Saturday brings another great day of racing to Belmont Park, with the feature race being the Metropolitan Handicap.
The Challenge Series Win and You’re In qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile has attracted a stellar field, including CODE OF HONOR, McKINZIE, and VEKOMA.
Here are Lucky 7, fun facts about the Met Mile.
1. The race was first run in 1891, making this year the 127th edition.
2. FROSTED, in 2016 ran the fastest Met Mile in history , stopping the timer in 1:32.73. He also set the record for largest margin of Victory, defeating his foes by 14 ¼ lengths.
3. The race is open to horses age 3 and up, though it has been Won by a 4-year-old each of the last seven years and 11 of the last 14.
4. No jockey has Won more editions of the race than John Velazquez, with five. He’ll be aboard CODE OF HONOR on Saturday.
5. The race has been contested on three different tracks: Morris Park from 1891 to 1904, Belmont Park since 1905, and Aqueduct in 1960-67, 1969, and 1975.
6. A female trainer has never Won the Met Mile. That will change if HOG CREEK HUSTLE is Victorious for Vickie Foley on Saturday.
7. The 1st edition of the race at Belmont was a memorable one. The only dead heat for the Win in the race’s history came in 1905 when RACE KING and SYSONBY crossed the finish line simultaneously.
On Friday the Daily Racing Blog will take a look at the projected field of eight, and see if we can’t find some Value. So be sure to stop back and compare your choices with ours.
