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Some mysterious things have been said to occur behind the scenes before post time in some of the most famous Belmont Stakes runs. One of the oddest things that happened before Belmont Stakes post time occurred in 1979. Spectacular Bid was making his bid to become the 12th Triple Crown winner, after taking the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes that year handily, and he was expected to win easily going off as the 3-10 favorite. Inexplicably, after making what many considered a premature move to the lead by his young Jockey Ronnie Franklin, he was overtaken in the stretch by Coastal and eventually faded to finish third, beaten 3-1/2 lengths. Many do not buy the premature move theory, as the pace was not particularly fast and a horse of the caliber of Spectacular Bid should have had plenty left in the tank for the final quarter of a mile, and in hindsight it seems like an unlikely reason given that he holds the world record time for a 1¼ race. Even if he had moved early, shouldn’t a horse that is considered one of the top 10 race horses of all time have had just a little more in the tank down the stretch? It was claimed by his trainer that the morning of the Belmont Stakes, Spectacular Bid had stepped on a safety pin which had become embedded in his hoof. After it had been removed, he was not lame and seemed to be okay so the decision was made to enter him. Some have questioned whether Mr. Delp was telling the truth or just making an excuse, including the track veterinarian. If Spectacular Bid had managed to win the Belmont Stakes, he would have become the third consecutive Triple Crown winner, following Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed in 1978. At the time the Bid was going for the Triple Crown, some must have been wondering if the Triple Crown was becoming too easy – after all there had been three in the past six years and Bid was trying to make it the fourth in seven years. Alas, it was not to be, and what people did not know is that a record drought of 33 years would pass without another Triple Crown winner, and it is an interval which keeps growing. The largest gap previously was between Citation in 1948 and Secretariat in 1973, a gap of 25 years. All of the Triple Crown winners have been great horses and not just lucky or good for three year olds. Count Fleet, Whirlaway, Citation, War Admiral, Seattle Slew are all ranked among the greatest of all time. Spectacular Bid certainly would have been a worthy member of this most exclusive club. The 2012 Belmont Stakes will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2012.
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