The shutdowns led Churchill Downs to reschedule the 2020 Kentucky Derby to the first Saturday in September.

However, Nadal and Charlatan, both leading contenders trained by Bob Baffert, were subsequently injured.

This left Tiz the Law as the clear favorite, and connections of several other contenders decided to skip the Belmont to focus on preparing for the Kentucky Derby.

Several sources commented on the eerie silence of the racetrack, with one comparing the experience to filming a movie.

"[12][13][14] Given the shortened distance and the dimensions of Belmont Park, the race started in a chute at the end of the backstretch.

[14] Tagg was previously best known as the trainer of 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, who also won the Preakness but failed in his Triple Crown bid by finishing third in that year's Belmont.

Both Funny Cide and Tiz the Law are owned by Sackatoga Stable, although the composition of the ownership group has changed over the years.

Sackatoga's managing partner Jack Knowlton remarked on how rare it was for such a small operation to have such success.

"[13] Jockey Manny Franco earned his first win in the Belmont Stakes in his first start in the race.