cover. in 1998, real quiet looked like a triple crown winner. it s going to be very close. here s the wire! it s so close to call! here at the finish line at belmont, the frustration has grown every year. since 1997, seven different horses have been on the verge of winning the triple crown but something went wrong. in 2008, big brown was a big brownout as the heavy favorite. and big brown is plummeting. two years ago, i ll have another didn t even start the race, withdrawn the day before with physical ailments. california chrome cleans up nicely preparing for his belmont. he was breathing easier after okayed use of nasal strips and competing owners had no objection. chrome had been compared to sea biscuit. there is a bit of a rags to riches aura since his mother was purchased for a meager price. gambling competition and changing entertainment tastes.
i expect him to win saturday. i really do. reporter: 3-year-old racehorses face challenges to bring home the crown. you have to have speed to win the derby in the preakness. stamina to win the belmont. usually it is rare to have that package in one horse. reporter: the belmont is called the test of a champion because of its rare mile and a half distance to cover. here at the finish line at belmont, the frustration has grown every year. since 1997, seven different horses have been on the verge of winning the triple crown. something went wrong. there is a bit of a rags to riches aura since the mother of california chrome was purchased for a meager $8,000. to win the triple crown would be a dream come true for me. reporter: the horse racing industry has been battered for decades by gambling competition and changing entertainment tastes. if california chrome wins i think it will bring a new generation of fans to this great sport. reporter: the horse racing industry has seen
competing owners had no objection. chrome had been compared to sea biscuit. there is a bit of a rags to rich riches aura since his mother was purchased for a meager price. gambling competition and changing entertainment tastes. if california chrome wins, i think it will bring a whole new generation of fans to this great sport. wow! reporter: cnn, at belmont park, new york. wow. what a horse. and it s supposed to be a beautiful, sunny day at the track tomorrow. great chance to see history. all right. after this break, i m going in search of our award winning documentarian. morgan actually lived it. you are going to want to see this. i promise. the same location.