| Surface: | Turf |
| Class: | Grade III |
| Horse Race: | Dinner Party Stakes |
| Location: | Pimlico Race Course Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Inaugurated: | 1870 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website: | www.pimlico.com |
| Distance: | miles (9 furlongs) |
| Track: | Left-handed |
| Qualification: | Three-years-old & up |
| Weight: | Assigned |
| Purse: | US$500,000 (2024) |
The Dinner Party Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid-May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the eighth-oldest graded stakes race in the United States and the oldest stakes race in Maryland and all of the Mid-Atlantic states. The race is open to horses age three and up and is run one and one-eighth miles on the turf. Currently a Grade III stakes race with a purse of $500,000, at one time the Dixie was a very important race that drew the top horses from across North America.
First run as the "Dinner Party Stakes" when Pimlico Race Course opened in 1870, it was named for the 1868 dinner party in Saratoga Springs, New York where Maryland Governor Oden Bowie and others met and wagered, resulting in the building of the Pimlico race course for thoroughbred race horses.[1]
The inaugural event was won by Preakness, for whom the Preakness Stakes was named. In 1871, it was called the Reunion Stakes and was won in a walkover by Harry Bassett. Suspended in 1888, in 1924, the race was revived by William P. Riggs, Maryland Jockey Club secretary.
Champions of many eras are among the Dixie's winners. Ten winners or runners-up have won the Eclipse Award or Champion, the latest being Paradise Creek in 1994. Other Dixie Stakes Champions include Sky Classic (1992), Bowl Game (1978), Fort Marcy (1970), Turbo Jet II (1964), Assault (1947), Armed (1946), Whirlaway (1942), Sarazen (1925), Duke of Magenta (1878), and Tom Ochiltree (1875).[2] The winner of the Dixie Stakes is presented with one of the most revered trophies in American thoroughbred horseracing, a replica of the oldest trophy in North America, the Annapolis Subscription Plate. That replica, "The Dungannon Bowl", is a perpetual trophy given annually to the winner of the Dixie Stakes, the oldest stakes race run in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic states.[3]
Run for many years as the Dixie Handicap, in 1965 it was raced in two divisions at a mile and a half. Or et Argent won the first division in a course record time of 2:30.20. A few minutes later, Flag won the second division, beating Or et Argent's record with a clocking of 2:29.00.
The 2018 edition of the race was run on dirt due to a heavy front of rain over Pimlico, and was downgraded to a Gr.III for the running. Fire Away, a half-brother to stallion Mr. Speaker, won the race.[4]
The event was downgraded in 2023 to Grade III.
Most wins:
Speed record:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | style= | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Set Piece | 6 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte | 1:41.64 | $250,000 | II | ||
| 2021 | Somelikeithotbrown | 5 | Jose L. Ortiz | Michael J. Maker | Skychai Racing LLC | 1:40.09 | $250,000 | II | ||
| 2020 | Factor This | 5 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox | Gaining Ground Racing LLC | 1:46.17 | $250,000 | II | ||
| 2019 | Catholic Boy | 4 | Javier Castellano | Johnathan Thomas | Robert V. LaPenta, et al. | 1:41.09 | $250,000 | II | ||
