The Belmont Derby is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred race horse run over a distance of miles on the turf at Belmont Park in July. The purse for the 2023 race is US$750,000.

Race history In 2014, the race became a feature portion of the now defunct Stars and Stripes Racing Festival at Belmont Park. The race was renamed from the Jamaica Handicap, moved from October to July, increased in distance from miles to miles, and had the purse increased from $500,000 to $1,250,000.

The original race name was named after the Jamaica District in Queens, New York. The first running took place in 1929 at the Jamaica Race Course. When the Jamaica track closed in 1959, the race was shifted to the Aqueduct Race Track in Queens where it was contested in 1960, 1975 to 1977, 1979 to 1981, and 1987.

It was raced at a distance of six furlongs from 1929 to 1953 and 1957 to 1960, then at miles (9 furlongs) in 1954, and from 1997 through 2014.

The Jamaica Handicap was open to horses age three and older from 1929 to 1944, 1949 to 1953, and again in 1960. It has been a turf race since 1994.

The Jamaica wasn't run from 1933 to 1935, in 1955 and 1956, from 1961 to 1976, nor in 1995 (due to severe weather conditions). It was run in two divisions in 1946.

In 2009, the Jamaica became a Grade I event.

Of interest is that any horse winning three editions of a single race is a rare occurrence but the Jamaica Handicap had two horses accomplish that feat when it was open to older horses.

Records

Belmont Derby / Jamaica Handicap Speed record: (at current distance of miles) 1:58.29 – Henley's Joy (2019)

Most wins: 3 – Overdrawn (1941, 1942, 1943) 3 – Piet (1949, 1950, 1951)

Most wins by an owner: 4 – George D. Widener Jr. (1931, 1936, 1941, 1942)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Richard Migliore (1984, 1986, 1996, 2004)

Most wins by a trainer:

