Tonight is the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes, the third and final leg in horse racing’s prestigious Triple Crown. California Chrome has the opportunity to become the first horse to win the Crown since Affirmed in 1978, and the 12th horse overall.

Since Affirmed’s victories, 11 horses have won both of the first two legs, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, but fell short in the Belmont. (In 2012, I’ll Have Another lost his shot at the Crown when an injury forced him to withdraw early.) California Chrome is eligible to compete in this year’s Belmont because of a ruling last month that will permit him to wear a nasal strip for tonight’s race.

The Belmont is the longest of the three Triple Crown races, measuring a mile and a half (compared to 1.25 miles for the Kentucky Derby, and 1.1875 miles for the Preakness). Chrome right now is embracing the publicity that comes with being a potential Triple Crown winner, but this will be the longest race of his career.

It’s also a big night for Chrome’s jockey Victor Espinoza, who is just 2-for-67 in races at Belmont Park. Espinoza rode War Emblem to victory in the Derby and Preakness in 2002, before falling short at the Belmont.

In the ESPN baseball documentary Four Days in October, one commentator says this about Game 7 of the ALCS between Boston and New York: “Perhaps this is the way ‘the Curse’ has to end…this final exorcism…coming back from (down three games to zero)”

Maybe this is the way the longest drought in Triple Crown history will end: a horse trying to become the 12th Crown winner, the 12th horse since Affirmed to compete in the Belmont after winning the first two legs, attempting to end a drought of 36 years (a factor of 12!) and enter racing immortality.

Tonight is bound to be historic, regardless of who wins. Will California Chrome complete the Crown, or will we have to wait until next year for a new contender? We’ll find out in just a few hours.