The prestigious Belmont Stakes—now the final jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown—held its inaugural run on June 19, 1867, at the Jerome Park Racetrack in Westchester County, New York. A crowd of high-society spectators gathered to watch a field of elite three-year-olds sprint a grueling 1⅝ miles. The historic race ended in a thrilling finish, with a magnificent filly named Ruthless edging out her male competitors to claim the very first crown and a modest $1,850 prize.
Jerome Park was the brainchild of flamboyant Wall Street financier Leonard Jerome—who also happened to be the grandfather of Winston Churchill. Jerome sought to bring European-style luxury to American racing, outfitting the track with a lavish clubhouse that featured dining rooms, ballrooms, and a trap-shooting range. By securing a victory for female horses at this playground for the ultra-wealthy, Ruthless established a legacy so formidable that her family line dominated early American racing for decades.
Image: An artist’s view of Jerome Park Racetrack in Fordham, New York in 1868