3 – R. Emmett Potts (1949, 1950, 1951) 3 – Bert Mulholland (1936, 1941, 1942) 3 – C. R. McGaughey III (1987, 1990, 2014) 3 – William I. Mott (2000, 2003, 2008) 3 – Todd A. Pletcher (2002, 2009, 2023)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse Grade Distance Belmont Derby Stakes2026Title Role (GB)3John R. VelazquezSimon & Ed CrisfordWill Stroud, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor1:47.55$750,000I milesBelmont Derby Invitational Stakes2025Test Score 3Manuel FrancoH. Graham MotionAmerman Racing LLC1:45.56$750,000 I miles2024Trikari3John R. VelazquezH. Graham MotionAmerman Racing LLC1:54.79$750,000I miles2023Far Bridge3José OrtizTodd A. Pletcher LSU Stables2:01.75$750,000 I miles2022Classic Causeway3Julien LeparouxKenneth G. McPeekKentucky West Racing LLC & Cooper, Clarke M.1:59.99$1,000,000 I miles2021Bolshoi Ballet (IRE)3Ryan MooreAidan O'BrienDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg2:04.42$1,000,000 I miles2020Gufo3Junior AlvaradoChristophe ClementOtter Bend Stables2:02.25$250,000 I miles2019Henley's Joy3Jose LezcanoMichael J. MakerBloom Racing Stable1:58.29$1,000,000 I miles2018Catholic Boy3Javier CastellanoJonathan Thomas Robert LaPenta, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm, & Twin Creeks Racing Stables1:59.28$1,200,000 I miles2017Oscar Performance 3José OrtizBrian A. LynchAmerman Racing (Jerry & Joan Amerman)2:00.25$1,200,000 I miles2016Deauville (IRE)3Jamie SpencerAidan O'BrienHay, Smith, Magnier and Tabor2:00.51$1,250,000 I miles2015Force the Pass3Joel RosarioAlan E. GoldbergRichard Santulli2:01.16$1,250,000 I miles2014Mr Speaker3Jose LezcanoC. R. McGaughey IIIPhipps Stable2:01.14$1,250,000 I milesJamaica Handicap2013Up With the Birds3Cornelio VelásquezMalcolm PierceSam-Son Farms1:48.74$500,000 I miles2012King David3Rosie NapravnikMichael J. MakerScarlet Stable1:52.91$400,000 I miles2011Western Aristocrat3Corey NakataniJeremy NosedaVinery Stables1:50.34$250,000 I miles2010Prince Will I Am3Jose LezcanoMichelle NiheiCasa Farms1:50.07$250,000 I miles2009Take the Points3Edgar PradoTodd A. PletcherStarlight Partners1:48.51$300,000 I miles2008Court Vision3Ramon DomínguezWilliam I. MottIEAH Stables/WinStar1:49.75$250,000 II miles2007Nobiz Like Shobiz3Javier CastellanoBarclay TaggElizabeth Valando1:46.80$300,000 II miles2006Showing Up3Cornelio VelásquezBarclay TaggLael Stable1:47.81$300,000 II miles2005Watchmon3Javier CastellanoPat ReynoldsPaul Pompa Jr.1:49.28$300,000 III miles2004Artie Schiller3Richard MiglioreJames A. JerkensTimber Bay Farm et al. 1:45.50$200,000 II miles2003Stroll3Jerry BaileyWilliam I. MottClaiborne Farm1:46.02$200,000 II miles2002Finality3John VelazquezTodd A. PletcherDogwood Stable1:46.66$200,000 II miles2001Navesink3Edgar PradoAlan E. GoldbergJayeff B Stables1:51.53$200,000 II miles2000King Cugat3Jerry BaileyWilliam I. MottCentennial Farms1:49.63$200,000 II miles1999Monarch's Maze3Joe BravoPatrick J. KellyLive Oak Plantation Racing1:51.66$150,000 II miles1998Vergennes3John VelazquezMark HennigDecember Hill Farm1:50.42$150,000 II miles1997Subordination3Jorge ChavezGary SciaccaKlaravich Stable1:49.00$150,000 II miles1996Allied Forces3Richard MiglioreKiaran McLaughlinAhmed Al Tayer1:40.91$125,000 II miles1995Race not run1994Pennine Ridge3John VelazquezDavid G. DonkDecember Hill Farm1:35.13$100,000 II 1 mile Race run on dirt track1993Mi Cielo3Mike E. SmithPeter M. VestalThomas M. Carey1:35.20$100,000 II 1 mile 1992West by West3Jean-Luc SamynGeorge R. Arnold IIJohn H. Peace1:34.27$100,000 II 1 mile 1991Sultry Song3Chris AntleyPatrick J. KellyLive Oak Plantation Racing1:34.44$100,000 II 1 mile 1990Confidential Talk3Jorge ChavezC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1:35.60$75,000 II 1 mile 1989Domasca Don3Sandy HawleyRobert P. TillerFrank Di Giulio Sr.1:35.40$100,000 II 1 mile 1988Ruhlmann3Gary StevensRobert J. FrankelJerome S. Moss1:35.40$100,000 II 1 mile 1987Stacked Pack3Randy RomeroC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1:34.80$75,000 III 1 mile 1986Waquoit3Richard MiglioreGuido FedericoJoseph Federico1:34.20$75,000 III 1 mile 1985Don's Choice3Don MacBethMarvin L. MoncriefSondra D. Bender1:36.00$75,000 III 1 mile 1984Raja's Shark3Richard MiglioreMark E. CasseIrwin Feiner1:36.60$75,000 III 1 mile 1983Bounding Basque3Gregg McCarronWoodrow SedlacekJ. D. Wimpfheimer 1:34.00$75,000 III 1 mile 1982John's Gold3Ángel Cordero Jr.H. