Athletes - August Belmont, Jr.

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	Athletes - August Belmont, Jr.

August Belmont, Jr. (December 28, 1851-December 10, 1924), was a son of August Belmont.

The younger August Belmont was an 1875 graduate of Harvard University, where, as a sprinter, he supposedly introduced spiked track shoes to the United States. Upon his father's death, he inherited a position as head of the Belmont banking house. He was an important early investor in the New York Subway, and is responsible for the creation of Belmont Park. (The prestigious Belmont Stakes was named for his father.) He served as Director of the National Park Bank.

Like his father, August Belmont, Jr. was an avid thoroughbred racing fan. He served as the first president of The Jockey Club and chairman of the New York State Racing Commission. For a number of years, Belmont owned one of the best racing stables in America and five times horses from his own stable won the Belmont Stakes. He also had horses competing in England and in 1908 his colt "Norman" won the Two Thousand Guineas. Belmont also raised polo ponies and played on a polo team with Harry Payne Whitney.

Following the United States' entry into World War I, Belmont, at age 65, volunteered to assist and was sent to France by the U.S. Army. At home, his wife named a new foal "My Man O' War" in honor of her husband but because of his age and the uncertainty as to the War's end, August Belmont, Jr. decided to disband the stable and with the "My" dropped from the name, Man O' War was sold to Glen Riddle Farm in Maryland.

August Belmont was instrumental in making the Cape Cod Canal a Reality. Throughout the nineteenth century, many plans were made, but none succeeded. It would take a wealthy New York financier named August Belmont and modern engineering to finally make the pilgrim's dream a reality.

The grand opening of the Cape Cod Canal was July 29, 1914. Belmont's canal was expensive for mariners. As much as $16.00 for a trip by schooner, a considerable amount in those days. This, along with the narrow 100 foot width and shallow depth of the canal made many mariners continue to use the routes around the cape. As a result, tolls did not live up to expectations and the Cape Cod Canal became a losing proposition.

As a result, the Cape Cod Canal was purchased by the U.S. Government on March 30, 1928.

August Belmont, Jr. died in 1924. His widow Eleanor Robson Belmont died at 100 in 1979. He is survived by his son August Belmont, III and granddaughter Jane Elizabeth Belmont.

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