Palace Malice Wins The 2013 Belmont Stakes

Horse racing’s Triple Crown came to an end on June 8 as Palace Malice took home the title after a thrilling one and a half mile race at the Belmont Stakes.

Though there wouldn’t be a Triple Crown winner in 2013, the 145th annual running of the Belmont Stakes still ended up being an exciting race. Palace Malice triumphantly crossed the finish line first — no one saw that coming!

Palace Malice Wins The 2013 Belmont Stakes

After rain mucked up both the tracks at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes this year, Belmont, New York saw a dry day for the race, which meant we got to see the horses run even faster.
The Belmont is also the longest race of the Triple Crown. Its one and a half mile track is half a mile longer than the Kentucky Derby and about a quarter mile longer than the Preakness.
The drier, longer track apparently benefitted Palace Malice and jockey Mike Smith the most, as they kept a speedy but tempered pace throughout and eventually pulled away from the pack.

Orb & Oxbow: What Happened To The Favorites?

Everyone tuning in to the Belmont Stakes on June 8 was definitely interested to see if Orb or Oxbow could repeat their successes from the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, respectively.
Orb, though he disappointed heavily at the Preakness, still came into the race as the odds-on favorite. Everyone in the racing world seemed to agree that Orb was the most powerful and talented horse in this race, but that’s why we actually run the races — you never know what’s going to happen!
Oxbow, who won the Preakness Stakes after an inspiring run by 50-year-old jockey Gary Stevens, was looking to steal the thunder at Belmont, and finish off horse racing’s Triple Crown by taking two of three races. And though Oxbow held the lead for a good portion of the race, Palace Malice was just too much to handle.
From the opening gates of the Kentucky Derby to Palace Malice crossing the finish line at the Belmont Stakes, 2013 has definitely been a memorable year for horse racing. We’re definitely sad to see it end.