River City Stakes

Horse race

River City StakesGrade III race

Location| Churchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated| 1978 (as River City Handicap)
Race type| Thoroughbred \- Flat racing
Website| Churchill Downs
Race information
Distance| 1+1⁄8 miles
Surface| Turf
Track| Left-handed
Qualification| Three-year-olds and older
Weight| Base weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 125 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
Purse| $300,000 (2022)

The River City Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of one and one eighth miles on the turf held annually in November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event offers a purse of $300,000.

## History[edit]

The name of the event is after a nickname for the city of Louisville where river traffic between the upper Ohio River and the Gulf of Mexico provided the early settlement of Louisville as it grew as a portage site.

The event was inaugurated on 30 October 1978, opening day of Churchill Downs Fall meeting as the River City Handicap as a six furlong dirt race and was won by Inca Roca who won his fifth race from fourteen starts in a time of 1:102⁄5.[1]

The event was run over six furlongs until 1981 and then increased to 1 mile.[2] In 1987 the event was scheduled on the turf over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles.[2] The following year the distance of the event increased to 1+1⁄8 miles but it was moved off the turf and onto the main track due to inclement weather.[3]

The American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event as Grade III in 1996[4] and was won by the 2/1 favourite Same Old Wish.[5] Same Old Wish would win the event again the following year as a seven-year-old.[6]

The event was run as a handicap prior to 2019.[7]

The race was not run from 2020 to 2021 and in 2022 when the event was resumed it was moved to the dirt track due to the state of turf track and was downgraded to Listed status.[8]

## Records[edit]

Speed record:

* 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:47.90 – Dr. Kashnikow (CAN) (2001)
* 1 mile (dirt): 1:36.20 - Taylor's Special (1986)

Margins:

* 7 lengths – Go With the Times (1979)

Most wins:

* 2 – Same Old Wish (1996, 1997)
* 2 – Dr. Kashnikow (CAN) (2001, 2002)
* 2 – Mr. Misunderstood (2018, 2019)

Most wins by an owner:

* 2 – Friendship Stable (1996, 1997)
* 2 – Erdenheim Farm (2001, 2002)
* 2 – Flurry Racing Stables (2018, 2019)

Most wins by a jockey:

* 6 – Pat Day (1982, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1999, 2000)

Most wins by a trainer:

* 2 – Joseph M. Bollero (1979, 1982)
* 2 – William C. Thomas (1980, 1988)
* 2 – William I. Mott (1986, 1987)
* 2 – W. Elliott Walden (1994, 2000)
* 2 – Robert Barbara (1996, 1997)
* 2 – Neil J. Howard (1999, 2005)
* 2 – John R. S. Fisher (2001, 2002)
* 2 – Brad H. Cox (2018, 2019)
* 2 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1984, 2023)

## Winners[edit]

Year  | Winner  | Age  | Jockey  | Trainer  | Owner  | Distance  | Time  | Purse  | Grade  | Ref

