NYRA/Coglianese Photo

​History of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes Winners at the Belmont Stakes

by Evan Chronis, Belmont Experiences

As the third leg of the coveted Triple Crown, history is always on the line when horses enter the starting gates at the Belmont Stakes. Whether it's a horse looking for its first, second or third victory on the Triple Crown trail, Belmont Park is home to some of the most historic performances in the sport's storied history.

With the 2019 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes now in the books, it's time to look back and see how winners at both races fare when they compete in the Belmont Stakes.

As the field for the 2019 Belmont Stakes fills out, it’s worth going back to see how recent Belmont winners performed at the Derby and Preakness in the same year.

Justify — 2018 Belmont Stakes Winner

Tapwrit — 2017 Belmont Stakes Winner

Creator — 2016 Belmont Stakes Winner

American Pharoah — 2015 Belmont Stakes Winner

Tonalist — 2014 Belmont Stakes Winner

While Kentucky Derby winner Country House won't be competing in the 2019 Belmont Stakes, the race still has a rich history of Derby winners completing the double by winning the first and final legs of the Triple Crown. Here are the 10 horses that have won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in the same year (Triple Crown winners excluded).

Year Horse

1995 Thunder Gulch

1984 Swale

1976 Bold Forbes

1972 Riva Ridge

1963 Chateaugay

1956 Needles

1942 Shut Out

1939 Johnstown

1931 Twenty Grand

While it's been over a decade since a horse that failed to win the Kentucky Derby went on to victory at the Preakness and Belmont, it's been a common occurrence since both races' inceptions. Excluding the 13 Triple Crown winners, 18 horses have won the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes in the same year.

Year Horse

2005 Afleet Alex

2001 Point Given

1994 Tabasco Cat

1991 Hansel

1988 Risen Star

1974 Little Current

1967 Damascus

1955 Nashua

1953 Native Dancer

1949 Capot

1940 Bimelech

1922 Pillory

1920 Man O'War

1895 Belmar

1881 Saunterer

1880 Grenada

1878 Duke of Magenta

1877 Cloverbrook

Lastly, the 2019 Kentucky Derby did provide a rare bit of history that needs to be put into context. At 65-1 odds, Country House went down as the second biggest longshot to ever win the Kentucky Derby. So how have other recent longshot winners fared at the Belmont Stakes?

Giacomo won the 2005 Kentucky Derby at 50-1 odds and wound up finishing seventh at the Belmont Stakes.

Mine That Bird, winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby at 50-1 odds, finished third at the Belmont Stakes a month later.

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