Racing behind Paynter, thoroughbred race horse Union Rags moved up the rail to win the $1 million 2012 Belmont Stakes by a nose. Sitting astride Union Rags was jockey John Velazquez making this his second win at Belmont. Paynter, who led the race most of the way, finished second, and Atigun placed third in the final leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown.
A prepost parade at Belmont
Union Rags moved up the rail to win the $1 million 2012 Belmont Stakes by a nose.
© 2012 by Dave Mock
With I'll Have Another scratched from the race, excitement for the Belmont Stakes was noticeably less than expected had the race been for the Triple Crown. Trainer Doug O'Neill pulled I'll Have Another from the race on Friday morning and later announced at a news conference that the horse was being retired from racing because of tendinitis in his left foreleg.
Union Rags was foaled March 3, 2009, in Kentucky. He was one of the leading American two-year-olds of 2011 when his wins included the Champagne Stakes and the Saratoga Special Stakes. Despite a defeat in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile he was one of the early favorites for the 2012 Kentucky Derby, but finished in 7th place after a difficult race.