The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) announced Saturday that the purse
for the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes, the third jewel of Thoroughbred
racing’s Triple Crown to be run on June 7, will be $1.5 million. The Belmont had
previously offered a purse of $1 million since 1998.
The other two races that comprise the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby and
Preakness Stakes, currently offer purses of $2 million and $1.5 million,
respectively. Earlier this month, Maryland Jockey Club officials announced that
the Preakness purse would be raised $500,000 from the $1 million that had been
offered since 1998.
“This Belmont Stakes is the main attraction of the biggest day of the year at
Belmont Park, and we feel this increase suitably reflects the race’s status as
one of the sport’s prestigious Triple Crown events,” said Martin Panza, Senior
Vice President of Racing Operations for NYRA. “I am grateful to Steven Duncker,
Bobby Flay, Barry Ostrager, Leonard Riggio and Rick Violette of the NYRA Racing
Committee for their help and cooperation in making this increase possible.”
The purse for the 2014 Belmont Stakes will be divided amongst the first eight
finishers with $800,000 to the winner, $280,000 to second, $150,000 to third,
$100,000 to fourth, $60,000 to fifth, $45,000 to sixth, $35,000 to seventh, and
$30,000 to eighth. In recent years, the Belmont Stakes purse had been shared
amongst the first five finishers on a 60-20-11-6-3 percent basis.
“Belmont Stakes runners represent the very best of their respective foal
crops,” NYRA Stakes Coordinator Andrew Byrnes said. “This purse increase helps
ensure the fullest, most competitive field possible, and even an owner whose
horse finishes eighth can earn good purse money for his or her commitment.”
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