| Class: | Grade 1 |
| Horse Race: | Travers Stakes |
| Location: | Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated: | 1864 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred |
| Website: | NYRA / Travers |
| Distance: | miles (10 Furlongs) |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Track: | Left-handed |
| Qualification: | 3-year-olds |
| Weight: | Colt/Gelding: 126lb Filly: 121lb |
| Purse: | [1] |
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is nicknamed the "Midsummer Derby"[2] and is the third-ranked race for American three-year-olds according to international classifications, behind only the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.[3] First held in 1864, it is the oldest stakes race in the United States specifically for 3-year-olds,[4] and was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers. The race was not run in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1911, and 1912. From 1943-5, it was run at Belmont Park instead of Saratoga due to the war. The race is the highlight of the summer race meeting at Saratoga, just as the Belmont Stakes is the highlight of the spring meeting at Belmont Park. The purse was increased to $1,000,000 in 1999 and then to $1,250,000 in 2014. The purse for the 2015 renewal was increased to $1,600,000 due to the presence of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
From 2018 until 2022 the Travers Stakes was sponsored by Jim McIngvale under the name of retired stallion Runhappy.[5]
The 155th Travers Stakes will be run on Saturday, August 24, 2024.[6]
The Travers is run at scale weights: colts and geldings carry 126lb and fillies carry 121lb.
The Travers has been run at four different distances:
1864 to 1889
1890 to 1892
1893, 1894, 1897 and 1904 to present
1895 and 1901 to 1903
The winner's trophy, known as the Man o' War Cup, was designed by Tiffany & Co. Its namesake, Man o' War, won this race in 1920. The trophy was won by Man o' War in a special match race in 1920 against Sir Barton, the 1919 American Triple Crown winner. The wife of owner Samuel Riddle donated the trophy in 1936 as the permanent award for winning the race. Each year, the name of the winner is inscribed on the Cup. A gold-plated replica is presented to the winner each year by a member of the Riddle family.[7] [8]
The winner of the race is presented with a blanket of carnations, which is approximately 10 feet long and requires about 1,500 flowers and is draped over the withers of the winner. The blanket is red in color outlined with a fringe of white carnation and a large "T" also in white. The carnations are red and white, which are the colors of Saratoga Race Track. The blanket is prepared the night before the race by a Saratoga florist.[9]
Winning connections are also given a lawn jockey statue custom-painted in the silk colors of the winning owner to be displayed at the racecourse entrance for the next year.
Since 1961, the colors of the Travers winner have been painted onto a canoe which sits on a pond in the infield. The canoe itself has been a fixture at the track since 1926.
The 1921 Travers Stakes is known for a betting scandal. In those days, bookmaking rather than parimutuel wagering was the primary method of taking bets on horse races.
The original field was fairly light with the favorite, the filly Prudery, owned by Harry Payne Whitney, facing no serious competition. Then Arnold Rothstein entered his colt, Sporting Blood, ostensibly to pick up second place. A few days before the race, however, Rothstein had learned that Prudery was off her feed.[10] He knew he might have a real chance to win. Initially, the odds on the filly were 1-4, while Rothstein's colt was 5–2. On the day of the race, however, a leading three-year-old, Grey Lag, was entered by trainer Sam Hildreth. Grey Lag immediately became the favorite, with Prudery the second choice, driving the odds on Sporting Blood up to 3–1. Rothstein bet $150,000 on his horse. Just before post time, Grey Lag was scratched with no explanation. During the race, Sporting Blood overtook the ailing Prudery, gaining his owner nearly half a million dollars, including wagers and the purse.
Although many smelled foul play, it was never proven that Hildreth received any payoff or that there was a conspiracy between him and Rothstein.
In 1941, Whirlaway became the only horse ever to win both the American Triple Crown and the Travers Stakes, sometimes referred to as a "superfecta".
In 1962, Jaipur won by a nose-bob in track record time over the arguably more talented Ridan after a long, head-to-head battle over the entire mile and a quarter. Still written and talked about today, the race is listed in the 2006 book Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments written by the staff of Blood-Horse Publications. The race result determined which colt would be named the 1962 U.S. Champion 3-Year-Old Horse.
In 1978, Affirmed finished the Travers ahead of rival Alydar but was disqualified for crowding Alydar off the rail. Alydar was awarded the win. It was the last of 10 times the two would race each other in one of the sport's greatest rivalries.
