Belmont Gold Cup Stakes
Horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Belmont Gold Cup Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old and older held over two miles on the turf scheduled annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.
| Class | Grade II |
|---|---|
| Location | Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated | 2014 (as Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing - Widener Turf |
| Website | nyra.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2 miles |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Four years old and older |
| Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | $250,000 (2023) |
| Bonuses | Automatic entry to Melbourne Cup |
History
The race was inaugurated in 2014[1] with a stakes purse of $200,000.[2]
In 2017 the event was classified as Grade III[3] and was reclassified as Grade II for 2018.
The event is longest graded event in North America and attracts many entrants from Europe where long distance staying races on the turf are more numerous.[3]
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, NYRA did not schedule the event in their updated and shortened spring-summer meeting.[4]
In 2024 the event was moved to Saratoga Racetrack as part of the Belmont Stakes carnival due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.. The Irish-bred winner The Grey Wizard set a new track record for the two-mile journey.[5]
The 2025 Edition was moved the to dirt course due to weather and downgraded to Grade III due to the condition of the turf course after heavy rain. The event was held over the one and three-quarter miles distance.[6]
Records
Speed record:
- 3:16.68 - Loft (GER) (2022)
Largest margin of victory:
- 8+1⁄2 lengths - Parchment Party (2025)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 – John R. Velazquez (2014, 2021, 2024, 2025)
Most wins by a trainer:
- No trainer has won this race more than once.
Most wins by an owner:
- No owner has won this race more than once.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Saratoga – Belmont Gold Cup Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2026 | Tawny Port | 7 | Flavien Prat | Miguel Clement | Peachtree Stable | 2 miles | 3:17.75[a] | $250,000 | II | [8] |
| 2025 | Parchment Party | 4 | John R. Velazquez | William Mott | Pin Oak Stud LLC | 1+3⁄4 miles | 2:57.86 | $250,000 | III | Off turf[9] |
| 2024 | The Grey Wizard (IRE) | 5 | John R. Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and The Estate of Albert Frassetto | 2 miles | 3:18.35 | $250,000 | II | [10] |
| At Belmont Park | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Siskany (GB) | 5 | William Buick | Charles Appleby | Godolphin | 2 miles | 3:23.94 | $250,000 | II | [11] |
| 2022 | Loft (GER) | 4 | Andrasch Starke | Marcel Weiss | Manfred Ostermann | 2 miles | 3:16.68 | $400,000 | II | [12] |
| 2021 | Baron Samedi (GB) | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Joseph O'Brien | LECH Racing | 2 miles | 3:27.30 | $400,000 | II | [13] |
| 2020 | Race not held | |||||||||
| Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2019 | Amade (IRE) | 5 | Flavien Prat | Alessandro Botti | OTI Racing, Laurent Dassault & Elisa Berte | 2 miles | 3:19.95 | $400,000 | II | [14] |
| 2018 | Call To Mind (GB) | 4 | Javier Castellano | William Haggas | Queen Elizabeth II | 2 miles | 3:16.78 | $400,000 | II | [15] |
| 2017 | Red Cardinal (IRE) | 5 | Eduardo Pedroza | Andreas Wohler | Australian Bloodstock | 2 miles | 3:18.79 | $400,000 | III | [16] |
| 2016 | Da Big Hoss | 5 | Florent Geroux | Michael J. Maker | Phillips Racing Partnership | 2 miles | 3:17.29 | $300,000 | Listed | [17] |
| 2015 | Innovation Economy | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence | 2 miles | 3:22.17 | $250,000 | Listed | [18] |
| 2014 | Charming Kitten | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 2 miles | 3:21.52 | $200,000 | [19] | |