Belmont Ratings down 22%

[Thunder Gulch]

The Belmont is really an irrelevant race on the American racing scene if there is no attempt at the crown. Ok, I know it's still a classic, but are there any other 12f races still carded on dirt in the US? The breeding industry is dominated by milers and speedsters with little or no demand for true stayers, so winning the Belmont will do little to add to a horses's potential stud value, and that's what drives the game at the G1 level.