In the nearly four decades since the last sweep of horse racing’s coveted Triple Crown, 12 horses have left the Belmont Stakes starting gate with a shot at the feat. The New York Racing Association promoted those events and attracted gigantic crowds, including 102,199 last year, when the popular colt California Chrome failed to secure a sweep. A record 120,139 showed up in 2004, when Smarty Jones lost his bid.
But next weekend, when American Pharoah leaves the gate one and a half miles from becoming the first horse since 1978 to win all three of American thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious races, a more modest crowd will be on hand.