The most famous horse race in America (the world?) is obviously the Kentucky Derby. There's bluegrass, mint juleps, roses, ugly giant hats, drinking mint juleps, and more drinking. Somewhere in the middle, there is a horse race.

The second most famous horse in America is the Preakness Stakes. It's held in Baltimore, two weeks after the Derby. If the same horse wins both races... watch out! The Triple Crown is at stake.

Which then brings us to the Belmont Stakes, held just outside New York City, three weeks after the Preakness. It's named after August Belmont, a once-Jewish immigrant from Germany who was a major player in Democratic politics and New York's "Gilded Age" in the late 19th century. Belmont was really into horses, and financed the first-ever race. His real name was Schonberg; as much as we frown at Jews who change their names, "the Schonberg Stakes" don't exactly roll off one's tongue.

Now, if the same horse does NOT win the Derby and the Preakness, the Belmont becomes pretty much irrelevant.

Like all of horse racing in America (the world?) will soon be...