ALFRED GWYNNE VANDERBILT, for whom this race was re-named, was one of the driving forces behind thoroughbred racing in America for most of the 20th Century. Born in London in 1912, his mother, Margaret Emerson, took him to his first race, the Preakness, in 1922. He often said, "After that, I was hooked." On his 21st birthday, his Mother gave Sagamore Farm, her racing operation in Glyndon, Maryland. In the early years Vanderbilt often slept in the barns, overseeing the breeding and training of his stable. He was President of Pimlico twice, the first time when he was just 20. As a stable owner his first major acquisition was Discovery, one of the great handicap horses of the age who became his foundation sire. Vanderbilt was elected to The Jockey Club as the youngest member in its history in 1935 and eventually campaigned four Eclipse Award champions: Discovery, Next Move, Bed O' Roses and the great Native Dancer. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, he owned and ran Pimlico Racetrack outside Baltimore, and arranged the famous match race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral in 1938. He was President of Belmont Park and Pimlico at the same time before joining the Navy. During the Second World War, he captained a PT boat in the South Pacific and was awarded The Silver Star for bravery under fire. He returned to racing with characteristic zeal, bringing his greatest champion, Native Dancer, to the track in 1952. "The Gray Ghost" won all 9 starts as a 2-year-old and was named Horse of the Year. He won every start as a three-year-old too, except the Kentucky Derby, which he lost by a head to Cain Hoy Stable's Dark Star. The Dancer was Horse of the Year again in his 4th year. All tolled, he won 21 of 22 starts, with the single second-place finish in the 1953 Kentucky Derby his only career loss. Alfred G. Vanderbilt continued racing throughout his life and served as Chairman of the Board of NYRA from 1971 to 1975. The New York Turf Writers voted him "The Man Who Did The Most for Racing," a record four times, posthumously renaming the award in his honor. He died November 12, 1999 at his home in Mill Neck, New York after attending the morning workouts.