Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc.
Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc.
WHAT WAS THE PREVIOUS NAME FOR THE BELMONT DERBY (GI)
7/6/2018
The Star and Stripes Racing Festival at Belmont Park features the Belmont Derby Invitational (GI). It was first run in 2014 as part New York Racing Associations festivals of racing which included Travers and Whitney Weekends. The Belmont Derby was previously called the Jamaica Handicap which was run in October. When it became part of the festival (2014) the name was changed as was the distance from 9 to 10 furlongs. The purse was also increased from $500,000 to $1,250,000 in 2014-15 but dropped to $1,200,000 for 2016-18. Jockey Richard Migliore holds the record with four wins in the race when it was known as the Jamaica Handicap. He won it in 1984 ( Raja’s Shark), 1986 (Waquoit), 1996 (Allied Forces) and 2014 (Artie Schiller). Rich will receive the 2018 ThoroFan Award in Saratoga Springs on July 19, 2018.