When the Belmont Stakes Moved to Aqueduct and the Triple Crown Found a Different Home

Long before Saratoga became the temporary stage for the final jewel, the historic race spent five editions away from Belmont Park, creating a unique chapter in Triple Crown history

Amberoid winning the Belmont Stakes of 1965, at Aqueduct / NYRA

For all its name suggests, the Belmont Stakes has not always been run at Belmont Park. In fact, the oldest race of the American Triple Crown called several venues home before settling permanently in Elmont. Jerome Park, Morris Park, and Belmont Park itself all hosted the classic at different points, but one particularly unusual period continues to hold a special place in racing lore: the five years during which the race was run at Aqueduct, much as it is now being staged temporarily at Saratoga.

The move was a direct consequence of modernization.

In April 1963, officials from the New York Racing Association determined that the aging structures at Belmont Park, originally opened in 1905, had developed safety deficiencies that made a complete reconstruction unavoidable. The solution was immediate: relocate the entire operation to Aqueduct while the legendary facility was demolished and rebuilt.

That decision ultimately opened a remarkable chapter in racing history.

Aqueduct had only recently reopened following a massive renovation that was considered among the most modern sporting developments in the world at the time. Located within New York City's limits and directly connected to the subway system, it offered unprecedented accessibility for millions of residents.

The public responded immediately.

On June 8, 1963, when the Belmont Stakes was run there for the first time, more than 53,000 fans packed the facility, establishing a new attendance record for the race. A year later the figure climbed even higher, surpassing 61,000 spectators thanks to the presence of a phenomenon named Northern Dancer (Nearctic).

Yet the change of venue also altered the very nature of the race.

While Belmont Park featured its sweeping 1 1/2-mile oval, Aqueduct's main track measured only 1 1/8 miles. To preserve the traditional mile-and-a-half distance of the Belmont Stakes, officials were forced to position the starting gate on the far turn, creating an entirely different layout and introducing new tactical challenges for jockeys and trainers.

The first Belmont winner at Aqueduct was Chateaugay (Swaps), who, under Braulio Baeza, avenged his defeat to Candy Spots (Nigromante), the Preakness Stakes winner, and added the Belmont to his Kentucky Derby triumph.

What ultimately defined those years, however, was the relentless pursuit of a Triple Crown that never materialized.

In 1964, Northern Dancer arrived at Aqueduct after victories in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. More than 61,000 spectators turned out hoping to witness history. The Canadian champion appeared poised for greatness, but in the stretch he succumbed to the demands of the distance and finished third behind Quadrangle (Cohoes).

The disappointment was immense.

Just two years later, the story repeated itself.

Kauai King (Native Dancer) came to the Belmont after victories in Louisville and Baltimore and once again ignited public imagination. More than 56,000 fans wagered record sums in anticipation of a Triple Crown celebration. Instead, Amberoid (Count Amber), ridden by Bill Boland, shattered the dream once again.

The feeling began to grow that the Belmont Stakes had become an almost impossible obstacle.

The Triple Crown had not been won since Citation (Bull Lea) in 1948, and questions emerged about whether any horse would ever complete the feat again. The defeats of Northern Dancer and Kauai King only reinforced that perception.

The final Belmont Stakes run at Aqueduct came in 1967 and featured Damascus (Sword Dancer), who had failed in the Kentucky Derby but rebounded to capture both the Preakness and Belmont.

Interestingly, during those five Aqueduct years, four different horses managed to win two legs of the Triple Crown, an extraordinary figure for such a brief period.

When Belmont Park reopened, the race returned to its traditional home and Aqueduct resumed its secondary role within New York racing.

Yet those years left a lasting legacy.

For a brief moment, the "Test of the Champion" found a different stage. And while no Triple Crown was celebrated there, Aqueduct proved fully capable of carrying the weight of one of racing's greatest traditions.

It remains a different story, almost forgotten today, but an essential chapter in understanding the rich heritage of the Belmont Stakes.