Tiffany & Co. was commissioned by
August Belmont Jr. in 1896 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. 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. 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.” == Awarded trophies ==