In 1982, Runaway Groom, the Champion Canadian Three year old arrived at Saratoga after competing in the Canadian Triple Crown, having won the Prince of Wales Stakes and Breeders' Stakes, and finishing second in the Queen's Plate. At the Travers that year, Runaway Groom became the second horse in racing history to beat the three winners of the Triple Crown series in the same race, defeating Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol, Preakness Stakes winner Aloma's Ruler, and Belmont Stakes winner Conquistador Cielo. Sun Briar was the first to do so in the 1918 Travers Stakes. The 1997 Travers saw U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockeys Jerry Bailey and Chris McCarron (aboard Behrens and Deputy Commander respectively) in a home-stretch duel wherein Deputy Commander prevailed. Adding to the drama was a thunderstorm which produced hail 24 hours before the race, and the uncertainty around whether or not McCarron would be present after the recent death of his mother.[11]
In 2001, Point Given won the Travers before a record Travers Stakes day attendance of 60,486. The total betting handle was $34,529,273, which was a Saratoga record at that time.[12]
On August 25, 2012, Alpha and Golden Ticket finished in a dead heat for first place – meaning they could not be separated in the photo finish. Following the race, two canoes were put in the infield pond to commemorate the winners. It was the first official tie in the race's history and the winning owners split the $800,000 first-place prize money.[13] In 1874, Attila and Acrobat dead heated but were forced to run off to break the tie.[14]
On August 29, 2015, the 146th Travers Stakes saw Triple Crown winner American Pharoah race[15] in front of a NYRA capped crowd of 50,000, making the event a sellout for the first time ever.[16] In addition, the purse was raised to $1.6 million. The race reaffirmed Saratoga's reputation as the "graveyard of champions" when Keen Ice defeated American Pharoah.[17]
In 2016, The 147th Travers was equally notable as Arrogate rolled home to win by 13 1/2 lengths and set a new stakes record, finishing the race in 1:59:36. Arrogate's victory helped Bob Baffert to avenge his loss the previous year with American Pharoah.
In 2023, Arcangelo by Arrogate won the 154th Travers trained by Jena Antonucci, the first woman to have a horse she trained win one of the three races in American horse racing's triple crown.[18] The horse was ridden in the 2023 Belmont Stakes by jockey Javier Castellano, winner aboard Mage in the 2023 Kentucky Derby. [19] Arcangelo was shipped to the Saratoga Race Course where he won the Travers.[20] by one length in a time of 2:02.23 over a muddy track making Antonucci the second female to win the race in its 154-year history.The horse was ridden by jockey Javier Castellano who set a record of seven winnings in the race.
In 2024, Thorpedo Anna will compete in the 155th Travers & looks to become the first filly to win this race since 1915.
Speed record: (at current distance of miles)
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
Record victory margin:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance (Miles) | Time | Win $ | Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Arcangelo | Javier Castellano | Jena Antonucci | Blue Rose Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.23 | $687,500 | G1 |
| 2022 | Epicenter | Joel Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.72 | $670,000 | G1 |
| 2021 | Essential Quality | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.96 | $670,000 | G1 | |
| 2020 | Tiz the Law | Barclay Tagg | Sackatoga Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.95 | $535,000 | G1 | |
| 2019 | Claude R. McGaughey III | William S. Farish III | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.05 | $670,000 | G1 | ||
| 2018 | Catholic Boy | Javier Castellano | Jonathan Thomas | Robert V. LaPenta, Madaket Stables, Siena Farm, Twin Creeks Racing Stables | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.94 | $670,000 | G1 |
| 2017 | West Coast | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Gary & Mary West | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.19 | $670,000 | G1 |
| 2016 | Arrogate | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Juddmonte Farms | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.36 | $670,000 | G1 |
| 2015 | Keen Ice | Javier Castellano | Dale Romans | Donegal Racing | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.57 | $670,000 | G1 |
| 2014 | V.E. Day | Javier Castellano | James A. Jerkens | Magalen Bryant | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.98 | $670,000 | G1 |
| 2013 | Will Take Charge | Luis Saez | D. Wayne Lukas | Willis D. Horton | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.68 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2012 | Alpha Golden Ticket (DH) | Ramon Domínguez David Cohen | Kiaran McLaughlin Ken McPeek | Godolphin Magic City Thoroughbreds | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.74 | $400,000 $400,000 | G1 |
