Belmont Stakes 2012 Post Positions: Ideal Spots for Top Horses

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner I'll Have Another will race for the Triple Crown on Saturday at the Belmont Stakes, but the draw for the post position might be as important as the quality of the horses themselves. 

On Wednesday morning, officials will draw the post positions for the 11 horses set to compete in the final leg of the Triple Crown. Even though it is three days before the race, this event can ruin the hopes of owners, trainers and fans.

In the history of the Belmont Stakes, the better luck goes to the horse closest to the inside post.

Since racing began in 1905, the No. 1 post has produced 23 winners. Not only is this the most among any spot, but it beats every other position by at least 10 victories.

Those numbers get progressively lower toward the outside post, and not a single horse has won from outside of No. 9 since 2002 with Sarava. 

These statistics are not only the case for Belmont while in the spotlight. Throughout the 2012 season, the inside post has yielded the highest percentage of winners. In 120 starts, horses starting in the first spot have won 21 times for a leading 17.5 percent.

Surprisingly, the No. 5 post is second, winning 15.5 percent of races.

One wild-card spot that the favorites could hope for would be the No. 7 spot. In the past five years, three horses have been able to leave with a victory from this position, including Drosselmeyer, Da' Tara and Rags to Riches.

Regardless of post position, it will not be easy for any horse to defeat favorite I'll Have Another. There has not been a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 and fans are hoping to see another one. 

With its biggest challenger, Bodemeister, not competing in the race, we might see the 12th ever winner of one of the most elusive titles in sports.