The Herald (South Africa)

Breaking jinx

Tiz the Law wins Belmont Stakes to clinch first leg of Triple Crown

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Tiz the Law won the Belmont Stakes in front of empty stands on Saturday, clinching the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown.

The colt was followed by Dr Post and Max Player at the New York event, which is usually the last leg of the three races that make up the Triple Crown.

However, this year it was contested first as the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes had to be postponed until later in the season due to the Covid-19 outbreak, which has claimed about 120,000 lives in the US.

The New York-bred Tiz the Law, the odds-on favourite, hung back in third place for much of the race, keeping on the outside after breaking out of the eighth post in the 10-horse field, flooring it on the home stretch to surge into the lead and claim a decisive victory.

“I was pretty confident by the time we hit the seveneight­hs pole,” jockey Manny Franco said.

“He was so kind and relaxed for me.”

Trainer Barclay Tagg — whose 2003 horse Funny Cide won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes but was denied Triple Crown glory at the Belmont — said he was glad to have “lived long enough to have another horse like this”.

“I’ve wanted to have a Belmont victory before I gave it up or died or something like that,” he said.

Roaring crowds were replaced with an eerie silence at the finish line, as fans and even owners were barred from the stands in accordance with safety protocols during the pandemic.

The Belmont, a typically raucous affair that drew a record 120,139 spectators in 2004, was empty except for venue employees and media, with concession stands and betting windows closed.

Tiz the Law, who strode from the paddock as Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” played, is the first New Yorkbred horse to win the race since 1882, ending the host state’s unlucky streak.

Governor Andrew Cuomo called for “riders up” before the race in a televised appearance applauding the resiliency of New York, which was hit hard by the coronaviru­s outbreak.

“Over the last three months, New Yorkers have been tested in many ways,” Cuomo said.

“We’re celebratin­g a great, great New York tradition.

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 ?? Picture: BRAD PENNER/US TODAY ?? SETTING PACE: Jockey Manuel Franco pumps his fist after winning the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes aboard Tiz the Law (8) at Belmont Park in the US on Saturday
Picture: BRAD PENNER/US TODAY SETTING PACE: Jockey Manuel Franco pumps his fist after winning the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes aboard Tiz the Law (8) at Belmont Park in the US on Saturday

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