June 7th is the Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes is an American grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) horse race, open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds (57 kg); fillies carry 121 pounds (55 kg). The race, nicknamed The Test of the Champion, is the third and final leg of the U.S. Triple Crown. It follows five weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks after the Preakness Stakes, on a Saturday between June 5 and June 11.

The attendance at the Belmont Stakes ranks fourth in North America, and typically trails only the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Oaks. The 2004 Belmont Stakes drew a television audience of 21.9 million viewers, and had the highest household viewing rate since 1977 when Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown.

The 146th running of the Belmont Stakes will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2014, California Chrome will have the chance to complete the third leg of the Triple Crown after his victories in the 2014 Kentucky Derby and the 2014 Preakness Stakes.