Jockey Club Gold Cup

Horse race

Jockey Club Gold CupClass| Grade I

|

Location| Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Inaugurated| 1919
Race type| Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website| www.nyra.com
Race information
Distance| 1+1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs)
Surface| Dirt
Track| Left-handed
Qualification| Three-years-old and up
Weight| Weight-For-Age
Purse| $1,250,000 (2022)[1][2]

The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a thoroughbred flat race, held at the Saratoga Race Course in the United States, that is open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It has traditionally been the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the spring meeting and the Travers Stakes is of the summer meeting at Saratoga. The past winners of the Gold Cup are a veritable who's who of award-winning Hall of Fame horses, including Easy Goer, Man o' War, Cigar, Skip Away, Curlin, Slew o' Gold, John Henry, Affirmed, Forego, Shuvee, Damascus, Buckpasser, Kelso, Sword Dancer, Nashua, Citation, Whirlaway and War Admiral. Despite the current $1,250,000 purse and Grade 1 status, the stature of the race has suffered somewhat in recent years thanks to the emergence of the Breeders' Cup Classic held not long afterward, as well as a change in distance to 1+1⁄4 miles in 1990, reducing its distinctiveness.

Part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Classic.[3]

Before it was known as the Jockey Club Gold Cup, it began as the Jockey Club Stakes. This was its name when Man o' War won it against the only horse willing to race him. Damask, owned by Harry Payne Whitney, was entered as a sporting gesture and to keep Man o' War from having to run alone in a "walkover." Damask finished 15 lengths behind with Man o' War held under strong restraint in order not to humiliate his rival. Even so, Man o' War broke the American record for a mile and a half.

Ten horses have won the race twice (including Hall of Fame horses Curlin, Skip Away, Slew o' Gold, Nashua and Triple Tiara winner, Shuvee). Only one horse in history has won the Cup five times, and that was the great gelding Kelso.

In the 1978 running, Exceller defeated the previous year's Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew, by a nose in a memorable stretch duel, with the 1978 Triple Crown winner, Affirmed, finishing fifth after his saddle slipped. Sportswriter Bill Nack wrote, "Exceller won by the snip of his chocolate nose. ... That battling final furlong remains Seattle Slew's most enduring legacy as a racehorse."[4]

From 1976 to 1989, the Jockey Club Gold Cup was run at 1+1⁄2 miles, but from 1921 through 1975 it was two miles (3.2 km) long, second in distance only to the less prestigious, 2+1⁄4-mile Display Handicap. From 1958 through 1974, except for 1962 and 1968, the race was held at Aqueduct Racetrack instead of Belmont.

In 2021 the Jockey Club Gold Cup was moved to Saratoga Race Course for the first time in its history. The $1 million race is run on closing weekend and took the place of the Woodward Stakes, which was relocated to Belmont Park after being run in Saratoga for 15 years. NYRA management said that the Jockey Club Gold Cup – run at the same distance as the Breeders' Cup Classic – was better positioned on the racing calendar with an eight-week gap between the two races.[1]

## Records

[edit]

Time record: (at current 1+1⁄4 miles)

* 1:58.89 – Skip Away (1997)

Most wins:

* 5 – Kelso (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)

Most wins by an owner:

* 5 – Glen Riddle Farm (1919, 1920, 1925, 1926, 1938)
* 5 – Bohemia Stable (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)

Most wins by a jockey:

* 11 – Eddie Arcaro (1935, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961)

Most wins by a trainer:

* 6 – Jim Fitzsimmons (1929, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1955, 1956)

## Winners

[edit]

Year  | Winner  | Age  | Jockey  | Trainer  | Owner
| Dist.
(Miles) | Time  | Win$  | Gr.

