Horse race
The Jockey Club Gold Cup , established in 1919, is a thoroughbred flat race 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 $1 million race is run on closing weekend and took the place of the Woodward Stakes , which was relocated to Belmont Park after being run in Saratoga for 15 years. NYRA management said that the Jockey Club Gold Cup – run at the same distance as the Breeders' Cup Classic – was better positioned on the racing calendar with an eight-week gap between the two races.[ 1]
Time record: (at current 1+ 1 ⁄4 miles)
Most wins:
5 – Kelso (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964) Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey :
11 – Eddie Arcaro (1935, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961) Most wins by a trainer :
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles ) Time Win$ Gr. 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 Honor 1 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 Play 2 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' War 3 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
1 In 2019, Vino Rosso finished first but was disqualified and placed second.
2 In 1927, Brown Bud finished first but was disqualified.
3 Only two horses started in 1920.