| 2018 | Fire Away | 6 | Manuel Franco | Shug McGaughey | Phipps Stable | 1:43.92 | $250,000 | III | ||
| 2017 | World Approval | 5 | Julien Leparoux | Mark Casse | Live Oak Plantation | 1:43.15 | $250,000 | II | ||
| 2016 | Takeover Target | 4 | Joel Rosario | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence | 1:44.76 | $250,000 | II | ||
| 2015 | Ironicus | 4 | Javier Castellano | Shug McGaughey | Stuart S. Janney III | 1:40.53 | $300,000 | II | ||
| 2014 | Utley | 6 | Edgar Prado | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1:43.88 | $400,000 | II | ||
| 2013 | Skyring | 4 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Calumet Farm | 1:47.87 | $400,000 | II | ||
| 2012 | Hudson Steele | 5 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Roger Weiss | 1:47.29 | $300,000 | II | ||
| 2011 | Paddy O'Prado | 4 | Kent Desormeaux | Dale Romans | Donegal Racing | 1:53.56 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 2010 | Strike a Deal | 6 | Ramon Domínguez | Alan E. Goldberg | Richard Santulli | 1:47.81 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 2009 | Parading | 6 | Kent Desormeaux | Shug McGaughey | Ogden Phipps | 1:48.28 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 2008 | Pays to Dream | 4 | Javier Castellano | David G. Donk | December Hill Farm | 1:54.74 | $250,000 | II | ||
| 2007 | Remarkable News | 5 | Ramon Domínguez | Angel Penna Jr. | Holly Rincon | 1:46.36 | $250,000 | II | ||
| 2006 | Better Talk Now | 7 | Ramon Domínguez | H. Graham Motion | Bushwood Racing | 1:48.48 | $250,000 | II | ||
| 2005 | Cool Conductor | 4 | Cornelio Velásquez | Ralph Nicks | David E. Garner | 1:52.79 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 2004 | Mr O'Brien | 5 | Ramon Domínguez | Robin L. Graham | Skeedattle II | 1:46.34 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 2003 | Dr. Brendler | 5 | Ramon Domínguez | H. Graham Motion | Francis O'Toole | 1:57.78 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 2002 | Strut The Stage | 4 | Robby Albarado | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 1:51.70 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 2001 | Hap | 5 | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson Trust | 1:48.56 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 2000 | Quiet Resolve | 5 | Robby Albarado | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 1:50.42 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 1999 | Middlesex Drive | 4 | Pat Day | Philip M. Hauswald | C. Steven Duncker | 1:48.64 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 1998 | Yagli | 5 | Jerry Bailey | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson Trust | 1:51.01 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 1997 | Ops Smile | 5 | Edgar Prado | J. William Boniface | Jacq. & Roger Schipke | 1:48.20 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 1996 | Gold and Steel | 4 | Alex Solis | Jean C. Rouget | Gary A. Tanaka | 1:52.80 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 1995 | The Vid | 5 | Jerry Bailey | Marty Wolfson | Joseph J. Sullivan | 1:52.25 | $200,000 | II | ||
| 1994 | Paradise Creek | 5 | Pat Day | William I. Mott | Masayuki Nishiyama | 1:48.51 | $150,000 | II | ||
| 1993 | Lure | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey | 1:47.60 | $150,000 | II | |||
