The 10 Greatest Belmont Stakes Performances of All Time

A mile and a half decides who was really the best of a generation. Some of these winners strolled home by daylight; others were caught in the final stride.

1

Secretariat (1973)

Won by 31 lengths in 2:24, a margin and a time no horse has approached in the half-century since.

1000pts

2

Justify (2018)

Completed an undefeated Triple Crown on a sloppy track, leading every step of the way.

590pts

3

Arrogate (2016)

Set the Belmont Park track record for a mile and an eighth in the Travers, then won the Classic.

590pts

4

Count Fleet (1943)

Completed the Triple Crown with a 25-length victory, the second-largest winning margin in the race.

389pts

5

Affirmed (1978)

Held off Alydar by a head after the pair ran together the length of the stretch.

388pts

6

Risen Star (1988)

Secretariat's son won by nearly 15 lengths in 2:26 2/5, closer to his father than anyone else has come.

388pts

7

Citation (1948)

Took the Belmont by eight lengths to complete racing's fourth Triple Crown in nine years.

388pts

8

Man o' War (1920)

Won by 20 lengths and set a world record for the distance, carrying 126 pounds.

388pts

9

Easy Goer (1989)

Ran the second-fastest Belmont ever at 2:26 to deny Sunday Silence the Triple Crown.

388pts

10

Ruffian (1975)

Never raced the Belmont but set track records at Belmont Park in every start there as a filly.

250pts