| Belmont Stakes | |
| Location | Belmont Park Elmont, New York, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Date | June 7, 2003 |
| Distance | 1+1⁄2 mi (12 furlongs; 2,414 m) |
| Winning horse | Empire Maker |
| Winning time | 2:28.26 |
| Final odds | 2.00 (to 1) |
| Jockey | Jerry Bailey |
| Trainer | Robert Frankel |
| Owner | Juddmonte Farms |
| Conditions | Sloppy[1] |
| Surface | Dirt |
The 2003 Belmont Stakes was the 135th running of the Belmont Stakes. The 1+1⁄2-mile (2,400 m) race, known as the "test of the champion" and sometimes called the "final jewel" in thoroughbred horse racing's Triple Crown series, was held on June 7, 2003, three weeks after the Preakness Stakes and five weeks after the Kentucky Derby.
New York-bred Funny Cide won the Derby and Preakness and attracted an enthusiastic following. Before a near-record crowd, Funny Cide's attempt to win the Triple Crown was derailed by Empire Maker, who had finished second as the favorite in the Derby and had skipped the Preakness to train up to the Belmont.
- ^ "Chart of the 2003 Belmont Stakes". equibase.com. Retrieved 29 September 2016.