Belmont Stakes Opens: America's Oldest Triple Crown Race Begins
The first Belmont Stakes was held at Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx, New York, on June 19, 1867, making it the oldest of the three American Triple Crown races. The inaugural winner was a filly named Ruthless, ridden by jockey J. Gilpatrick, who completed the 1 5/8-mile course in front of a crowd of New York society members. The race was named for August Belmont Sr., a German-born financier who served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee and was a founding patron of American thoroughbred racing. The Belmont Stakes moved to Belmont Park on Long Island in 1905, where its 1 1/2-mile distance (the longest of the Triple Crown races) has earned it the nickname "The Test of the Champion." Only 13 horses have won the Triple Crown in the race's history.
June 19, 1867
159 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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