| 2011 | Stay Thirsty | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.03 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2010 | Afleet Express | Javier Castellano | James A. Jerkens | Gainesway Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.28 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2009 | Summer Bird | Kent Desormeaux | Tim Ice | Kalarikkal & Vilasini Jayaraman | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.83 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2008 | Colonel John | Garrett K. Gomez | Eoin G. Harty | WinStar Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.20 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2007 | Street Sense | Calvin Borel | Carl Nafzger | James B. Tafel | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.69 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2006 | Bernardini | Javier Castellano | Thomas Albertrani | Darley Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.60 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2005 | Flower Alley | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Melnyk Racing Stables | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.76 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2004 | Birdstone | Edgar Prado | Nick Zito | Marylou Whitney Stables | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.45 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2003 | Ten Most Wanted | Pat Day | Wallace Dollase | J. Paul Reddam | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.14 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2002 | Medaglia d'Oro | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.53 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2001 | Point Given | Gary Stevens | Bob Baffert | The Thoroughbred Corp. | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.40 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 2000 | Unshaded | Shane Sellers | Carl Nafzger | James B. Tafel | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.59 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 1999 | Lemon Drop Kid | José A. Santos | Flint S. Schulhofer | Jeanne G. Vance | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.00 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 1998 | Coronado's Quest | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.40 | $450,000 | G1 |
| 1997 | Deputy Commander | Chris McCarron | Wallace Dollase | Horizon Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.00 | $450,000 | G1 |
| 1996 | Will's Way | Jorge F. Chavez | H. James Bond | William Clifton Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.40 | $450,000 | G1 |
| 1995 | Thunder Gulch | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.40 | $450,000 | G1 |
| 1994 | Holy Bull | Mike E. Smith | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Warren A. Croll Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.00 | $450,000 | G1 |
| 1993 | Sea Hero | Jerry Bailey | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.80 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 1992 | Thunder Rumble | Herb McCauley | Richard O'Connell | Braeburn Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.99 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 1991 | Corporate Report | Chris McCarron | D. Wayne Lukas | William T. Young | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.20 | $600,000 | G1 |
| 1990 | Rhythm | Craig Perret | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.60 | $707,100 | G1 |
| 1989 | Easy Goer | Pat Day | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.80 | $653,100 | G1 |
| 1988 | Forty Niner | Chris McCarron | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.40 | $653,500 | G1 |
| 1987 | Java Gold | Pat Day | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.00 | $673,800 | G1 |
| 1986 | Wise Times | Jerry Bailey | Phil Gleaves | Russell L. Reineman Stables | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.40 | $203,700 | G1 |
| 1985 | Chief's Crown | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Roger Laurin | Star Crown Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.20 | $202,800 | G1 |
| 1984 | Carr de Naskra | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Richard J. Lundy | Virginia Kraft Payson | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.60 | $184,500 | G1 |
| 1983 | Play Fellow | Pat Day | Harvey L. Vanier | Carl Lauer | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.00 | $135,000 | G1 |
| 1982 | Runaway Groom | Jeffrey Fell | John A. DiMario | Albert Coppola Sr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.60 | $132,900 | G1 |
| 1981 | Willow Hour | Eddie Maple | James E. Picou | Marcia Whitney Schott | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.60 | $135,600 | G1 |
| 1980 | Temperence Hill | Eddie Maple | Joseph B. Cantey | Loblolly Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.80 | $100,980 | G1 |
| 1979 | General Assembly | Jacinto Vásquez | LeRoy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.00 | $80,850 | G1 |
| 1978 | Alydar | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.00 | $62,880 | G1 |
| 1977 | Jatski | Sam Maple | William A. Cole | William H. Murray | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.60 | $68,160 | G1 |
| 1976 | Honest Pleasure | Craig Perret | LeRoy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.20 | $65,040 | G1 |
| 1975 | Wajima | Braulio Baeza | Stephen A. DiMauro | East-West Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.00 | $65,220 | G1 |
| 1974 | Holding Pattern | Michael Miceli | James J. Sarner Jr. | John Gerbas Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.20 | $69,660 | G1 |
| 1973 | Annihilate 'Em | Ron Turcotte | Douglas Davis Jr. | Patricia B. Blass | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.40 | $68,280 | G1 |
| 1972 | Key To The Mint | Braulio Baeza | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.20 | $66,600 | |
