It was a day for the history books at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, as three-year-old colt California Chrome outlasted the field to win the 2014 Belmont Stakes - becoming the first horse in 36 years to win the Triple Crown.
Under the brilliant riding of jockey Victor Espinoza, California Chrome became just the twelve horse to complete the famed trifecta and the first since Affirmed way back in 1977.
Since Affirmed's date with destiny, twelve other horses have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown with victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.
However, unlike California Chrome, all twelve of those horses failed to get the job done with their chance of immortality on the line. In fact, not since Smarty Jones in 2004 has a horse even finished in second place chasing down the Crown in the Belmont.
California Chrome is owned by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn, with the legendary Art Sherman handling the training duties. At 77-years-old, Sherman is by far the oldest trainer to ever win the Triple Crown.
California Chrome's victory nets his owners $800,000 for the Belmont triumph and what is sure to be countless millions of dollars in potential sponsorship opportunities.
Here's the new list of Triple Crown winners, with California Chrome joining one of the most exclusive groups in sports history:
1919: Sir Barton
1930: Gallant Fox
1935: Omaha
1937: War Admiral
1941: Whirlaway
1943: Count Fleet
1948: Citation
1973: Secretariat
1977: Seattle Slew
1978: Affirmed
2014: California Chrome
Keep checking back for more Chat Sports coverage of this landmark day at the track.
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