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 is typically 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. Despite the current $1,000,000 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 .[ 2]
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."[ 3]
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 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.
Records
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 :
10 - Eddie Arcaro (1935, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961)
Most wins by a trainer :
Winners
Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2016
Hoppertunity
5
John Velazquez
Bob Baffert
Watson, Pegram and Weitman
2:00.68
2015
Tonalist
4
John Velazquez
Christophe Clement
Robert S. Evans
2:02.16
2014
Tonalist
3
Joel Rosario
Christophe Clement
Robert S. Evans
2:02.12
2013
Ron the Greek
6
Jose Lezcano
William I. Mott
Brous Stable/Wachtel Stable et al.
1:59.70
2012
Flat Out
6
Joel Rosario
William I. Mott
Preston Stables
2:01.44
2011
Flat Out
5
Alex Solis
Scooter Dickey
Preston Stables
2:03.17
2010
Haynesfield
4
Ramon Dominguez
Steve Asmussen
Turtle Bird Stable
2:02.48
2009
Summer Bird
3
Kent J. Desormeaux
Tim A. Ice
Jayaraman/Kalarikkal/Vilasini
2:02.51
2008
Curlin
4
Robby Albarado
Steve Asmussen
Stonestreet Stables et al.
2:01:93
2007
Curlin
3
Robby Albarado
Steve Asmussen
Stonestreet Stables et al.
2:01.20
2006
Bernardini
3
Javier Castellano
Thomas Albertrani
Darley Stable
2:01.02
2005
Borrego
4
Garrett Gomez
C. Beau Greely
Kelly, Scott, Ralls, Foster
2:02.86
2004
Funny Cide
4
Jose Santos
Barclay Tagg
Sackatoga Stable
2:02.44
2003
Mineshaft
4
Robby Albarado
Neil J. Howard
Farish , Elkins, Webber
2:00.25
2002
Evening Attire
4
Shaun Bridgmohan
Patrick J. Kelly
Grant, Grant, Kelly
1:59.58
2001
Aptitude
4
Jerry Bailey
Robert J. Frankel
Juddmonte Farm
2:01.49
2000
Albert the Great
3
Jorge Chavez
Nick Zito
Tracy Farmer
1:59.24
1999
River Keen
7
Chris Antley
Bob Baffert
Hugo Reynolds
2:01.40
1998
Wagon Limit
4
Robbie Davis
H. Allen Jerkens
Joseph V. Shields, Jr.
2:00.62
1997
Skip Away
4
Jerry Bailey
Hubert Hine
Carolyn Hine
1:58.89
1996
Skip Away
3
Shane Sellers
Hubert Hine
Carolyn Hine
2:00.70
1995
Cigar
5
Jerry Bailey
William I. Mott
Allen Paulson
2:01.29
1994
Colonial Affair
4
Jose Santos
Flint S. Schulhofer
Centennial Farms
2:02.19
1993
Miner's Mark
3
Chris McCarron
C. R. McGaughey III
Ogden Phipps
2:02.79
1992
Pleasant Tap
5
Gary Stevens
Christopher Speckert
Buckland Farm
1:58.95
1991
Festin
5
Ed Delahoussaye
Ron McAnally
Kinerk Burton
2:00.69
1990
Flying Continental
4
Corey Black
Jay M. Robbins
Jack Kent Cooke
2:00.60
1989
Easy Goer
3
Pat Day
C. R. McGaughey III
Ogden Phipps
2:29.20
1988
Waquoit
5
Jose Santos
Guido Federico
Joseph Federico
2:27.60
1987
Creme Fraiche
5
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Woody Stephens
Brushwood Stable
2:30.80
1986
Creme Fraiche
4
Randy Romero
Woody Stephens
Brushwood Stable
2:28.00
1985
Vanlandingham
4
Pat Day
C. R. McGaughey III
Loblolly Stable
2:27.00
1984
Slew o' Gold
4
Angel Cordero, Jr.
John O. Hertler
Equusequitey Stable
2:28.80
1983
Slew o' Gold
3
Angel Cordero, Jr.
Sidney Watters, Jr.
Equusequitey Stable
2:26.20
1982
Lemhi Gold
4
Chris McCarron
Laz Barrera
Aaron U. Jones
2:31.20
1981
John Henry
6
Bill Shoemaker
Victor J. Nickerson
Dotsam Stable
2:28.40
1980
Temperence Hill
3
Eddie Maple
Joseph B. Cantey
Loblolly Stable
2:30.20
1979
Affirmed
4
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laz Barrera
Harbor View Farm
2:27.40
1978
Exceller
5
Bill Shoemaker
Charles Whittingham
Nelson Bunker Hunt
2:27.20
1977
On The Sly
4
Gregg McCarron
Milton W. Gross
Balmak Stable
2:28.20
1976
Great Contractor
3
Pat Day
Roger Laurin
Howard P. Wilson
2:28.80
1975
Group Plan
5
Jorge Velasquez
H. Allen Jerkens
Hobeau Farm
3:23.20
1974
Forego
4
Heliodoro Gustines
Sherrill W. Ward
Lazy F Ranch
3:21.20
1973
Prove Out
4
Jorge Velasquez
H. Allen Jerkens
Hobeau Farm
3:20.00
1972
Autobiography
4
Angel Cordero, Jr.