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2023  | Bright Future  | 4  | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:03.00  | $600,000  | G1
2022  | Olympiad | 4  | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables & LNJ Foxwoods  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:02.11  | $600,000  | G1
2021  | Max Player  | 4  | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steve Asmussen | George E. Hall & SportBLX Thoroughbreds Crop.  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:02.49  | $600,000  | G1
2020  | Happy Saver  | 3  | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Wertheimer et Frere | 11⁄4 m  | 2:01.77  | $250,000  | G1
2019  | Code of Honor1 | 3  | John Velazquez | Shug McGaughey | William S. Farish III | 11⁄4 m  | 2:00.30  | $433,125  | G1
2018  | Discreet Lover  | 5  | Manuel Franco | Uriah St. Lewis  | Uriah St. Lewis  | 11⁄4 m  | 1:59.99  | $433,125  | G1
2017  | Diversify  | 4  | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Richard Violette Jr. | Lauren & Ralph Evans  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:00.96  | $450,000  | G1
2016  | Hoppertunity  | 5  | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert | Karl Watson, Mile Pegram, Paul Weitman  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:00.68  | $600,000  | G1
2015  | Tonalist | 4  | John Velazquez | Christophe Clement | Robert S. Evans  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:02.16  | $600,000  | G1
2014  | Tonalist | 3  | Joel Rosario | Christophe Clement | Robert S. Evans  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:02.12  | $600,000  | G1
2013  | Ron the Greek | 6  | Jose Lezcano | William I. Mott | Brous Stable/Wachtel Stable et al.  | 11⁄4 m  | 1:59.70  | $600,000  | G1
2012  | Flat Out | 6  | Joel Rosario | William I. Mott | Preston Stables LLC (Art Preston)  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:01.44  | $600,000  | G1
2011  | Flat Out | 5  | Alex Solis | Scooter Dickey | Preston Stables LLC (Art Preston)  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:03.17  | $450,000  | G1
2010  | Haynesfield | 4  | Ramon Domínguez | Steve Asmussen | Turtle Bird Stable (Harvey & Bernice Weinstein)  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:02.48  | $450,000  | G1
2009  | Summer Bird | 3  | Kent J. Desormeaux | Tim A. Ice | Kalarikkal K. & Vilasini D. Jayaraman  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:02.51  | $450,000  | G1
2008  | Curlin | 4  | Robby Albarado | Steve Asmussen | Stonestreet Stables et al.  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:01:93  | $450,000  | G1
2007  | Curlin | 3  | Robby Albarado | Steve Asmussen | Stonestreet Stables et al.  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:01.20  | $450,000  | G1
2006  | Bernardini | 3  | Javier Castellano | Thomas Albertrani | Darley Stable | 11⁄4 m  | 2:01.02  | $450,000  | G1
2005  | Borrego | 4  | Garrett Gomez | C. Beau Greely | Jon S. Kelly, Ralls & Foster LLC, Brad Scott, et al.  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:02.86  | $600,000  | G1
2004  | Funny Cide | 4  | José A. Santos | Barclay Tagg | Sackatoga Stable (Tony Everard)  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:02.44  | $600,000  | G1
2003  | Mineshaft | 4  | Robby Albarado | Neil J. Howard | Farish, Elkins, Webber  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:00.25  | $600,000  | G1
2002  | Evening Attire | 4  | Shaun Bridgmohan | Patrick J. Kelly | Joseph & Mary Grant, Thomas J. Kelly | 11⁄4 m  | 1:59.58  | $600,000  | G1
2001  | Aptitude | 4  | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farm | 11⁄4 m  | 2:01.49  | $600,000  | G1