| 1992 | Sky Classic | 5 | Pat Day | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:47.83 | $150,000 | II | ||
| 1991 | Double Booked | 6 | Pat Day | Linda L. Rice | Robert Gorham | 1:47.04 | $150,000 | III | ||
| 1990 | Two Moccasins | 4 | Randy Romero | Laz Barrera | James E. Cottrell | 2:35.80 | $150,000 | III | ||
| 1989 | Coeur de Leon | 5 | Jean Cruguet | W. Burling Cocks | Evergreen Farms | 2:38.40 | $150,000 | II | ||
| 1988 | Kadial | 5 | Gary Stevens | Melvin F. Stute | Jack Liebau | 2:45.00 | $150,000 | II | ||
| 1987 | Akabir | 6 | Craig Perret | Thomas Skiffington | Minnesota Sunrise Stable | 2:28.60 | $125,000 | II | ||
| 1986 | Uptown Swell | 4 | Walter Guerra | Virginia Kraft Payson | 2:28.40 | $150,000 | II | |||
| 1985 | 5 | Vincent Bracciale | Stephen A. DiMauro | Dogwood Stable | 2:27.80 | $125,000 | II | |||
| 1984 | Persian Tiara | 4 | Roger L. Shelton | Adrian Maxwell | Mrs. T. P. Donahue | 2:41.00 | $150,000 | II | ||
| 1983 | Khatango | 4 | Vincent Bracciale | David A. Whiteley | Pen-Y-Bryn Farm | 2:28.60 | $125,000 | II | ||
| 1982 | Robsphere | 5 | John Velazquez | Richard Root | 2:30.20 | $125,000 | II | |||
| 1981 | El Barril | 5 | Jacinto Vásquez | Smiley Adams | Walnut Hill Farms | 2:29.80 | $125,000 | II | ||
| 1980 | Marquee Universal | 4 | Hector Pilar | David A. Whiteley | Gerald Freed | 2:29.60 | $125,000 | II | ||
| 1979 | 4 | Charlie Cooke | Stephen A. DiMauro | Helen Polinger | 2:28.60 | $125,000 | II | |||
| 1978 | Bowl Game | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Gaver Jr. | 2:33.40 | $65,000 | II | |||
| 1977 | Improviser | 5 | Miguel A. Rivera | Jack Weipert | 2:28.60 | $95,000 | II | |||
| 1976 | Barcas | 5 | Vincent Bracciale | Leonard Imperio | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 2:29.60 | $65,000 | II | ||
| 1975 | Bemo | 5 | Chris McCarron | John W. Murphy | Hickory Tree Stable | 2:33.40 | $65,000 | II | ||
| 1974 | London Company | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | LeRoy Jolley | Chance Hill Farm | 2:28.80 | $65,000 | II | ||
| 1973 | Laplander | 6 | Vincent Bracciale | Pierce Laplander | Buckingham Farm | 2:30.40 | $65,000 | II | ||
| 1972 | Onondaga | 6 | Jack Kurtz | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Oakmead Farm | 2:30.00 | $65,000 | |||
| 1971 | Chompion ** | 6 | Michael Hole | Ivor G. Balding | C. V. Whitney | 2:34.20 | $63,000 | |||
| 1970 | Fort Marcy | 6 | Jorge Velásquez | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stables | 2:27.20 | $64,000 | |||
| 1969 | Czar Alexander | 4 | Bill Hartack | Angel Penna Sr. | Gustave Ring | 2:30.80 | $64,000 | |||
| 1968 | High Hat | 4 | Ray Broussard | John O. Meaux | Mrs. Wallace Gilroy | 2:29.80 | $65,000 | |||
| 1967 | War Censor | 4 | Earlie Fires | S. Bryant Ott | 2:36.60 | $67,500 | ||||
| 1966 | Knightly Manner | 5 | Tommy Lee | Kenneth A. Field | Barbara Guggenheim Obre | 2:30.80 | $67,500 | |||
| 1965 # | Or et Argent | 4 | Walter Blum | Wayne Stucki | Colin Campbell | 2:30.20 | $35,000 | |||
| 1965 # | Flag | 5 | Tommy Lee | Hirsch Jacobs | Jack Dreyfus | 2:29.00 | $35,000 | |||
| 1964 | Will I Rule | 4 | Ron Turcotte | Joseph S. Nash | Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr. | 2:40.00 | $70,000 | |||
| 1963 | Cedar Key | 3 | Tommy Lee | Don McCoy | Jerry Basta | 2:32.20 | $70,000 | |||
| 1962 | Wise Ship | 5 | Heliodoro Gustines | Jacob Byer | Milton Ritzenberg | 2:42.40 | $72,000 | |||