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm1:37.00$50,000 III 1 mile 1981Pass The Tab3Jorge VelásquezAlbert BarreraLeopoldo Villareal1:35.20$50,000 III 1 mile 1980Far Out East3Cash AsmussenThomas J. KellyJohn M. Schiff1:34.00$50,000 III 1 mile 1979Belle's Gold3Laffit Pincay Jr.Walter A. KelleyJohn R. Murrell1:33.60$50,000 III 1 mile 1978Regal And Royal3Jeffrey FellWarren A. Croll Jr.Aisco Stable1:35.00$50,000 III 1 mile 1977Affiliate3Ángel Cordero Jr.Lazaro S. BarreraHarbor View Farm1:35.20$50,000 1 mile 1976Dance Spell3Ruben HernandezJames W. MaloneyChristiana Stable1:34.00$50,000 II 1 mile 1975Funalon3Vincent Bracciale Jr.Leonard ImperioOld Bombast Farm (F. Di Paolo/J. Mavronicela/A. Pamiccia/L. Imperio)1:34.00$50,000 II 1 mile 1961–74Race not scheduled1960Rare Rice4Ray BroussardClyde TrouttAda L. Rice1:10.60 6 furlongs1959Crafty Skipper3Bobby UsseryLucien LaurinCharfran Stable1:09.60 6 furlongs1958Levelation3Paul J. BaileyA G (Bob) Robertson Warner Stable1:10.80 6 furlongs1957Pertshire3Ted AtkinsonHirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs1:11.20 6 furlongs1956Race not run1955Race not run1954Magic Lamp4Bill ShoemakerPreston M. BurchBrookmeade Stable1:50.00 miles1953Sagittarius7Bennie GreenWilliam G. WilliamsWinding Way Farm1:11.00 6 furlongs1952Tea-Maker9Hedley WoodhouseJ. Dallet ByersF. Ambrose Clark1:11.20 6 furlongs1951Piet6Jim NicholsR. Emmett PottsPeter A. Markey1:11.20 6 furlongs1950Piet5Nick CombestR. Emmett PottsPeter A. Markey1:11.20 6 furlongs1949Piet4Chris RogersR. Emmett PottsPeter A. Markey1:11.40 6 furlongs1948Royal Blood3Douglas DodsonJames W. SmithMaine Chance Farm1:13.00 6 furlongs1947Jet Pilot3Johnny LongdenTom SmithMaine Chance Farm1:11.60 6 furlongs1946Bonnie Beryl3James StoutJim FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1:11.40 6 furlongsBlunt Remark3Basil JamesBuster MillerickFrank Frankel1:13.201945War Jeep3John H. AdamsTom SmithMaine Chance Farm1:11.40 6 furlongs1944Doublrab6Eddie ArcaroHarris B. BrownLillian Christopher1:11.40 6 furlongs1943Overdrawn5Sterling YoungPete BattleDearborn Stable (James Powers & Morton Donnelly) 1:13.00 6 furlongs1942Overdrawn4Nick CouleBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:12.40 6 furlongs1941Overdrawn3Herb LindbergBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:11.80 6 furlongs1940Wise Bee3Don MeadeMerritt A. BuxtonWilliam H. Gallagher1:12.60 6 furlongs1939Fighting Fox4James StoutJim FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1:12.00 6 furlongs1938Clodion4Nick WallWalter A. CarterWalter A. Carter1:12.20 6 furlongs1937Whopper5Harry RichardsDuval A. HeadleyHal Price Headley1:11.60 6 furlongs1936Sation6John GilbertBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:10.80 6 furlongs1935Race not run1934Race not run1933Race not run1932Halcyon4Earl SteffenThomas J. HealeyC. V. Whitney1:12.60 6 furlongs1931Panetian3Linus McAteeA. Jack JoynerGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:12.40 6 furlongs1930Judge Schilling5Frank CatroneFred E. KraftRudolph Spreckels1:11.40 6 furlongs1929Polydor4Mack GarnerWilliam J. SpiersWilliam Ziegler Jr.1:11.80 6 furlongs

* In 1954 Tea-maker, who won this race in 1952, finished first again but was disqualified.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

External links The Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at Pedigree Query Thoroughbred Database – First three placegetters