Alydar, at odds of 2.10-1, broke his maiden by 6 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park. ~
1977
Jockey
Eddie Arcaro rode his 3,000th career winner at Arlington Park. He was the first American-born rider to reach that mark. ~
1952
Affirmed, ridden by
Laffit Pincay Jr., became the first horse to top $2 million in earnings after he won the Hollywood Gold Cup. ~
1979
Criminal Type became the first horse to win consecutive $1 million races after capturing the Hollywood Gold Cup. He had previously won the $1 million Pimlico Special on May 12. ~
1990
Charlie Whittingham swept the top three spots in the Hollywood Gold Cup Invitational Handicap when his trainees Kennedy Road, Quack and Cougar II finished first, second and third, respectively. ~
1973
In the fastest workout of the day for six furlongs,
Secretariat went the distance in 1:12 4/5 at Belmont over a sloppy track. He would make his debut 10 days later, in a July 4 race for maiden runners at Aqueduct. ~
1972
The field for the American Derby at Washington Park was held at the post for an hour and 40 minutes, the longest pre-race delay in history. Boundless, with "Snapper" Garrison aboard, won the $49,500 race, which was witnessed by a crowd of 48,000. Garrison and three other riders were each fined $250 for bad conduct at the start. ~1893