| 1961 | Hunter's Rock | 3 | Frank Lovato | Kenneth A. Field | Barbara Guggenheim Obre | 2:36.20 | $30,000 | |||
| 1960 | Shield Bearer | 5 | Nick Shuk | Jimmy Pitt | Stephen C. Clark Jr. | 2:32.40 | $30,000 | |||
| 1959 | One-Eyed King | 5 | Manuel Ycaza | Tommy Kelly | Cain Hoy Stable | 2:15.40 | $30,000 | |||
| 1958 | Pop Corn | 4 | John Ruane | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 2:21.60 | $32,750 | |||
| 1957 | Akbar Khan | 5 | Eldon Nelson | Thomas M. Waller | Cockfield Stable | 2:16.20 | $32,750 | |||
| 1956 | Chevation | 5 | Chris Rogers | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farms | 2:17.40 | $35,000 | |||
| 1955 | St. Vincent | 4 | Basil James | Vance Longden | Gardiner/Alberta Ranches | 2:15.40 | $34,000 | |||
| 1954 | Straight Face | 4 | Bennie Green | George Poole | Greentree Stable | 1:51.00 | $33,000 | |||
| 1953 | Royal Vale | 5 | James E. Ryan | Esther du Pont Weir | 1:51.80 | $32,000 | ||||
| 1952 | Alerted | 4 | Rocco Sisto | Jimmy Penrod | Hampton Stable | 1:58.00 | $35,000 | |||
| 1951 | County Delight | 4 | Jimmy Nichols | James E. Ryan | Rokeby Stables | 1:58.80 | $32,000 | |||
| 1950 | 5 | Nick Combest | Bill Winfrey | Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. | 1:56.20 | $32,000 | ||||
| 1949 | Chains | 4 | Preston M. Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1:56.60 | $35,000 | ||||
| 1948 | Fervent | 4 | N. Leroy Pierson | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:01.60 | $40,000 | |||
| 1947 | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:57.40 | $41,500 | ||||
| 1946 | 5 | Douglas Dodson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:58.20 | $45,000 | ||||
| 1945 | Rounders | 6 | Valdina Farm | 1:56.40 | $42,000 | |||||
| 1944 | Sun Again | 5 | Fred A. Smith | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:58.20 | $42,000 | |||
| 1943 | Riverland | 5 | Steve Brooks | Moody Jolley | Louisiana Farm | 1:56.40 | $30,000 | |||
| 1942 | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:57.00 | $32,000 | ||||
| 1941 | Haltal | 4 | Conn McCreary | Steve Judge | Royce G. Martin | 1:58.40 | $33,000 | |||
| 1940 | Honey Cloud | 6 | Henry Mora | Whitey Abel | Mrs. Albert J. Abel | 1:58.60 | $30,000 | |||
| 1939 | Sir Damion | 5 | Don Meade | George M. Odom | Marshall Field III | 1:58.60 | $36,000 | |||
| 1938 | 4 | George Woolf | Johnny Loftus | 1:56.80 | $34,000 | |||||
| 1937 | Calumet Dick | 5 | Joe Wagner | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:58.40 | $15,000 | |||
| 1936 | Dark Hope | 7 | Robert Jones | Louis Feustel | J. W. Y. Martin | 1:57.00 | $32,000 | |||
| 1935 | Only One | 4 | Robert Merritt | Mrs. W. Deering Howe | 2:01.80 | $7,500 | ||||
| 1934 | 6 | Raymond Workman | Thomas J. Healey | Cornelius V. Whitney | 2:01.80 | $7,000 | ||||
| 1933 | Stepenfetchit | 4 | Earl Steffen | James W. Healy | Liz Whitney | 2:01.80 | $9,000 | |||
| 1932 | Gallant Knight | 5 | Herman Schutte | Kay Spence | Audley Farm Stable | 1:58.00 | $24,000 | |||
| 1931 | Paul Bunyan | 5 | E. Gianelloni | B. R. Johnson | L. M. Severson | 2:01.20 | $25,000 | |||
| 1930 | Sandy Ford | 4 | Frank Catrone | William Shea | Myrtle Shea | 1:59.20 | $42,000 | |||
| 1929 | Diavolo | 4 | Johnny Maiben | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 2:00.00 | $45,000 | |||
