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 about the revered French champion Epinard taking on America's best.

Following negotiations with leading American horsemen August Belmont, Jr., James Shevlin, and Matt Winn, owner Pierre Wertheimer agreed to send Epinard to compete in a series of three races at different tracks in the United States. In April 1924 they announced that the deal had been finalized and the story filled the sport pages in the U.S. and Europe and even as far away as Venezuela. Rather than a match race against a single horse, Epinard would be pitted against America's best in three separate races, each to be run on a dirt track and at an increasingly longer distance. Billed as an "International Special," the event was seen by fans at three different locales. The first race, on Long Island, New York, was attended by the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII.

...
Wikipedia