John B. Connally Turf Cup Explained

Class:Grade III stakes
Horse Race:John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes
Location:Sam Houston Race Park
Houston, Texas, United States
Inaugurated:1995 (as John B. Connally Jr. Turf Cup Handicap)
Race Type:Thoroughbred
Website:Sam Houston Race Park
Distance: miles
Surface:Turf
Track:Left-handed
Qualification:Four-year-olds and older
Weight:123 lbs with allowances
Purse:$200,000 (since 2010)

The John B. Connally Turf Cup is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race, for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-half miles (12 furlongs) on the turf track, held annually in late January or early February at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

History

One of Sam Houston Race Park's most prestigious races is named in honor of former Texas governor John B. Connally (1917–1993) who was long time supporter and lobbied for the horse racing industry in Texas.[1]

The inaugural running of the event was on 21 October 1995 as the John B. Connally Jr. Turf Cup Handicap for horses three-years-old or older over a distance of miles and was won by Temple Webber Junior's Marastani by lengths in a time of 1:51.25.

The following year 1990 and until 2008, the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event.[2] In 1997 the event was moved from October to early April.[2]

The event was upgraded in 2006 by the American Graded Stakes Committee to a Grade III race.[2] In 2009 the event was not held.[3]

In 2011 the event was moved to a January schedule and the conditions were changed to allow only four-year-olds and older.[2] The following year the event's conditions were changed from a handicap to a stakes with allowances with the name of the event modified to the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes.[2]

In 2016 the distance of the event was increased to miles.[3]

The event is one of only two graded stakes races held at the track along with the Grade III Houston Ladies Classic. Along with the Ladies Classic, Pulse Power Turf Sprint and Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile, the John B. Connally Turf Cup is one of the main events of the Houston Racing Festival.[4]

Records

Speed record:

Margins:

