As a yearling, Glenelg was purchased by August Belmont for $2,000. Due to his size and temperament it was decided that he should not race as a two-year-old. To give him time to mature, he was not started until well into his three-year-old season, his first start being in the Belmont Stakes. Belmont wanted Glenelg's stable-mate, Fenian, to win, so Glenelg was held back in second. He went on to the Jerome Stakes, beating Vespucius but lost to that colt a week later in the Annual Stakes. He then won the Travers Stakes and finished his three-year-old season with one more victory, giving him three wins and two seconds in five starts. Glenelg was generally considered the best three-year-old of 1869.The Kentucky thoroughbred By Kent Hollingsworth Retrieved on 2011-11-11
