The 2011 Belmont Stakes is upon us and for another year there will be no Triple Crown winner at this race. Animal Kingdom won the 2011 Kentucky Derby and Shackleford took first in the 2011 Preakness. Both will contend in this race, and the trash talk has already gone on between the two sides:
"I'm not worried about Shackleford, by the way,"[Animal Kingdom owner Barry] Irwin told a news conference.
Dale Romans, the trainer of Shackleford, hit back: "That's not the dumbest thing I've ever heard Barry say, but it's one of them."
Well, I guess that's as close to trash talking as one will find in horse racing.
Tune into NBC at 4:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, June 11 to see if either of those horses can capture the other part of this year's unfinished Triple Crown. Coverage begins at 3:00 p.m. for pre-race events.
Here is the starting lineup for the race:
1. Master Of Hounds (10-1)
2. Stay Thirsty (20-1)
3. Ruler On Ice (20-1)
4. Santiva (15-1)
5. Brilliant Speed (15-1)
6. Nehro (4-1)
7. Monzon (30-1)
8. Prime Cut (15-1)
9. Animal Kingdom (2-1)
10. Mucho Macho Man (10-1)
11. Isn’t He Perfect (30-1)
12. Shackleford (9-2)
Shackleford will be farthest away from the rail when the race starts, and Animal Kingdom is only a few spots ahead of him. Mucho Macho Man is in the 10th spot and many will want him to win. During the Preakness, Mucho Macho Man came on late as a sentimental favorite since the name reminded people of wrestler Macho Man Randy Savage, who had died a day earlier.
Here are the purse prizes:
| Winner | $620,000 |
| Second | $200,000 |
| Third | $100,000 |
| Fourth | $50,000 |
| Fifth | $30,000 |
If you want to learn more about the Belmont and the sport, our horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come can get you acquainted with the sport with the following: A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.