Longines times American Pharoah’s Triple Crown victory at Belmont Stakes

Julien R. Leparoux races across the finish line on Tepin to win the Longines Just a Game race at the 147th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park Race Track, on Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Elmont, N.Y. (Photo by Stuart Ramson/Invision for Longines/AP Images)

WEEHAWKEN, NJ (June 6, 2015) – Longines, the internationally renowned Swiss watch brand and Official Watch and Timekeeper of the Belmont Stakes, timed American Pharoah’s historic Triple Crown win at Belmont Park on Saturday, June 6^th.

An enthusiastic crowd of 90,000 attended Belmont Park cheering loudly for the chance to watch history unfold. After a quick start, American Pharoah kept his stride to win the Belmont Stakes and secure the Triple Crown. His exciting run will be remembered for years to come – cementing 2015 as an important year in the history of horseracing.

Victor Espinoza on American Pharaoh celebrates a historic victory at the 147th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park Race Track, securing the first Triple Crown win in 37 years with a time of 2:26.65, as timed by Longines, the official timekeeper of the Triple Crown, Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Elmont, N.Y. (Photo by Stuart Ramson/Invision for Longines/AP Images)

In 1978, Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes to achieve what’s considered the greatest accomplishment of a thoroughbred racehorse. Now, more than 35 years later, Longines had the honor of timing American Pharoah’s successful runs at all three races – a feat that has only happened 12 times before.

After each victory, American Pharoah’s owners, trainer and jockey were presented with timepieces from the Longines Conquest Classic collection. To further celebrate this momentous win, Jennifer Judkins, U.S. Brand President for Longines, also presented Zayat Stables (Owner), Bob Baffert (Trainer), and Victor Espinoza (Jockey) with elegant, rose gold Conquest Classic watches to mark the occasion.

Jennifer Judkins and Juan Carlos Capelli, center, both of Longines, award Jockey Victor Espinoza, left, and Bob Baffert, right, Longines Conquest Classic 18K gold timepieces after Espinoza rode American Pharaoh to win the first Triple Crown in 37 years at the 147th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park Race Track, Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Elmont, N.Y. (Photo by Stuart Ramson/Invision for Longines/AP Images)

This year, the brand hosted the second annual Longines Most Elegant Woman at Belmont fashion contest to celebrate the elegant style associated with the Triple Crown. The chic ladies of Belmont walked the runway for celebrity judges who selected the most elegant woman and awarded her a stainless steel and rose gold watch from the Conquest Classic Collection featuring a stunning diamond bezel. Longines Conquest Classic watches were also presented tothe winning horse’s owner, trainer and jockey of the “Longines Just a Game” race.

Victor Espinoza rides American Pharaoh to a stunning victory by five and half lengths at the 147th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park Race Track, to secure the first Triple Crown win in 37 years, Saturday, June 6, 2015 in Elmont, N.Y. (Photo by Stuart Ramson/Invision for Longines/AP Images)

Longines’ passion for equestrian sport dates back to 1878, when it produced a chronograph engraved with a jockey and his mount. First worn on the racetracks as early as 1881 and extremely popular among jockeys and horse-lovers, this model enabled its user to time performances to the seconds. It was already being used by most sport judges in New York in 1886.

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