Cindy's Horse Racing Website Index

Current, Hot, and Recommended Racing Books


A view of the crowded grandstand and the apron full of umbrellas across the sloppy track on Saturday afternoon.
• Belmont Stakes Results
• Miscellaneous Belmont Photos
• Belmont Stakes Records Set
• Undercard Stakes Results
• Acorn Stakes Results

2003 Belmont Stakes Records

Date: 06/07/03

A single-day on-track Belmont Stakes day wagering record was established at Belmont Park before the second largest crowd in the track's history, 101,864. A Belmont Stakes record $12,973,555 was wagered by a loyal crowd that withstood daylong rain awaiting New York-bred Funny Cide's bid for the VISA Triple Crown. Funny Cide finished third as the popular favorite before his adoring hometown crowd.

The all-time record on-track handle at Belmont Park is $13,165,397, set during the 2001 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. The attendance record at Belmont Park was set last year on Belmont Stakes day when 103,222 turned out on a picture-perfect day.

The 135th Belmont was won by archrival Empire Maker, who had previously defeated Funny Cide in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct only to have that decision reversed in the Kentucky Derby. Empire Maker paid $6.00 for every $2 win wager.

Total commingled handle was $89,223,530, slightly off last year's Belmont Stakes day record of $90,703,830. The total handle from all sources was $92,584,249, falling short of the Belmont Stakes day record of $95,443,037 established last year.

"Today's crowd showed their loyalty and passion for the sport, coming out early and staying late in what had to be one of the worst weather days for any major day in the history of Thoroughbred racing," said NYRA President and COO Terry Meyocks. "It began raining at 9:15 a.m., earlier than expected, but it did not dampen the enthusiasm for one of the most highly anticipated days in New York racing."

Overall handle on the Belmont Stakes established a new wagering record, $48,081,346, for a six-horse field in North America.


The field breaks from the gate for the 135th Belmont Stakes.

From a NYRA press release.

Triple Crown quick links:

Back to 2003 Triple Crown index
Back to Horse-Races.Net main page

Want to keep up with what's new on this site?
Sign up for my weekly newsletter here.

On the Forum:



Search Horse-Races.Net: