Belmont Stakes vs. St. Leger Stakes: Which Race Reigns as the Ultimate Challenge?

Edinburgh Reporter

6 days ago

Equestrian sports like horse racing are big industries on both sides of the Atlantic. In fact, both have their version of the Triple Crown Series. In Britain, three-year-olds tackle the 2,000 Guineas, Derby, then St. Leger. In the U.S., it's the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont.
They have a few similarities. For example, the constituent races in both Triple Crowns are open to three-year-old colts and fillies. But if we talk about differences, we can start by comparing the last legs of both Triple Crowns, the British St. Leger Stakes and the American Belmont Stakes.
Which final pose is more challenging? We'll sketch their shared roots, then break down their histories and contrasts.
Photo by @coldbeer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/horses-during-race-12950515/
The Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes wraps up the American Triple Crown each year on the second Sunday in June. Carried out annually, it's an American Grade I stakes race open to three-year-olds and competed over the worldwide classic distance of 1.5 miles or 12 furlongs.
This race has several alternative names, the most popular of which is The Test of the Champion. It's also nicknamed The Run for the Carnations, as carnations are the traditional flower of the Belmont Stakes. The winner is draped with about 700 carnations, creating a 40-pound blanket.
With no Triple Crown on the line this year and race day less than two weeks away, anticipation is already building. Fans are expected to flock to trusted betting platforms like FanDuel to monitor late odds shifts and insider insights before the gates open.
Tracing a 150-Year-Old Tradition
The Belmont Stakes debuted in June 1867 at Jerome Park in the Bronx. It's the oldest Triple Crown race and one of North America's earliest significant stakes contests.
Conceived by August Belmont Sr. and Leonard Jerome, the inaugural running challenged three-year-olds over a mile and a half. It also coined the 'Test of the Champion' nickname, which still resonates today.
Over the years, the Belmont Stakes has been held at the following racetracks. The most frequent venues are 1st Belmont Park (56 times) and 2nd Belmont Park (56 times). In 2025, the Belmont returns to Saratoga for a second straight running while Belmont Park undergoes renovations.
When the Long Stretch Breaks the Best
Being the last jewel of the American Triple Crown, its blanket of carnations remains one of the most sought-after prizes in horse racing.
Belmont Park's famously long stretch has upended many would-be champions. Some skip the race altogether. Others fade in the final furlong. California Chrome is the latest example, sweeping the first two legs only to settle for fourth in the Belmont.
Experts say the Belmont Stakes is the most strategic race in the American Triple Crown. It requires jockeys to efficiently maximise their horses' potential, conserve energy, and save ground whenever possible.
Belmont Park is known for its long stretch. If the jockey is unfamiliar with it, it can break a horse's potential to win. So, it takes a calculated and smart jockey to pull off a smooth Belmont Stakes campaign.
The St. Leger Stakes
Closing the curtain on Britain's five Classics, the St. Leger Stakes is run last each year. Its distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs, and 115 yards exceeds every other Classic in the lineup. Like Belmont, it doubles as the last leg of its Triple Crown and even carries extra prestige as the finale of the Fillies' Triple Crown.
Run at Doncaster over a testing 1 mile, 6 furlongs, and 115 yards (2,921 meters), this Group 1 flat event welcomes only three-year-old colts and fillies. Its late-season slot and extended trip demand maturity and stamina, turning September's race day into a true showdown of classic endurance.
The Making of a 250-Year-Old Classic
The St. Leger Stakes began in 1776 as the 'Sweepstake of 25 Guineas,' founded by Major-General Anthony St Leger after he settled near Doncaster.
Legend has it that guests suggested naming the race after the Marquess during a Doncaster's Red Lion pub celebratory dinner. But he instead honoured its creator, coining the 'St Leger' title in 1778.
The race became famous two decades later when Champion completed the Derby–St Leger double in 1800. Shortly after, organisers trimmed the trip to today's 1 mile, 6 furlongs, cementing its reputation as the season's ultimate endurance test. Even now, the winning jockey receives a bespoke cap, serving as a nod to the race's storied past and enduring prestige.
What Makes That Last Leg So Brutal
Claiming the English Triple Crown is famously elusive. Many colts conquer the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Derby at Epsom, only to falter when the St. Leger's extended trip arrives. In fact, no horse has completed all three since Nijinsky's sweep in 1970, underscoring just how demanding that final leg can be.
Nijinsky pulled off the last British Triple Crown in 1970, battling ringworm and fueled by a raw-egg-and-stout regimen. His authoritative win at Doncaster demonstrated that true champions rise above adversity when the stakes are highest.
Legacy on Two Continents
It's easy to argue which race is more challenging, but smarter to appreciate what each brings to the sport. Belmont's 'Test of the Champion' thrills with its mile-and-a-quarter dash, while the St. Leger rewards maturity and staying power. They spring from different pedigrees yet feed the same passion, which is to showcase the very best of the crop. As long as horses run and crowds gather, these two classics will remain pillars of racing tradition.
Like this:
Like

Related