2000  | Albert the Great | 3  | Jorge Chavez | Nick Zito | Tracy Farmer  | 11⁄4 m  | 1:59.24  | $600,000  | G1
1999  | River Keen  | 7  | Chris Antley | Bob Baffert | Hugo Reynolds  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:01.40  | $600,000  | G1
1998  | Wagon Limit | 4  | Robbie Davis | H. Allen Jerkens | Joseph V. Shields Jr.  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:00.62  | $600,000  | G1
1997  | Skip Away | 4  | Jerry Bailey | Hubert Hine | Carolyn Hine | 11⁄4 m  | 1:58.89  | $600,000  | G1
1996  | Skip Away | 3  | Shane Sellers | Hubert Hine | Carolyn Hine | 11⁄4 m  | 2:00.70  | $600,000  | G1
1995  | Cigar | 5  | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | Allen Paulson | 11⁄4 m  | 2:01.29  | $450,000  | G1
1994  | Colonial Affair | 4  | José A. Santos | Flint S. Schulhofer | Centennial Farms (Don Little Sr. racing partnership)  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:02.19  | $450,000  | G1
1993  | Miner's Mark  | 3  | Chris McCarron | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 11⁄4 m  | 2:02.79  | $510,000  | G1
1992  | Pleasant Tap | 5  | Gary Stevens | Christopher Speckert | Buckland Farm | 11⁄4 m  | 1:58.95  | $510,000  | G1
1991  | Festin | 5  | Ed Delahoussaye | Ron McAnally | Kinerk Burton  | 11⁄4 m  | 2:00.69  | $510,000  | G1
1990  | Flying Continental | 4  | Corey Black | Jay M. Robbins | Jack Kent Cooke | 11⁄4 m  | 2:00.60  | $503,100  | G1
1989  | Easy Goer | 3  | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 11⁄2 m  | 2:29.20  | $659,400  | G1
1988  | Waquoit | 5  | José A. Santos | Guido Federico | Joseph Federico  | 11⁄2 m  | 2:27.60  | $637,800  | G1
1987  | Creme Fraiche | 5  | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Woody Stephens | Brushwood Stable | 11⁄2 m  | 2:30.80  | $650,400  | G1
1986  | Creme Fraiche | 4  | Randy Romero | Woody Stephens | Brushwood Stable | 11⁄2 m  | 2:28.00  | $510,300  | G1
1985  | Vanlandingham | 4  | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey III | Loblolly Stable | 11⁄2 m  | 2:27.00  | $516,600  | G1
1984  | Slew o' Gold | 4  | Ángel Cordero Jr. | John O. Hertler | Equusequitey Stable (Jim & Sally Hill / Mickey & Karen Taylor)  | 11⁄2 m  | 2:28.80  | $1,350,400  | G1
1983  | Slew o' Gold | 3  | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Sidney Watters Jr. | Equusequitey Stable (Jim & Sally Hill / Mickey & Karen Taylor)  | 11⁄2 m  | 2:26.20  | $342,000  | G1
1982  | Lemhi Gold | 4  | Chris McCarron | Laz Barrera | Aaron U. Jones | 11⁄2 m  | 2:31.20  | $337,800  | G1
1981  | John Henry | 6  | Bill Shoemaker | Victor J. Nickerson | Dotsam Stable | 11⁄2 m  | 2:28.40  | $340,800  | G1
1980  | Temperence Hill | 3  | Eddie Maple | Joseph B. Cantey | Loblolly Stable | 11⁄2 m  | 2:30.20  | $329,400  | G1
1979  | Affirmed | 4  | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 11⁄2 m  | 2:27.40  | $225,000  | G1
1978  | Exceller | 5  | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 11⁄2 m  | 2:27.20  | $193,080  | G1
1977  | On The Sly  | 4  | Gregg McCarron | Mel W. Gross | Balmak Stable (Mary Streit)  | 11⁄2 m  | 2:28.20  | $208,080  | G1
1976  | Great Contractor | 3  | Pat Day | Roger Laurin | Howard P. Wilson  | 11⁄2 m  | 2:28.80  | $201,360  | G1
1975  | Group Plan  | 5  | Jorge Velásquez | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 2 m  | 3:23.20  | $95,850  | G1
1974  | Forego | 4  | Heliodoro Gustines | Sherrill W. Ward | Lazy F Ranch | 2 m  | 3:21.20  | $67,140  | G1
1973  | Prove Out | 4  | Jorge Velásquez | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 2 m  | 3:20.00  | $66,060  | G1