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes
align=center 2024Dynadrive align=center 7Reylu GutierrezMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farmalign=center milesalign=center 2:34.00align=center $200,000align=center III[5]
align=center 2023Scarlet Fusion align=center 6Adam BeschizzaJoe SharpCarl R. Moore Management & Brad Grady align=center milesalign=center 2:33.50align=center $200,000align=center III[6]
align=center rowspan=22022Another Mystery align=center 6Jareth Loveberry Chris BlockTeam Blockalign=center rowspan=2 milesalign=center rowspan=22:31.28align=center rowspan=2$200,000align=center rowspan=2III[7]
Fantasioso (ARG)align=center 7James GrahamIgnacio Correas IVBloom Racing Stable & Ignacio Correas IV
align=center 2021Spooky Channelalign=center 6Julien R. LeparouxBrian A. LynchTerry Hamiltonalign=center milesalign=center 2:30.94align=center $200,000align=center III[8]
align=center 2020Dot Matrixalign=center 7Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxTen Strike Racing align=center milesalign=center 2:33.46align=center $200,000align=center III[9]
align=center 2019Bigger Picturealign=center 8Jose L. OrtizMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farmalign=center milesalign=center 2:32.62align=center $200,000align=center III[10]
align=center 2018Bigger Picturealign=center 7Jose L. OrtizMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm align=center milesalign=center 2:31.13align=center $200,000align=center III[11]
align=center 2017Bigger Picturealign=center 6Jose L. OrtizMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm align=center milesalign=center 2:32.24align=center $248,500align=center III[12]
align=center 2016Da Big Hossalign=center 5Florent GerouxMichael J. MakerSkychai Racing align=center milesalign=center 2:28.16align=center $200,000align=center III[13]
align=center 2015Coalportalign=center 6Miguel MenaMichael J. MakerKenneth & Sarah Ramseyalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.00align=center $200,000align=center III[14]
align=center 2014Admiral Kittenalign=center 4Julien R. LeparouxMichael J. MakerKenneth & Sarah Ramseyalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.80align=center $200,000align=center III[15]
align=center 2013Swift Warrioralign=center 5Jose L. EspinozaJohn P. Terranova IIJames Covello & James Dolanalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.21align=center $200,000align=center III[16]
align=center 2012Papaw Bodiealign=center 5Rosie NapravnikMichael J. MakerConnie M. Apostelosalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.84align=center $200,000align=center III[17]
John B. Connally Turf Cup Handicap
align=center 2011Schramsbergalign=center 5Chris LanderosChris A. HartmanBobby Joe Hammeralign=center milesalign=center 1:50.22align=center $200,000align=center III[18]
John B. Connally Turf Handicap
align=center 2010Acting Zippyalign=center 5Robby AlbaradoWilliam Don BennettWilliam Don Bennett & Carl Bowlingalign=center milesalign=center 1:52.31align=center $197,000align=center III[19]
2009Race not held
align=center 2008Scrappy Rooalign=center 5Paul M. NolanJohn G. LockeTawana Cantrellalign=center milesalign=center 1:51.65align=center $168,500align=center III[20]
align=center 2007Mending Fencesalign=center 5Quincy HamiltonMartin D. WolfsonFarnworth Stables align=center milesalign=center 1:52.34align=center $201,000align=center III[21]
align=center 2006Fort Pradoalign=center 5Robby AlbaradoJeff TrosclairTeam Blockalign=center milesalign=center 1:49.41align=center $193,000 align=center III[22]
align=center 2005Rapid Proofalign=center 5Brian Hernandez Jr.Hal R. WigginsDolphus C. Morrisonalign=center milesalign=center 1:51.31align=center $216,000align=center Listed [23]
align=center 2004Warleighalign=center 4Jeremy BeasleyRosendo G. Parraalign=center milesalign=center 1:53.01align=center $222,000align=center Listed [24]
align=center 2003Candid Glenalign=center 6Elvis J. PerrodinAndrew Leggio Jr.Glen C. Warrenalign=center milesalign=center 1:53.21align=center $223,000align=center Listed [25]
align=center 2002Candid Glenalign=center 5Elvis J. PerrodinAndrew Leggio Jr.Glen C. Warrenalign=center milesalign=center 1:50.38align=center $222,000align=center Listed [26]
align=center 2001Candid Glenalign=center 4Elvis J. PerrodinAndrew Leggio Jr.Glen C. Warrenalign=center milesalign=center 1:50.51align=center $212,000align=center Listed [27]
align=center 2000Rod and Staffalign=center 7Robby AlbaradoBobby C. BarnettJim H. Plemmonsalign=center milesalign=center 1:51.68align=center $162,250align=center Listed [28]
align=center 1999Chorwonalign=center 6Calvin H. BorelHal R. WigginsThomas C. Muelleralign=center milesalign=center 1:47.65align=center $165,750align=center Listed [29]
align=center 1998Chorwonalign=center 5Gerard MelanconHal R. WigginsThomas C. Muelleralign=center milesalign=center 1:51.86align=center $137,850align=center Listed [30]
align=center 1997Scott's Scoundrelalign=center 5Ronald D. ArdoinPaul J. PellerinVirgil L. Huskeyalign=center milesalign=center 1:53.63align=center $125,000align=center Listed [31]
align=center 1996Western Traderalign=center 5Carlos GonzalezBobby C. BarnettJohn A. Franksalign=center milesalign=center 1:52.30align=center $122,250align=center Listed [32]
John B. Connally Jr. Turf Cup Handicap
align=center 1995Marastanialign=center 5Curt C. BourqueThomas M. AmossTemple Webber Jr.align=center milesalign=center 1:51.25align=center $75,000align=center Listed [33]
Legend:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jon Montgomery . Texas Horseracing Lobby Collection - John Connally Presented Texas Racing Association Award (1968) . Texas Archives . This short news clip, reported by Larry Todd, covers John Connally receiving the First Annual Award - an inscribed gold belt buckle - from the Texas Racing Association in recognition of his support of the sport in Texas. In his acceptance speech, he pays special tribute to Robert Kleberg, Jr. and the King Ranch for raising a great number of champion horses..
  2. Web site: John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (Gr. 3) . www.equibase.com . 22 January 2022 . en.
  3. Web site: JOHN B. CONNALLY TURF CUP STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS. Thoroughbred Pedigree Online . 2022 . 22 January 2022.
  4. Web site: 2022 Stakes Schedule Sam Houston Race Park . Sam Houston Race Park . 2022 . 22 January 2022.
  5. Web site: 2024 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11) . Equibase . 27 January 2024 . 2 February 2024.
  6. Web site: 2023 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10) . Equibase . 28 January 2023 . 2 February 2024.
  7. Web site: 2022 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 30 January 2021 . 30 January 2022.
  8. Web site: 2021 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 31 January 2021 . 21 January 2022.
  9. Web site: 2020 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 26 January 2020 . 21 January 2022.
  10. Web site: 2019 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 27 January 2019 . 21 January 2022.
  11. Web site: 2018 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 28 January 2018 . 21 January 2022.
  12. Web site: 2017 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 29 January 2017 . 21 January 2022.
  13. Web site: 2016 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 30 January 2016 . 21 January 2022.
  14. Web site: 2015 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7) . Equibase . 24 January 2015 . 21 January 2022.
  15. Web site: 2014 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 25 January 2014 . 21 January 2022.
  16. Web site: 2013 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 26 January 2013 . 21 January 2022.
  17. Web site: 2012 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 28 January 2012 . 21 January 2022.
  18. Web site: 2011 John B. Connally Turf Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8) . Equibase . 29 January 2011 . 21 January 2022.
  19. Web site: 2010 John B. Connally Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9) . Equibase . 30 January 2010 . 21 January 2022.
  20. Web site: 2008 John B. Connally Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 7) . Equibase . 5 April 2008 . 21 January 2022.
  21. Web site: 2007 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 7) . Equibase . 7 April 2007 . 21 January 2022.
  22. Web site: 2006 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Grade 3 - (race 7) . Equibase . 8 April 2006 . 21 January 2022.
  23. Web site: 2005 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 7) . Equibase . 9 April 2005 . 21 January 2022.
  24. Web site: 2004 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 7) . Equibase . 10 April 2004 . 21 January 2022.
  25. Web site: 2003 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 7) . Equibase . 15 February 2003 . 21 January 2022.
  26. Web site: 2002 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 8) . Equibase . 23 February 2002 . 21 January 2022.
  27. Web site: 2001 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 8) . Equibase . 24 February 2001 . 21 January 2022.
  28. Web site: 2000 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 8) . Equibase . 26 February 2000 . 21 January 2022.
  29. Web site: 1999 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 7) . Equibase . 6 March 1999 . 21 January 2022.
  30. Web site: 1998 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 8) . Equibase . 7 March 1998 . 21 January 2022.
  31. Web site: 1997 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 8) . Equibase . 5 April 1997 . 21 January 2022.
  32. Web site: 1996 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap Listed - (race 9) . Equibase . 12 October 1996 . 21 January 2022.
  33. Web site: 1995 John B. Connally Jr. Turf Cup Handicap Listed - (race 4) . Equibase . 21 October 1995 . 21 January 2022.

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