Sat. June 8th , 2013. Belmont Park Racetrack. Elmont, New York.

Main Course: 1 1/2 Miles
Last Turn to Finish on Main Track: 1,097 feet
Widener Turf Course: 1 5/16 Miles
Inner Turf Course: 1 3/16 Miles
Attendance Capacity: 85,000 - 90,000
Parking Capacity: 18,500 Cars
Trackside Dining: 2,300
Total Seating Capacity: 32,941

America's Triple Crown horse racing season is almost over. On June 8th, racing fans will bet and cheer for the 2013 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

It's the 145th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, one of the oldest thoroughbred races in North America. Belmont Park is home of the Belmont Stakes, the final jewel of the Triple Crown races. The park has the largest dirt racecourse of any thoroughbred track not only in North America but the world at a mile and a half (2414 m).

Winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes often make for some intense rematches between the horse racing's top contenders - a level of competition that makes for even greater viewing for horse racing fans in attendance or for those watching it on television.

Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, is considered one of the elite race tracks in the sport of thoroughbred horse racing. In addition to the Belmont Stakes, other major races contested on the dirt at the track include the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Woodward Stakes, the Suburban Handicap, and the Memorial Day standby - the Metropolitan Handicap, also known as the Met Mile. Notable turf (grass) races include the Bowling Green Handicap, Man o'War Stakes, and Turf Classic.

Belmont Park was closed for replacement of its unsafe grandstand and clubhouse structure from 1963 until May of 1968, during which the Belmont race meetings were moved to Aqueduct Racetrack at South Ozone Park in Queens.

Spanning 430 acres situated just outside New York City, in the adjacent Nassau County suburb of Elmont, the Belmont Park race track is world-famous as the home of the Belmont Stakes.

Commando won the 1901 running, then sired Peter Pan, the 1907 champ and the Colin, the 1908 winner. 1930 champion Gallant Fox sired both Omaha (1935) and Granville (1936).

Count Fleet won the 1943 edition, and then sired back-to-back Belmont winners with Counterpoint (1951) and One Count (1952).

1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew sired a Call To The Derby Post favorite in Swale, who won both the Derby and the Belmont in 1984, as well as A.P. Indy, who won the Belmont in 1992. 1999 Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid is also a descendant of the Slew.

The following horses have sired one Belmont winner each: Duke of Magenta of 1878 sired Eric (1889); Spendthrift of 1879 sired Hastings (1896); Hastings then followed his again by siring Masterman, the 1902 winner. The Finn of 1915 sired Zev (1923); Sword Dancer of 1959 sired Damascus (1967); last but not least, Triple Crown winner Secretariat of 1973 sired Risen Star, the 1988 winner.