Belmont continues 'Califorina Chrome' tradition

Fostering a superstition born on the first stop of the Triple Crown, Belmont

Park presented the connections of California Chrome with two saddlecloths upon

his arrival -- one bearing the proper spelling of the colt's name and one

deliberately misspelled

"Califorina

Chrome."

The tradition started when Churchill Downs accidentally misprinted California

Chrome's name on the saddlecloth for his Kentucky Derby preparations. After

donning the mislabeled cloth in the lead-up to the Run for the Roses, the

homebred son of Lucky Pulpit went on to a smashing victory in the race, lending

credence to the idea that there was some magic in the mistake.

Two weeks later, Pimlico followed suit by giving Art Sherman another

misspelled saddlecloth, as the trainer believed it to be good luck. After

another resolute victory in the Preakness, Sherman and company requested that a

"Califorina Chrome" saddlecloth be made up for the Belmont Stakes, to ensure

nothing deviated from the prior legs.