Pancho Martin
Sigmund Sommer
3:21.40
1971
Shuvee
5
Jorge Velasquez
Willard C. Freeman
Anne Minor Stone
3:20.40
1970
Shuvee
4
Ron Turcotte
Willard C. Freeman
Anne Minor Stone
3:21.60
1969
Arts and Letters
3
Braulio Baeza
J. Elliott Burch
Rokeby Stables
3:22.40
1968
Quicken Tree
5
William Hartack
Clyde Turk
L. R. Rowan /W. Whitney
3:22.80
1967
Damascus
3
Bill Shoemaker
Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr.
Edith W. Bancroft
3:20.20
1966
Buckpasser
3
Braulio Baeza
Edward A. Neloy
Ogden Phipps
3:26.20
1965
Roman Brother
4
Braulio Baeza
Burley Parke
Harbor View Farm
3:22.60
1964
Kelso
7
Ismael Valenzuela
Carl Hanford
Bohemia Stable
3:19.20
1963
Kelso
6
Ismael Valenzuela
Carl Hanford
Bohemia Stable
3:22.00
1962
Kelso
5
Ismael Valenzuela
Carl Hanford
Bohemia Stable
3:19.80
1961
Kelso
4
Eddie Arcaro
Carl Hanford
Bohemia Stable
3:25.80
1960
Kelso
3
Eddie Arcaro
Carl Hanford
Bohemia Stable
3:19.40
1959
Sword Dancer
3
Eddie Arcaro
J. Elliott Burch
Brookmeade Stable
3:22.20
1958
Inside Tract
4
Conn McCreary
John J. Weipert, Jr.
D & M Stable
3:23.40
1957
Gallant Man
3
Bill Shoemaker
John A. Nerud
Ralph Lowe
3:23.00
1956
Nashua
4
Eddie Arcaro
Jim Fitzsimmons
Leslie Combs II
3:20.40
1955
Nashua
3
Eddie Arcaro
Jim Fitzsimmons
Belair Stud
3:24.80
1954
High Gun
3
Eddie Arcaro
Max Hirsch
King Ranch
3:25.80
1953
Level Lea
3
William Boland
Not found
John Shaffer Phipps
3:27.00
1952
One Count
3
Dave Gorman
Oscar White
Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords
3:24.20
1951
Counterpoint
3
Dave Gorman
Sylvester Veitch
C. V. Whitney
3:21.60
1950
Hill Prince
3
Dave Gorman
Casey Hayes
Christopher Chenery
3:22.40
1949
Ponder
3
Eddie Arcaro
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
3:22.80
1948
Citation
3
Eddie Arcaro
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
3:21.60
1947
Phalanx
3
Ruperto Donoso
Sylvester Veitch
C. V. Whitney
3:21.60
1946
Pavot
4
Eddie Arcaro
Oscar White
Walter M. Jeffords, Sr.
3:22.60
1945
Pot o'Luck
3
Douglas Dodson
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
3:27.40
1944
Bolingbroke
7
Robert Permane
Jim Fitzsimmons
Townsend B. Martin
3:27.20
1943
Princequillo
3
Conn McCreary
Horatio Luro
Boone Hall Stable
3:23.80
1942
Whirlaway
4
George Woolf
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
3:21.60
1941
Market Wise
3
Basil James
George W. Carroll
Louis Tufano
3:20.80
1940
Fenelon
3
James Stout
James E. Fitzsimmons
Belair Stud
3:24.40
1939
Cravat
4
Basil James
Walter Burrows
Townsend B. Martin
3:23.00
1938
War Admiral
4
Wayne D. Wright
George Conway
Glen Riddle Farm
3:24.80
1937
Firethorn
5
Harry Richards
Preston M. Burch
Walter M. Jeffords, Sr.
3:26.00
1936
Count Arthur
4
James Stout
Frank Hackett
Fanny Hertz
3:24.40
1935
Firethorn
3
Eddie Arcaro
Preston M. Burch
Walter M. Jeffords, Sr.
3:24.20
1934
Dark Secret
5
Charles Kurtsinger
Jim Fitzsimmons
Wheatley Stable
3:24.60
1933
Dark Secret
4
Hank Mills
Jim Fitzsimmons
Wheatley Stable
3:25.20
1932
Gusto
3
Buddy Hanford
Max Hirsch
Morton L. Schwartz
3:25.20
1931
Twenty Grand
3
Charles Kurtsinger
James G. Rowe, Jr.
Greentree Stable
3:23.40
1930
Gallant Fox
3
Earl Sande
Jim Fitzsimmons
Belair Stud
3:24.40
1929
Diavolo
4
John Maiben
Jim Fitzsimmons
Wheatley Stable
3:24.00
1928
Reigh Count
3
Chick Lang
Bert S. Michell
Fanny Hertz
3:23.00
1927
Chance Play
4
Earl Sande
John I. Smith
Log Cabin Stable
3:23.00
1926
Crusader
3
Albert Johnson
George Conway
Glen Riddle Farm
3:26.00
1925
Altawood
4
John Maiben
G. Hamilton Keene
Joseph E. Widener
3:26.00
1924
My Play
5
Andy Schuttinger
Roy Waldron
Lexington Stable
3:25.60
1923
Homestretch
3
Chick Lang
Ernest Sletas
H. Alterman
3:24.20
1922
Mad Hatter
6
Earl Sande
Sam Hildreth
Rancocas Stable
3:22.60
1921
Mad Hatter
5
Earl Sande
Sam Hildreth
Rancocas Stable
3:22.40
1920
Man o' War
3
Clarence Kummer
Louis Feustel
Glen Riddle Farm
2:28.80
1919
Purchase
3
Clarence Kummer
Sam Hildreth
Glen Riddle Farm
2:28.80
In 1927, Brown Bud finished first but was disqualified.
Only two horses started in 1920.
Notes
References
External links