Victory Gallop & Real Quiet ~ The 1998 Belmont Stakes

The scene is June 6, 1998 at Belmont Park in New York.  Victory Gallop and Real Quiet are nearing the wire and the roar from the crowd of better than 80,000 is deafening. "So loud," said veteran jockey Robbie Davis, who rode Chilito, "I thought it would lift us off the ground."

With victory in an American classic and a Triple Crown at stake, we're witnessing the most stirring Belmont stretch duel in 20 years, since Affirmed & Alydar. For almost a mile-and-a-half, superstar jockeys Gary Stevens aboard Victory Gallop and Kent Desormeaux on Real Quiet, have urged all ability from their horses.

At the wire of America's most demanding race, the Stewards would need almost 15 minutes to determine the winner. After finishing second to Real Quiet in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Victory Gallop prevailed today by a nose. The race would be voted The 1998 Race of the Year.  In 1999, Victory Gallop's place in history would solidified by being voted Horse of the Year.