For the first time in the history of American horse racing, the Belmont Stakes led off the Triple Crown series for 2020. Usually the third race of the series, it is run at Belmont Park at Elmont, New York within sight of New York City. The 2020 event was held without spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tiz The Law ridden by Manny Franco came through with a late burst to take the win. Tiz The Law finished four lengths ahead of Dr. Post. This was Franco’s first Triple Crown win. It’s also the first time a New York state bred horse has won the Belmont since 1892. The winner paid $3.60 to win.
Talladega 2020
Ryan Blaney beat out Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to take a rain delayed GEICO 500 in his #12 Team Penske Ford. Rain was the big factor as the race was delayed from Sunday to Monday and then halted for nearly an hour.
One of the biggest controversies occurred when a hangman’s noose was found in the garage of Bubba Wallace. Wallace is the series’ only Black driver and enjoys a large fan following. His fellow drivers escorted him to his waiting car on the starting grid as a show of support. During the race a plane flew over the track towing a confederate flag.
Stenhouse, driving the Daugherty Racing #47 Chevy, finished .007 of a second behind. It was that close. Aric Almirola was third in #10 Stewart-Hass Ford. Denny Hamlin was fourth in #11. Joe Gibbs, and his teammate Eric Jones, was fifth in the #20 Gibbs Toyota. The next race is at Pocono on June 27.