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Jockeys are perhaps the most crucial part of any horse race. A good jockey can make a decent horse look like a star, and a jockey mistake can turn a likely win into a finish off the board. Jockeys face two of the biggest challenges of the year in the Triple Crown. In the Derby they have to face the chaos of the massive crowds and try to find a way to keep their horse safe and happy until the stretch drive. The Belmont isn't nearly as crowded, but it's probably even more difficult. The race is so long and the stretch is endless, so a jockey has to time his charge just perfectly or else the horse will use up his limited reserves before the finish line.

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Nobody knows the perils of the Belmont better than Kent Desormeaux, who will be on Big Brown this year. In 1998 he was on Real Quiet. That horse had won the Derby and the Preakness and was heavily favored to win the Triple Crown. He was free and clear in the stretch and it looked like history was about to be made. Victory Gallop wouldn't give up, though, and ended up nipping Real Quiet at the wire by barely a nose. Desormeaux has repeatedly said that he asked the horse to run too soon and had nothing but heart left at the end. He'll use that experience to his advantage this year.

Desormeaux isn't alone in his second-guessing. Gary Stevens still questions the ride he gave Silver Charm in 1997 when he gave up the lead in the last 50 yards. Chris McCarron says it was a 'screw up' that led Alysheba to a fourth place finish in 1987 when a Triple Crown was on the line. Stewart Elliott had never run in the Belmont before riding Smarty Jones in 2004, and he never managed to get his mount to settle down.

The only way to learn how to run in the Belmont is to run in the Belmont. It only makes sense, then, that a jockey with experience is crucial to Belmont success. Here's a look at the riders in the field this year:

Kent Desormeaux (Big Brown) - A couple of years ago I wouldn't have had any faith in Desormeaux in this spot, but then he wouldn't have been in this spot. He was in California and he was in a massive slump and riding like an amateur. Some time in Japan and then a move to New York made all the difference, and he is riding with as much confidence as he ever has. He's never won the Belmont, but he has five classic wins, and has the experience of being the closest non-Belmont winner ever.

Javier Castellano (Guadalcanal) - Doesn't have a Belmont win, but won the Preakness on Bernardini. He is a great rider under pressure - he won the Breeders' Cup Classic in his first try on Ghostzapper. He's ridden in the Belmont before, on the irrelevant Watchmon in 2005. He'll be equally irrelevant here.

Garrett Gomez (Macho Again) - Gomez has four Breeders' Cup wins, but none in the Triple Crown. He's experienced in the Belmont, though. He was on Hard Spun last year and Bob and John the year before. He'll be looking to break the string of disappointing underachievements here. Gomez was the leading jockey by earnings last year.

Robby Albarado (Denis of Cork) - Albarado takes over from Calvin Borel on this mount. He is familiar with this race and with heartbreaking losses, having ridden Curlin last year. The year before he rode Steppenwolfer to a fourth place finish.

Edgar Prado (Casino Drive) - Prado has never ridden this horse, but he knows this race well. He's the first previous winner on this list. He's also the master of breaking hearts and ending Triple Crown bids. He did it in 2002 when he rode Sarava to a win over War Emblem at odds of 70/1, and he did it again in 2004 when Birdstone beat Smarty Jones. He's on the horse with the best shot to end the bid this year. He hasn't had a good race in the Belmont since 2004.

Alan Garcia (Da' Tara) - Garcia is only 22, but he is on the rise in this game. He won his first and only Breeders' Cup race last year on Lahudood. The closest he has come to Triple Crown greatness was riding Funny Cide in his last career race in 2007. He should be in the lead at some point in the race, but he'll just be getting experience this year. He'll win one at some point.

Eibar Coa (Tale of Ekati) - Coa is a solid veteran jockey, but he is relatively inexperienced on the Triple Crown front. Tale of Ekati was just his second Derby starter, and he will be his second Belmont starter. The first was High Finance in 2006, and he finished 10th. He should be a better result here.

If you enjoy reading this article you'll like our horse racing exotic bets page. Doc's Sports breeders cup filly and mare turf race page is and excellent horse racing resource as well. When it comes to betting the horses our Kentucky Derby jockeys feature is a must for any horse racing fan. For 35+ years the team at Doc's Sports Service has provided and insight on horse racing handicapping.

Julien Leparoux (Anak Nakal) - Leparoux is relatively new to the game. He only made his debut in the summer of 2005, and he was the leading apprentice jockey in the country in 2006. He's an impressive talent, but he isn't particularly experienced in this race. In fact, he's making his debut. He'll get experience on Anak Nakal this year, and he'll win it soon enough.

John Velazquez (Ready's Echo) - Velazquez is the defending champion. His win on Rags to Riches was the first Classic win for both him and Todd Pletcher. He was second in 2006 on Bluegrass Cat, so he knows how to ride this race. His horse will need all the experience and insight Velazquez can give him.

Jeremy Rose (Icabad Crane) - Rose is the third previous winner in the field. He won on Afleet Alex in 2006, and really should have had a Triple Crown, but that was ruined by a disappointing Derby. He was less successful in 2006 when he was sixth on Hemingway's Key. Rose likely won't win this race, but he will probably be haunted by it - he rode Big Brown in his maiden race before making way for Desormeaux.