Although the announcement that I'll Have Another would not be racing in the Belmont Stakes stole the headlines, there was still the matter of a race taking place. In a thrilling race that came down to the final stretch, Union Rags closed strong and took the Belmont Stakes in exhilarating fashion.
For much of the race, it looked like Paynter, who entered the race at 4-1 odds, would be the horse to take home the Belmont Stakes. However, Paynter started to fade down the stretch, which allowed Union Rags to emerge from a pack of three horses and close with exceptional speed to win the race.
Bob Baffert,the trainer for Paynter, experienced another heartbreaking performance, as he was also the trainer for Bodemeister, who finished in second place at both The Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.
For more, check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.