Who Has Won the Belmont Stakes? A Look Back and the Latest Winner

The Belmont Stakes ranks among the most prestigious horse races in the United States. It is the last race of the Triple Crown, following the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Many famous horses have won the Belmont. In 2025, Sovereignty took home the trophy.  

2025 Belmont Stakes Champion: Sovereignty

On June 7th, 2025, the 157th Belmont Stakes race was run at Saratoga Race Course (as Belmont Park was undergoing renovations). This year, the race was shorter than usual, coming in at 1¼ miles instead of the regular distance of 1½. Sovereignty, with Junior Alvarado aboard, finished first with a time of 2:00.69. In second place was Journalism, and in third place was Baeza, the same results as the Kentucky Derby earlier that year.

This victory made Sovereignty the first colt to win two legs of the Triple Crown (the Derby and the Belmont Stakes) in the same year since the Colt Justify in 2018. 

A Brief History of Belmont Stakes Winners

The Belmont Stakes, which originated in 1867, is the oldest of the three races in the Triple Crown. Throughout its historic life span, the Belmont Stakes has been run at different distances and at different tracks. Since 1905, the races have generally taken place at Belmont Park in New York. The standard distance since 1926 has been 1½ miles (about 2,400 meters). 

Many legendary horses have won the Belmont Stakes, and a few notable winners are:

• Secretariat (1973): The winning time of 2 minutes 24 seconds is still remembered today, is the longest history for the Belmont Stakes, and remains the time record at that distance. He won by a remarkable 31 lengths. 
• Some of the jockeys who have received praise for the most wins are Eddie Arcaro, Jim McLaughlin, and Bill Shoemaker, among others.
• Some recent Triple Crown winning horses that also won the Belmont Stakes are Seattle Slew, Affirmed, American Pharoh and others.

Fastest Final Times and Records 

• Secretariat’s finish of 2:24.0 in 1973 is the fastest Belmont Stakes finish (1½ miles). No other horse has finished faster than 2:24.0 at this distance.
• Some other quick Belmont finishes include Easy Goer's 2:26.0 (1989) and A.P. Indy's 2:26.13 (1992).
• It is important to mention, however, that 2025 only had a winning time of 2:00.69 that year because that race was a shorter distance of 1¼ miles and does not compare to the 1½ mile winning times.

Why the Belmont is Special

Many fans refer to the Belmont as “The Test of the Champion.” By the time of Belmont, the best three-year-old horses have matured. The only horse that has the strength and stamina to handle the final leg of the Triple Crown is also the only horse that has the strength and stamina to win three races in five weeks. It is often interpreted as the hardest because it is the longest of the three races and gets run last.

Over the history of the Belmont Stakes, it has denied many horses the Triple Crown by keeping them from winning the final leg. There have been many Derby and Preakness winners who have fallen short in the Belmont.

FAQS 

What horse won the 2025 Belmont Stakes?

Sovereignty won the 2025 Belmont Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course. Junior Alvarado was the jockey, and the colt won the race in 2:00.69.

Why did the Belmont Stakes take place at Saratoga in 2025?   

The Belmont Stakes was held at Saratoga because Belmont Park was under renovation, and is expected to return to the renovated track in 2026.

Who is the fastest winner of the Belmont Stakes?   

Secretariat has the fastest finish time at the Belmont Stakes with a time of 2:24.0, which occurred in 1973. This is still considered one of the greatest efforts in the history of thoroughbred racing. 

Why is the Belmont Stakes referred to as “The Test of the Champion”?  

The Belmont Stakes is referred to as “The Test of the Champion” because it is the longest and hardest of the three races of the Triple Crown series and tests the stamina and strength of the top three-year-old horses.