August Belmont Trophy

The August Belmont Trophy is awarded annually to the winning owner of the Belmont Stakes run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York since 1926. The perpetual trophy, a silver bowl, made by Paulding Farnham and donated by the Belmont family, has been presented to the winning owner for ceremonial purposes only. A silver plate is inscribed and given to the winning owner to keep.^[1]

Belmont Trophy

Anonymous artist's rendition of the Belmont Cup, 1896. The trophy was designed by Paulding Farnham at the behest of August Belmont, Jr.

Tiffany & Co. was commissioned by August Belmont, Jr in 1896^[2] to create a silver cup in memory of his late father August Belmont, the namesake of the Belmont Stakes, to be presented to the winner of the 1896 event.^[3] Using 350 ounces of sterling silver, Paulding Farnham crafted a 27-inch high, acorn-shaped bowl supported by a pedestal composed of three Thoroughbred horse statues representing the foundation stallions Eclipse, Matchem and Herod.^[4] The bowl was 15 inches across and 14 inches at the base and had a prominent acorn and oak motif symbolizing the development of modern racing Thoroughbreds from the three foundation sires. The lid was crowned with a statue of the elder Belmont's racehorse Fenian who secured Belmont's first win in the Belmont Stakes in 1869.^[3][4] Plans for the cup were unveiled on June 2, the day of the running at Morris Park Racecourse, while the cup was finished the following year in 1897. The cup cost $1,000 to create^[3] and augmented the $4,000 in prize money given to the race winner.^[4] August Belmont, Jr. himself won the Cup when Hastings won the race. Paulding Farnham made several additional Belmont Stakes trophies that were distributed from 1897 to 1907.^[2]

From 1896 until 1926, this trophy remained with the Belmont family. In 1926, Mrs. Eleanor R. Belmont, the widow of Major August Belmont II, donated the trophy to the Westchester Racing Association, then a governing body of New York racing, to be established as the permanent trophy for the race.

In a letter to Mrs. Belmont dated June 8, 1926, Westchester Racing Secretary John J. Coakley wrote: “As desired by you, the Cup will be known in the future as the August Belmont Memorial Cup and will be contested for annually in the renewal of the ‘Belmont Stakes’ at Belmont Park, the winner of each renewal to retain possession of the Cup until the succeeding year.”

Silver trays

In addition to be presented the permanent trophy for ceremonial purposes only, the winning owner of the Belmont Stakes receives a large silver tray upon which the names of previous Belmont are engraved. This tradition also dates back to 1926, when the Westchester Racing Association committed to present to the winner each year “a suitable plate to become the property of such winning owner.” The winning trainer, jockey and exercise rider also receive silver trays, while the winning groom is given race mementos.

Blanket of white carnations

While the origin of the white carnation as the official flower of the Belmont Stakes is unknown, it’s a fitting choice to crown the winner of the 1½-mile “Test of the Champion.” Traditionally, pure white carnations stand for love and luck, but they are also hardy, long-lasting flowers, not unlike the they come to adorn.

It takes approximately 700 “select” carnations imported from Colombia to create the 40 pound blanket draped over the winner of the Belmont Stakes. The New York Racing Association has long used The Pennock Company, a wholesale florist based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to import the carnations used for the mantle.^[5]

References