| 1928 | Mike Hall | 4 | Harry Richards | Walter W. Taylor | Hal Price Headley | 1:59.00 | $40,000 | |||
| 1927 | Mars | 4 | Frank Coltiletti | Scott P. Harlan | Walter M. Jeffords | 1:59.40 | $42,000 | |||
| 1926 | 5 | Fred Weiner | Max Hirsch | Virginia Fair Vanderbilt | 2:00.80 | $40,000 | ||||
| 1925 | 4 | Earl Sande | Max Hirsch | Virginia Fair Vanderbilt | 2:02.00 | $42,000 | ||||
| 1924 | Chacolet | 6 | Mack Garner | Will Buford | Hal Price Headley | 1:59.20 | $40,000 | |||
| 1919 | – 1923 | Race not held | ||||||||
| 1918 | Cudgel | 4 | Earl Sande | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross | 1:59.20 | $40,000 | |||
| 1917 | Ticket | 4 | Andy Schuttinger | Andrew Miller | 1:59.20 | $40,000 | ||||
| 1916 | Short Grass | 8 | Frank Keogh | Emil Herz | 1:59.20 | $40,000 | ||||
| 1915 | The Finn | 3 | James H. Butwell | Edward W. Heffner | Harry C. Hallenbeck | 1:59.20 | $40,000 | |||
| 1905 | – 1914 | Race not held | ||||||||
| 1904 | The Southerner | 3 | Matthew Corbett | 3:06.60 | $5,500 | |||||
| 1903 | Colonsay | 3 | William Daly | 3:41.40 | $3,000 | |||||
| 1902 | Adelaide Prince | 3 | W. Powers | 3:06.60 | $2,500 | |||||
| 1889 | – 1901 | Race not held | ||||||||
| 1888 | Taragon | 3 | William Hayward | John Huggins | Alexander Cassatt | 2 miles | 3:37.00 | $7,000 | ||
| 1887 | Hanover | 3 | Jim McLaughlin | Frank McCabe | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 2 miles | 3:51.60 | $7,500 | ||
| 1886 | The Bard | 3 | John Huggins | Alexander Cassatt | 2 miles | 3:33.00 | $6,000 | |||
| 1885 | East Lynne | 3 | William Donohue | 2 miles | 3:49.60 | $6,500 | ||||
| 1884 | Loftin | 3 | Johnny Stoval | R. A. Johnson & Co. | 2 miles | 3:37.60 | $6,500 | |||
| 1883 | George Kinney | 3 | Jim McLaughlin | James G. Rowe Sr. | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 2 miles | 3:56.00 | $6,500 | ||
| 1882 | Monarch | 3 | Charles Shauer | 2 miles | 3:44.00 | $6,500 | ||||
| 1881 | Crickmore | 3 | Lloyd Hughes | Bill Bird | Oden Bowie | 2 miles | 3:37.00 | $6,500 | ||
| 1880 | Grenada | 3 | Lloyd Hughes | George L. Lorillard | 2 miles | 3:38.00 | $7,500 | |||
| 1879 | Monitor | 3 | Lloyd Hughes | Wyndham Walden | George L. Lorillard | 2 miles | 3:34.60 | $8,000 | ||
| 1878 | Duke of Magenta | 3 | Lloyd Hughes | Wyndham Walden | George L. Lorillard | 2 miles | 3:41.00 | $7,500 | ||
| 1877 | King Faro | 3 | William Walker | J. H. McIntyre/G. Rice | 2 miles | 3:55.00 | $7,500 | |||
| 1876 | Vigil | 3 | John Spellman | Col. David McDaniel | Col. David McDaniel | 2 miles | 3:41.50 | $7,500 | ||
| 1875 | Tom Ochiltree | 3 | George Evans | Wyndham Walden | John F. Chamberlain | 2 miles | 3:42.50 | $7,500 | ||
| 1874 | Vandalite | 3 | M. H. Houston | A. B. Lewis & Co. | 2 miles | 3:35.50 | $20,000 | |||
| 1873 | Tom Bowling | 3 | Robert Swim | David McDaniel | David McDaniel | 2 miles | 3:58.00 | $7,000 | ||
| 1872 | Hubbard | 3 | Frank McCabe | David McDaniel | 2 miles | 3:36.50 | $20,000 | |||
| 1871 | Harry Bassett | 4 | James G. Rowe Sr. | David McDaniel | David McDaniel | 2 miles | 3:55.00 | $11,000 | ||
| 1870 | 3 | William Hayward Sr. | Charles Littlefield Sr. | Milton H. Sanford | 2 miles | 3:47.50 | $11,000 | |||
A # designates that the race was run in two divisions in 1965.
A @ indicates that this race was run at Laurel Park Racecourse from 1915 to 1919 as the Dixie Handicap.
From 1915 through 1918, Laurel Park Racecourse hosted a Dixie Handicap. The winners were: