Belmont Stakes Opens: America's Oldest Triple Crown Race Begins
The 1867 Belmont Stakes featured a grueling 1 5/8-mile race where winners claimed $200 each plus a $1,500 added purse and an English saddle from Merry of London. This event established the oldest Triple Crown tradition, predating the Preakness by six years and the Kentucky Derby by eight. Aristides finished second in the 1875 edition, proving the race's enduring prestige before the first Kentucky Derby winner even claimed his own title.
June 19, 1867
159 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on June 19
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