Not only is the Belmont the oldest of the Triple Crown races (Kentucky Derby #134 and Preakness #133) but it is the longest at a mile-and-a-half. It's why they call this race, "The Test of the Champion".

In the history of thoroughbred racing there have been 29 all-time Triple Crown bids at the Belmont. Only 11 have completed the sweep of the three classic races, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont stakes in the five week period.

This will be my ninth attempt to cover a triple crown winner. It began for me in 1987 with Alysheba (finished 4th to Bet Twice); 1989 Sunday Silence (2nd to Easy Goer); 1997 SIlver Charm (2nd to Touch Gold);  1998 Real Quiet (2nd to Victory Gallop); 1999 Charismatic (3rd to Lemon Drop Kid); 2002 War Emblem (8th to Sarava); 2003 Funny Cide (3rd to Empire Maker) and 2004 Smarty Jones (2nd to Birdstone).

Now in 2008 we have Big Brown. He has dominated this class of 3-year-old thoroughbreds winning all five of his starts by a combined 40 lengths plus. In the Kentucky Derby he beat 19 with a winning margin of 4 1/4 lengths and in the Preakness he crushed 11 others winning easily by 5 3/4. Not since Whirlaway, the 1941 triple crown winner, has a horse dominated the first two jewels of the Triple Crown like Big Brown.

Among his expected rivals is our "Tulsa Horse", Denis of Cork. He is owned by Bill and Suzanne Warren and ran a fast closing third in the Kentucky Derby. Now he has an extra quarter-of-a-mile at the Belmont.

The biggest challenge of the new shooters is Casino Drive. This colt from Japan got racing experts attention with his impressive victory at Belmont Park in the Peter Pan stake in his American debut.

All the talk about this Japanese invader drew this comment from Big Brown's always confident trainer, Richard Dutrow, "Number one, he looks like a nice horse. Number two, I believe that he can't beat our horse. So all the Japanese people are going to come over here, they thought Godzilla was dead. They're going to find out he's not dead. He's here!"

Horse racing fans everywhere are cheering for a Triple Crown winner. We haven't had one in 30-years since Affirmed in 1978. That's the longest gap ever between Triple Crown winners.

Do I think Big Brown can become the 12th in history to wear the crown? Absolutely. He is clearly the best of this 3-year-old class in 2008. BUT I've been disappointed eight times and I think back to something the late, great Hall of Fame trainer, Woody Stephens, who won five consecutive Belmont Stakes, once told me "In my over 60-years of training thoroughbred race horses I've only found one way to win a race-- and a thousand ways to lose one!"

The Sports of Kings needs someone to once again wear the crown. This just might be the one!

Be sure to follow my special reports on NewsChannel 8 Sports leading up to the June 7th race and then watch the Belmont "Live" right here on ABC!