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River City Stakes
2023  | Smokin' T  | 4  | John R. Velazquez | Claude R. McGaughey III | DATTT Stable  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:50.66  | $289,858  | III  | [9]
2022  | Hozier  | 4  | Julien R. Leparoux | Rodolphe Brisset  | Storyteller Racing  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:51.67  | $292,500  | Listed  | Off turf[8]
2020-2021  | Race not held
2019  | Mr. Misunderstood  | 5  | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Flurry Racing Stables  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:53.31  | $175,000  | III  | [10]
River City Handicap
2018  | Mr. Misunderstood  | 4  | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Flurry Racing Stables  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:55.94  | $100,000  | III  | [11]
2017  | Shining Copper  | 7  | Corey J. Lanerie | Michael J. Maker | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:52.78  | $100,000  | III  | [12]
2016  | Thatcher Street  | 5  | Brian Hernandez Jr | Ian R. Wilkes | Randall L. Bloch, Phil Milner, John Seiler & Amtietan  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:51.45  | $100,000  | III  | [13]
2015  | Heart to Heart (CAN)  | 4  | Julien R. Leparoux | Brian A. Lynch  | Terry Hamilton  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:52.16  | $100,000  | III  | [14]
2014  | Villandry  | 5  | Julien R. Leparoux | Charles LoPresti | Gainesway Stable  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:48.54  | $114,000  | III  | [15]
2013  | Potomac River  | 4  | Juan P. Vargas  | Sergio Baez  | Maribel Ruelas  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:51.20  | $116,300  | III  | [16]
2012  | Keep Up  | 5  | Miguel Mena | Alex Clarkson  | Mill Ridge Farm  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:48.05  | $115,700  | III  | [17]
2011  | Blues Street  | 7  | Robby Albarado | Eddie Kenneally  | Anstu Stables  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:51.72  | $111,000  | III  | [18]
2010  | Battle of Hastings (GB) | 4  | Joel Rosario | Gregory Fox  | Mike House  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:48.90  | $111,200  | III  | [19]
2009  | Rahystrada  | 5  | Leandro D. Goncalves  | Byron G. Hughes  | Robert E. Courtney  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:49.18  | $112,700  | III  | [20]
2008  | Karelian  | 6  | William D. Troilo  | George R. Arnold II  | Green Lantern Stables  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:50.06  | $114,400  | III  | Dead heat[21]
Demarcation  | 4  | Jesus Lopez Castanon | Paul J. McGee  | Amerman Racing Stables
2007  | Thorn Song  | 4  | Kent J. Desormeaux | Dale L. Romans | Zayat Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:51.37  | $227,400  | III  | [22]
2006  | Bayeux  | 5  | John R. Velazquez | Gerard A. Butler  | Michael Tabor | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:48.77  | $168,900  | III  | [23]
2005  | America Alive  | 4  | Robby Albarado | Neil J. Howard | Mill House  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:50.78  | $167,700  | III  | [24]
2004  | G P Fleet  | 4  | Jose R. Martinez Jr.  | Steven B. Flint  | Richard Bertram & Elaine Klein  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:51.26  | $174,300  | III  | [25]
2003  | Hard Buck (BRZ) | 4  | Brice Blanc | Kenneth G. McPeek | Team Victory II  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:51.60  | $172,800  | III  | [26]
2002  | Dr. Kashnikow (CAN)  | 5  | Robby Albarado | John R. S. Fisher  | Erdenheim Farm  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:51.44  | $175,650  | III  | [27]
2001  | Dr. Kashnikow (CAN)  | 4  | Robby Albarado | John R. S. Fisher  | Erdenheim Farm  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:47.90  | $177,300  | III  | [28]
2000  | Brahms  | 3  | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Tom Van Meter  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:48.09  | $180,450  | III  | [29]
1999  | Comic Strip  | 4  | Pat Day | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III, G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & James Elkins  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:50.71  | $171,150  | III  | [30]
1998  | Wild Event  | 5  | Shane Sellers | Louis M. Goldfine  | Arthur I. Appleton | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:49.18  | $187,800  | III  | [31]
1997  | Same Old Wish  | 7  | Shane Sellers | Robert Barbara  | Friendship Stable  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:50.90  | $171,900  | III  | [6]
1996  | Same Old Wish  | 6  | Shane Sellers | Robert Barbara  | Friendship Stable  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:49.21  | $113,100  | III  | [5]
1995  | Homing Pigeon  | 5  | Randy Romero | Harvey L. Vanier | Nancy A. Vanier | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:51.00  | $112,800  | Listed  | [32]
1994  | Lindon Lime  | 4  | Shane Sellers | W. Elliott Walden | Frank Mansell  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:49.30  | $116,400  | Listed  | [33]
1993  | Secreto's Hideaway  | 4  | Willie Martinez | Akiko M. Gothard  | Mickey Liber  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:53.83  | $111,800  | Listed  | Off turf[34]
1992  | Cozzene's Prince (CAN) | 5  | Dave Penna | Tino Attard  | Kirby Canada Farm  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:49.31  | $112,400  | Listed  | [35]
1991  | Spending Record  | 4  | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Moyglare Stud Farm  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:50.34  | $115,500  | Listed  | [36]
1990  | Silver Medallion  | 4  | Craig Perret | Philip M. Hauswald  | Brereton C. Jones | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:50.80  | $87,000  |  | [37]
1989  | Spark O'Dan  | 4  | Joe M. Johnson  | Gary G. Hartlage  | William S. Greene  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:50.80  | $85,275  |  | [38]
1988  | Ile de Jinsky  | 4  | Eugene J. Sipus Jr.  | William C. Thomas  | Finish Line Stable  | 1+1⁄8 miles  | 1:53.20  | $68,310  |  | Off turf[3]
1987  | Kings River II (IRE) | 5  | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Bertram Firestone | 1+1⁄16 miles  | 1:45.40  | $57,150  |  | [39]
River City Stakes
1986  | Taylor's Special  | 5  | Pat Day | William I. Mott | William Lucas  | 1 mile  | 1:36.20  | $46,165  |  | [40]
1985  | Banner Bob  | 6  | K. Keith Allen  | Jerome J. Sarner Jr.  | William J. & Sharon Walsh  | 1 mile  | 1:36.60  | $44,800  |  | [41]
1984  | Eminency  | 4  | Pat Day | Claude R. McGaughey III | Happy Valley Farm  | 1 mile  | 1:38.40  | $28,350  |  | [42]
1983  | Northern Majesty  | 3  | Sam Maple  | Raymond S. Lawrence Jr. | Leslie Combs II & C. C. Green  | 1 mile  | 1:37.00  | $28,450  |  | [43]
River City Handicap
1982  | Pleasing Times  | 3  | Pat Day | Joseph M. Bollero | Tom Gentry  | 1 mile  | 1:38.20  | $31,250  |  | [44]
1981  | Suliman  | 4  | Larry Snyder | Robert E. Holthus | Joyce Starr & Dixie Holthus  | 6 furlongs  | 1:10.60  | $30,950  |  | [45]
1980  | Tinsley's Hope  | 6  | Julio C. Espinoza  | William C. Thomas  | Henry Pace  | 6 furlongs  | 1:11.00  | $29,300  |  | [46]
1979  | Go With the Times  | 3  | Gerland Gallitano  | Joseph M. Bollero  | Russell Reineman  | 6 furlongs  | 1:10.20  | $25,000  |  | [47]
1978  | Inca Roca  | 5  | Julio C. Espinoza  | Earl J. Puckett  | Charles Jarrell  | 6 furlongs  | 1:10.40  | $27,475  |  | [1]

