Tapit resides at Gainesway Farm. 2022 – Mo Donegal Mo Donegal was sent off as the favorite in the 2022 Belmont Stakes, winning by a dominant three lengths over stablemate (and filly!) Nest. He is one of two classic winners sired by the late Uncle Mo, and was trained by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Mo Donegal started his stud career at Spendthrift Farm in 2023. This is a pivotal time for him as a stallion, since his first progeny are juveniles on the track this year. 2021 – Essential Quality Essential Quality is a homebred for Godolphin and was born and raised at Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He won the mile and a half ‘Test of a Champion’ as the heavy favorite for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Luis Saez. Essential Quality is a son of Gainesway Farm stallion Tapit, who has sired four Belmont Stakes winners in his breeding career. Essential Quality now stands stud the same place he was born at Godolphin’s Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. His first runners are now three years old! 2020 – Tiz the Law Tiz the Law became the first New York-bred horse to win the Belmont Stakes since 1882 with his 3 3/4 lengths victory in 2020. The colt was trained by Barclay Tagg and ridden by jockey Manny Franco. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Belmont Stakes was very unique, as no spectators were allowed, and it was the first Triple Crown race of the year, rather than the final race. Tiz the Law stands stud at Coolmore America in Versailles, Kentucky. He is already off to a great start at stud as the sire of Kentucky Derby runner Tiztastic and many stakes winners. His sire Constitution and grandsire Tiznow are both at WinStar Farm in Versailles. 2018 – Justify Justify became the 13th Triple Crown winner after a thrilling victory in the Belmont Stakes, just a few years after fellow Bob Baffert-trainee American Pharoah. Justify led the field wire to wire to win by almost two lengths. Justify retired to stud at Coolmore America in Versailles, Kentucky after his astonishing racing career. He has had a successful stud career already, siring many versatile horses who win on multiple surfaces. 2014 – Tonalist Tonalist spoiled the Triple Crown attempt by favored California Chrome in the 2014 Belmont Stakes. After his victory in the Belmont Stakes, Tonalist went on to defeat older horses in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, among other graded stakes victories. He was trained by Chrisophe Clement and ridden by jockey Joel Rosario. Tonalist stands at stud at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, and is a son of Gainesway Farm stallion Tapit. 2012 – Union Rags Union Rags became the second Triple Crown race winner for trainer Michael Matz, who rose to fame as an Olympic medallist in show jumping before shifting to a career training racehorses. Union Rags sat off the pace for most of the race, before driving up the rail to win by a neck under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. Union Rags has been standing at Lane’s End Farm since his retirement in 2012, and is known for his success as a broodmare sire. Experience the history of the Belmont Stakes, right here in Horse Country, by meeting some of the past winners of the ‘Test of a Champion’. Tours are offered of these top horse farms, and more, on a regular basis.
