Galloping in the Gallatin: Montana's Horse Racing History

Montana's horse racing history runs deep. In 1889, when the Montana-bred colt Spokane won the Kentucky Derby, the event was a bigger news story than the Territory's impending statehood. The Gallatin Valley contributed to this 19th-century legacy, from Bozeman's first race meet in 1871 to a steeple-chasing competition near Three Forks. In 1935, Bozeman's Smokey Saunders rode Omaha to the Triple Crown. In the 1950s, Lloyd Shelhamer dreamed of making Belgrade a horse racing destination and developed the Beaumont Downs with its elegant dining room with a view of the track and the Bridger range.

Refreshments at 5:30 p.m.

This collaborative community event is presented by OLLI at MSU and the Belgrade Community Library, with sponsorship by the Belgrade Community Library Foundation, and is free and open to the public.

There is a 50-person registration cap. Advance registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome.

The image reportedly shows a horse race at the first unofficial Crow Fair in 1903. The following year, the event became the Crow Fair known today. Montana History Portal.