Legend:
Dirt Turf

## See also[edit]

* List of American and Canadian Graded races

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Koerner, Dave (31 October 1978). "Inca Roca's luck turns sweet in River City Handicap (1978 River City Handicap – race 8: held 30 October 1978)". The Courier-Journal. pp. 29, 34. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
2. ^ a b "River City Handicap (Gr. 3)". Equibase. 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
3. ^ a b Berry, Jack (7 November 1988). "Ile de Jinsky takes River City 'Cap at Downs (1988 River City Handicap – race 8: held 6 November 1988)". The Courier-Journal. p. 36. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
4. ^ "RIVER CITY HANDICAP - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
5. ^ a b "1996 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 17 November 1996. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
6. ^ a b "1997 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 November 1997. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
7. ^ Churchill Downs (2019). "$175,000 River City (Grade III)" (PDF). KentuckyDerby.com. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
8. ^ a b "2022 River City Handicap Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
9. ^ "2023 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 11 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
10. ^ "2019 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
11. ^ "2018 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
12. ^ "2017 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
13. ^ "2016 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
14. ^ "2015 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
15. ^ "2014 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
16. ^ "2013 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
17. ^ "2012 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
18. ^ "2011 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
19. ^ "2010 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
20. ^ "2009 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
21. ^ "2008 (Nov) River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
22. ^ "2007 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
23. ^ "2006 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 3 November 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
24. ^ "2005 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 20 November 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
25. ^ "2004 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 November 2004. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
26. ^ "2003 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 16 November 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
27. ^ "2002 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 17 November 2002. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
28. ^ "2001 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 11 November 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
29. ^ "2000 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 5 November 2000. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
30. ^ "1999 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 November 1999. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
31. ^ "1998 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 November 1998. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
32. ^ "1995 River City Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 November 1995. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
33. ^ "1994 River City Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 November 1994. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
34. ^ "1993 River City Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 31 October 1993. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
35. ^ "1992 River City Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 15 November 1992. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
36. ^ "1991 River City Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 November 1991. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
37. ^ Rees, Jennie (12 November 1990). "Still-learning Silver Medallion Triumphs in Downs' River City (1990 River City Handicap – race 8: held 11 November 1990)". The Courier-Journal. p. 30. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
38. ^ Rees, Jennie (13 November 1989). "Johnson, Spark O'Dan post surprise in Churchill Downs River City Handicap (1989 River City Handicap – race 8: held 12 November 1989)". The Courier-Journal. p. 36. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
39. ^ Rees, Jennie (8 November 1987). "Kings River II fools his own rider (1987 River City Handicap – race 8: held 7 November 1987)". The Courier-Journal. p. 24. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
40. ^ Rees, Jennie (17 November 1986). "Taylor's Special behaves like a favorite (1986 River City Stakes – race 8: held 16 November 1986)". The Courier-Journal. p. 39. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
41. ^ Rees, Jennie (17 November 1985). "Taylor's Special behaves like a favorite (1985 River City Stakes – race 8: held 16 November 1985)". The Courier-Journal. pp. 45, 62. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
42. ^ Cushing, Rick (12 November 1984). "High-spirited Eminency displays his class in River City Stakes (1984 River City Stakes – race 8: held 11 November 1984)". The Courier-Journal. p. 28. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
43. ^ Rees, Jennie (6 November 1983). "Northern Majesty uses his head in River City (1983 River City Stakes – race 8: held 5 November 1983)". The Courier-Journal. p. 14. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
44. ^ Sowers, Richard (14 November 1982). "Pleasing Times caps 5-win day for jockey Day (1982 River City Handicap – race 8: held 13 November 1982)". The Courier-Journal. pp. 35, 46. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
45. ^ "Suliman holds off Tiger Lure - Long shot wins River City 'Cap (1981 River City Handicap – race 8: held 2 November 1981)". The Courier-Journal. 3 November 1981. p. 14. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
46. ^ Koerner, Dave (2 November 1980). "Tinsley's Hope scores in River City (1980 River City Handicap – race 8: held 1 November 1980)". The Courier-Journal. p. 16. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
47. ^ Koerner, Dave (30 October 1979). "Rider has mixed emotions as Go With the Times zips (1979 River City Handicap – race 8: held 29 October 1979)". The Courier-Journal. p. 6. Retrieved 25 October 2020.

## External links[edit]

* Churchill Downs Media Guide - $300,000 River City (Grade III)