Who is International Special?
The International Specials of 1924 were a series of three Thoroughbred horse races held in September and October at three different race tracks in the United States. They were called "International" because the race included the champion from France, who had won there and in England. The one-time series came about following the much hyped October 20, 1923 match race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York between that year's highly touted Epsom Derby winner, Papyrus, and the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, Zev. The race drew a huge crowd to see the first-ever English champion race in the U.S., and it proved a resounding financial success for its promoters. Interest in the event was such that it was broadcast on the radio, a racing first, and a film of the race was distributed to movie theaters across the country. After the American colt easily won, horseracing fans in the U.S. clamored for more and European fans wanted redemption for their humiliation. As such, much talk began ab...