1972  | Autobiography | 4  | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Pancho Martin | Sigmund Sommer | 2 m  | 3:21.40  | $68,220
1971  | Shuvee | 5  | Jorge Velásquez | Willard C. Freeman | Anne Minor Stone | 2 m  | 3:20.40  | $66,900
1970  | Shuvee | 4  | Ron Turcotte | Willard C. Freeman | Anne Minor Stone | 2 m  | 3:21.60  | $70,785
1969  | Arts and Letters | 3  | Braulio Baeza | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stables | 2 m  | 3:22.40  | $69,030
1968  | Quicken Tree | 5  | William Hartack | Clyde Turk | Louis R. Rowan & Wheelock Whitney Jr. | 2 m  | 3:22.80  | $71,370
1967  | Damascus | 3  | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Edith W. Bancroft | 2 m  | 3:20.20  | $69,290
1966  | Buckpasser | 3  | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps | 2 m  | 3:26.20  | $71,825
1965  | Roman Brother | 4  | Braulio Baeza | Burley Parke | Harbor View Farm | 2 m  | 3:22.60  | $71,500
1964  | Kelso | 7  | Ismael Valenzuela | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable | 2 m  | 3:19.20  | $70,785
1963  | Kelso | 6  | Ismael Valenzuela | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable | 2 m  | 3:22.00  | $70,785
1962  | Kelso | 5  | Ismael Valenzuela | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable | 2 m  | 3:19.80  | $70,785
1961  | Kelso | 4  | Eddie Arcaro | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable | 2 m  | 3:25.80  | $68,770
1960  | Kelso | 3  | Eddie Arcaro | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable | 2 m  | 3:19.40  | $70,205
1959  | Sword Dancer | 3  | Eddie Arcaro | J. Elliott Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 2 m  | 3:22.20  | $70,790
1958  | Inside Tract  | 4  | Conn McCreary | John J. Weipert Jr. | D & M Stable (Raymond da Brino & Joseph Martino)  | 2 m  | 3:23.40  | $52,417
1957  | Gallant Man | 3  | Bill Shoemaker | John A. Nerud | Ralph Lowe  | 2 m  | 3:23.00  | $53,850
1956  | Nashua | 4  | Eddie Arcaro | Jim Fitzsimmons | Leslie Combs II | 2 m  | 3:20.40  | $36,600
1955  | Nashua | 3  | Eddie Arcaro | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2 m  | 3:24.80  | $52,850
1954  | High Gun | 3  | Eddie Arcaro | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 2 m  | 3:25.80  | $55,150
1953  | Level Lea | 3  | William Boland | Max Hirsch | John Shaffer Phipps | 2 m  | 3:27.00  | $55,100
1952  | One Count | 3  | Dave Gorman | Oscar White | Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords | 2 m  | 3:24.20  | $52,100
1951  | Counterpoint | 3  | Dave Gorman | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 2 m  | 3:21.60  | $35,600
1950  | Hill Prince | 3  | Eddie Arcaro | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery | 2 m  | 3:22.40  | $36,006
1949  | Ponder | 3  | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2 m  | 3:22.80  | $36,300
1948  | Citation | 3  | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2 m  | 3:21.60  | $72,700
1947  | Phalanx | 3  | Ruperto Donoso | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 2 m  | 3:21.60  | $17,850
1946  | Pavot | 4  | Eddie Arcaro | Oscar White | Walter M. Jeffords Sr. | 2 m  | 3:22.60  | $18,250
1945  | Pot o'Luck | 3  | Douglas Dodson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2 m  | 3:27.40  | $18,335
1944  | Bolingbroke | 7  | Robert Permane | Walter Burrows | Townsend B. Martin | 2 m  | 3:27.20  | $17,645
1943  | Princequillo | 3  | Conn McCreary | Horatio Luro | Boone Hall Stable | 2 m  | 3:23.80  | $18,350
1942  | Whirlaway | 4  | George Woolf | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2 m  | 3:21.60  | $18,350
