| Class: | Grade I |
| Horse Race: | Jockey Club Gold Cup |
| Location: | Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated: | 1919 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Distance: | 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 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 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 miles, but from 1921 through 1975 it was 2miles long, second in distance only to the less prestigious, -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 $1 million race is run on closing weekend and took the place of the Woodward Stakes, which was relocated to Belmont Park after being run in Saratoga for 15 years. NYRA management said that the Jockey Club Gold Cup - run at the same distance as the Breeders' Cup Classic - was better positioned on the racing calendar with an eight week gap between the two races.[1]
Time record: (at current miles)
Most wins:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Miles) | Time | Win$ | Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bright Future | 4 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable | 1 m | 2:03.00 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2022 | Olympiad | 4 | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables & LNJ Foxwoods | 1 m | 2:02.11 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2021 | Max Player | 4 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steve Asmussen | George E. Hall & SportBLX Thoroughbreds Crop. | 1 m | 2:02.49 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2020 | Happy Saver | 3 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Wertheimer et Frere | 1 m | 2:01.77 | $250,000 | G1 |
| 2019 | Code of Honor1 | 3 | John Velazquez | Shug McGaughey | William S. Farish III | 1 m | 2:00.30 | $433,125 | G1 |
| 2018 | Discreet Lover | 5 | Manuel Franco | Uriah St. Lewis | Uriah St. Lewis | 1 m | 1:59.99 | $433,125 | G1 |
| 2017 | Diversify | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Richard Violette Jr. | Lauren & Ralph Evans | 1 m | 2:00.96 | $450,000 | G1 |
| 2016 | Hoppertunity | 5 | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert | Karl Watson, Mile Pegram, Paul Weitman | 1 m | 2:00.68 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2015 | Tonalist | 4 | John Velazquez | Christophe Clement | Robert S. Evans | 1 m | 2:02.16 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2014 | Tonalist | 3 | Joel Rosario | Christophe Clement | Robert S. Evans | 1 m | 2:02.12 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2013 | Ron the Greek | 6 | Jose Lezcano | William I. Mott | Brous Stable/Wachtel Stable et al. | 1 m | 1:59.70 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2012 | Flat Out | 6 | Joel Rosario | William I. Mott | Preston Stables LLC (Art Preston) | 1 m | 2:01.44 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2011 | Flat Out | 5 | Alex Solis | Scooter Dickey | Preston Stables LLC (Art Preston) | 1 m | 2:03.17 | $450,000 | G1 |
| 2010 | Haynesfield | 4 | Ramon Domínguez | Steve Asmussen | Turtle Bird Stable (Harvey & Bernice Weinstein) | 1 m | 2:02.48 | $450,000 | G1 |
| 2009 | Summer Bird | 3 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Tim A. Ice | Kalarikkal K. & Vilasini D. Jayaraman | 1 m | 2:02.51 | $450,000 | G1 |
| 2008 | Curlin | 4 | Robby Albarado | Steve Asmussen | Stonestreet Stables et al. | 1 m | 2:01:93 | $450,000 | G1 |
| 2007 | Curlin | 3 | Robby Albarado | Steve Asmussen | Stonestreet Stables et al. | 1 m | 2:01.20 | $450,000 | G1 |
| 2006 | Bernardini | 3 | Darley Stable | 1 m | 2:01.02 | $450,000 | G1 | ||
| 2005 | Borrego | 4 | Jon S. Kelly, Ralls & Foster LLC, Brad Scott, et al. | 1 m | 2:02.86 | $600,000 | G1 | ||
| 2004 | Funny Cide | 4 | José A. Santos | Barclay Tagg | Sackatoga Stable (Tony Everard) | 1 m | 2:02.44 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2003 | Mineshaft | 4 | Robby Albarado | Neil J. Howard | Farish, Elkins, Webber | 1 m | 2:00.25 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2002 | Evening Attire | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Patrick J. Kelly | Joseph & Mary Grant, Thomas J. Kelly | 1 m | 1:59.58 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2001 | Aptitude | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farm | 1 m | 2:01.49 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2000 | 3 | Tracy Farmer | 1 m | 1:59.24 | $600,000 | G1 | |||
| 1999 | River Keen | 7 | Hugo Reynolds | 1 m | 2:01.40 | $600,000 | G1 | ||
| 1998 | Wagon Limit | 4 | Joseph V. Shields Jr. | 1 m | 2:00.62 | $600,000 | G1 | ||
| 1997 | Skip Away | 4 | Carolyn Hine | 1 m | 1:58.89 | $600,000 | G1 | ||
| 1996 | Skip Away | 3 | Carolyn Hine | 1 m | 2:00.70 | $600,000 | G1 | ||
| 1995 | Cigar | 5 | Allen Paulson | 1 m | 2:01.29 | $450,000 | G1 | ||
| 1994 | Colonial Affair | 4 | Centennial Farms (Don Little Sr. racing partnership) | 1 m | 2:02.19 | $450,000 | G1 | ||
| 1993 | Miner's Mark | 3 | Ogden Phipps | 1 m | 2:02.79 | $510,000 | G1 | ||
| 1992 | Pleasant Tap | 5 | Christopher Speckert | Buckland Farm | 1 m | 1:58.95 | $510,000 | G1 | |
| 1991 | Festin | 5 | Kinerk Burton | 1 m | 2:00.69 | $510,000 | G1 | ||
| 1990 | Flying Continental | 4 | Jack Kent Cooke | 1 m | 2:00.60 | $503,100 | G1 | ||
| 1989 | Easy Goer | 3 | Ogden Phipps | 1 m | 2:29.20 | $659,400 | G1 | ||
| 1988 | Waquoit | 5 | José A. Santos | Joseph Federico | 1 m | 2:27.60 | $637,800 | G1 | |
| 1987 | Creme Fraiche | 5 | Brushwood Stable | 1 m | 2:30.80 | $650,400 | G1 | ||
| 1986 | Creme Fraiche | 4 | Brushwood Stable | 1 m | 2:28.00 | $510,300 | G1 | ||
| 1985 | Vanlandingham | 4 | Loblolly Stable | 1 m | 2:27.00 | $516,600 | G1 | ||
| 1984 | Slew o' Gold | 4 | Equusequitey Stable (Jim & Sally Hill / Mickey & Karen Taylor) | 1 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) | 1 m | 2:26.20 | $342,000 | G1 |
| 1982 | Lemhi Gold | 4 | Chris McCarron | Laz Barrera | Aaron U. Jones | 1 m | 2:31.20 | $337,800 | G1 |
| 1981 | John Henry | 6 | Bill Shoemaker | Victor J. Nickerson | Dotsam Stable | 1 m | 2:28.40 | $340,800 | G1 |
| 1980 | Temperence Hill | 3 | Eddie Maple | Joseph B. Cantey | Loblolly Stable | 1 m | 2:30.20 | $329,400 | G1 |
| 1979 | Affirmed | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 1 m | 2:27.40 | $225,000 | G1 |
| 1978 | Exceller | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 1 m | 2:27.20 | $193,080 | G1 |
| 1977 | On The Sly | 4 | Gregg McCarron | Mel W. Gross | Balmak Stable (Mary Streit) | 1 m | 2:28.20 | $208,080 | G1 |
| 1976 | Great Contractor | 3 | Pat Day | Roger Laurin | Howard P. Wilson | 1 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 | 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 | 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 | 1 m | 2:28.80 | $5,850 | |
| 1919 | Purchase | 3 | Clarence Kummer | Sam Hildreth | Glen Riddle Farm | 1 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.