Heavily favored Tiz the Law won an unprecedented Belmont Stakes, claiming victory Saturday at the first race of a rearranged Triple Crown schedule in front of eerily empty grandstands.
The 3-year-old colt from upstate New York charged to the lead turning for home and now can set his sights on the September 5th Kentucky Derby and October 3rd Preakness. All three legs of this year's Triple Crown schedule were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Belmont, usually the series capper, was initially scheduled for June 6.
Tiz the Law gave New York a hometown champion in its first major sporting event since the coronavirus pandemic seized the area. He is the first New York-bred horse to win the Belmont since Forester in 1882.
The 4-5 favorite won by 3¾ lengths, covering the 1⅛ miles in 1:46.53. Dr Post finished second, and Max Player was third.
The race was shortened from the usual 1½-mile standard to account for competitors' unusual training schedules. Horses kicked off from a starting gate placed atop the backstretch, rather than in front of the grandstands.
In most every way, this Belmont States was unlike any of the 151 that preceded it. The Long Island track can pack in nearly 100,000, but this race had about 100 on hand, including jockeys, media and park staff.
Masks were mandated for all but the horses. Even the jockeys wore face coverings.
They couldn’t find masks big enough for the horses I suppose.
Source: The Full Bell-Monty
Photo Credit: Getty Images