1941  | Market Wise | 3  | Basil James | George W. Carroll | Louis Tufano  | 2 m  | 3:20.80  | $7,325
1940  | Fenelon | 3  | James Stout | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2 m  | 3:24.40  | $6,700
1939  | Cravat | 4  | Basil James | Walter Burrows | Townsend B. Martin | 2 m  | 3:23.00  | $5,550
1938  | War Admiral | 4  | Wayne D. Wright | George Conway | Glen Riddle Farm | 2 m  | 3:24.80  | $5,500
1937  | Firethorn | 5  | Harry Richards | Preston M. Burch | Walter M. Jeffords Sr. | 2 m  | 3:26.00  | $6,050
1936  | Count Arthur | 4  | James Stout | Lon Johnson  | Fannie Hertz | 2 m  | 3:24.40  | $6,750
1935  | Firethorn | 3  | Eddie Arcaro | Preston M. Burch | Walter M. Jeffords Sr. | 2 m  | 3:24.20  | $6,550
1934  | Dark Secret | 5  | Charles Kurtsinger | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 2 m  | 3:24.60  | $6,200
1933  | Dark Secret | 4  | Hank Mills | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 2 m  | 3:25.20  | $6,400
1932  | Gusto | 3  | Buddy Hanford | Max Hirsch | Morton L. Schwartz | 2 m  | 3:25.20  | $9,950
1931  | Twenty Grand | 3  | Charles Kurtsinger | James G. Rowe Jr. | Greentree Stable | 2 m  | 3:23.40  | $10,400
1930  | Gallant Fox | 3  | Earl Sande | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2 m  | 3:24.40  | $10,300
1929  | Diavolo | 4  | John Maiben | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 2 m  | 3:24.00  | $10,900
1928  | Reigh Count | 3  | Chick Lang | Bert S. Michell | Fannie Hertz | 2 m  | 3:23.00  | $10,850
1927  | Chance Play2 | 4  | Earl Sande | John I. Smith | Log Cabin Stable | 2 m  | 3:23.00  | $12,000
1926  | Crusader | 3  | Albert Johnson | George Conway | Glen Riddle Farm | 2 m  | 3:26.00  | $13,300
1925  | Altawood | 4  | John Maiben | G. Hamilton Keene | Joseph E. Widener | 2 m  | 3:26.00  | $13,050
1924  | My Play | 5  | Andy Schuttinger | Roy Waldron | Lexington Stable (Edward F. Simms & Henry W. Oliver)  | 2 m  | 3:25.60  | $14,150
1923  | Homestretch  | 3  | Chick Lang | Ernest Sletas | Herman Alterman  | 2 m  | 3:24.20  | $11,300
1922  | Mad Hatter | 6  | Earl Sande | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 2 m  | 3:22.60  | $12,700
1921  | Mad Hatter | 5  | Earl Sande | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 2 m  | 3:22.40  | $12,100
1920  | Man o' War3 | 3  | Clarence Kummer | Louis Feustel | Glen Riddle Farm | 11⁄2 m  | 2:28.80  | $5,850
1919  | Purchase | 3  | Clarence Kummer | Sam Hildreth | Glen Riddle Farm | 11⁄2 m  | 2:28.80  | $5,350

1In 2019, Vino Rosso finished first but was disqualified and placed second.

2In 1927, Brown Bud finished first but was disqualified.

3Only two horses started in 1920.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b Grening, David (19 February 2021). "Jockey Club Gold Cup, Flower Bowl being shifted to Saratoga". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
2. ^ "Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes Profile". Equibase. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
3. ^ "Breeders' Cup Challenge". Archived from the original on 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2008-08-02.
4. ^ Dwyre, Bill (16 September 2008). "Two horses do rare feat, then meet". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 25 November 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2016.

## References

[edit]

* The Jockey Club Gold Cup at Pedigree Query
* Jockey Club Gold Cup and Horse of the Year, 1936–2007

## External links

[edit]

* Ten Things You Should Know about the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Hello Race Fans! Archived 2010-10-20 at the Wayback Machine