| 1971 | Bold Reason | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Angel Penna Sr. | William A. Levin | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.40 | $66,420 | |
| 1970 | Loud | Jacinto Vásquez | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.00 | $73,385 | |
| 1969 | Arts and Letters | Braulio Baeza | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.60 | $69,290 | |
| 1968 | Chompion | Jean Cruguet | Ivor G. Balding | Cornelius V. Whitney | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.80 | $55,802 | |
| 1967 | Damascus | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Edith W. Bancroft | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.60 | $52,065 | |
| 1966 | Buckpasser | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.60 | $53,690 | |
| 1965 | Hail To All | Johnny Sellers | Eddie Yowell | Zelda Cohen | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.20 | $56,777 | |
| 1964 | Quadrangle | Manuel Ycaza | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.40 | $52,033 | |
| 1963 | Crewman | Eric Guerin | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:20.40 | $52,910 | |
| 1962 | Jaipur | Bill Shoemaker | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.60 | $53,722 | |
| 1961 | Beau Prince | Steve Brooks | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.00 | $54,210 | |
| 1960 | Tompion | Bill Hartack | John J. Greely Jr. | Cornelius V. Whitney | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.40 | $53,165 | |
| 1959 | Sword Dancer | Manuel Ycaza | J. Elliott Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.20 | $51,962 | |
| 1958 | Piano Jim | Bobby Ussery | Oscar White | Sarah F. Jeffords | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.80 | $29,920 | |
| 1957 | Gallant Man | Bill Shoemaker | John A. Nerud | Ralph Lowe | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.00 | $29,500 | |
| 1956 | Oh Johnny | Hedley Woodhouse | Norman R. McLeod | Helene D. Gilroy | 1-1/4 m | 2:06.20 | $33,200 | |
| 1955 | Thinking Cap | Paul J. Bailey | Henry S. Clark | Christiana Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:06.40 | $19,150 | |
| 1954 | Fisherman | Hedley Woodhouse | Sylvester Veitch | Cornelius V. Whitney | 1-1/4 m | 2:06.00 | $19,500 | |
| 1953 | Native Dancer | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.60 | $18,850 | |
| 1952 | One Count | Eric Guerin | Oscar White | Sarah F. Jeffords | 1-1/4 m | 2:07.40 | $16,450 | |
| 1951 | Battlefield | Eddie Arcaro | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:06.20 | $15,000 | |
| 1950 | Lights Up | George Hettinger | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.00 | $16,350 | |
| 1949 | Arise | Con Errico | James C. Bentley | Addison Stable (Harry Addison Sr. & Mrs. Jack Addison) | 1-1/4 m | 2:06.20 | $16,600 | |
| 1948 | Ace Admiral | Ted Atkinson | James W. Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.00 | $19,650 | |
| 1947 | Young Peter | Thomas May | George M. Odom | Cornelia Gerry | 1-1/4 m | 2:06.20 | $19,375 | |
| 1946 | Natchez | Ted Atkinson | Oscar White | Sarah F. Jeffords | 1-1/4 m | 2:08.00 | $24,750 | |
| 1945 | Adonis | Conn McCreary | Willie Booth | William G. Helis | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.80 | $28,680 | |
| 1944 | By Jimminy | Eddie Arcaro | James W. Smith | Alfred P. Parker | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.40 | $25,015 | |
| 1943 | Eurasian | Steve Brooks | Sol Rutchick | Mill River Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.80 | $19,850 | |
| 1942 | Shut Out | Eddie Arcaro | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.40 | $17,825 | |
| 1941 | Whirlaway | Alfred Robertson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.80 | $16,900 | |
| 1940 | Fenelon | James Stout | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.40 | $17,425 | |
| 1939 | Eight Thirty | Harry Richards | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:06.60 | $16,575 | |
| 1938 | Thanksgiving | Eddie Arcaro | Mary Hirsch | Anne Corning | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.60 | $14,400 | |
| 1937 | Burning Star | Wayne D. Wright | John J. Greely | Shandon Farm Stables (Patrick A. & Richard J. Nash) | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.80 | $14,550 | |
| 1936 | Granville | James Stout | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.80 | $14,700 | |
| 1935 | Gold Foam | Silvio Coucci | John M. Milburn | Starmount Stable (Edward Benjamin) | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.60 | $14,675 | |
| 1934 | Observant | Lee Humphries | Max Hirsch | Morton L. Schwartz | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.60 | $14,650 | |
| 1933 | Inlander | Robert Jones | Robert A. Smith | Brookmeade Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:08.00 | $21,050 | |
| 1932 | War Hero | John Gilbert | George Conway | Glen Riddle Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.80 | $23,150 | |
| 1931 | Twenty Grand | Linus McAtee | James G. Rowe Jr. | Greentree Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.60 | $33,000 | |
| 1930 | Jim Dandy | Frank Baker | James B. McKee | Chaffee Earl | 1-1/4 m | 2:08.00 | $27,050 | |
| 1929 | Beacon Hill | Alfred Robertson | James G. Rowe Jr. | Harry P. Whitney | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.20 | $31,825 | |
| 1928 | Petee-Wrack | Steve O'Donnell | Willie Booth | John R. Macomber | 1-1/4 m | 2:08.00 | $30,555 | |
| 1927 | Brown Bud | Laverne Fator | Alfred J. Gunther | Frederick Johnson | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.60 | $29,925 | |
| 1926 | Mars | Frank Coltiletti | Scott P. Harlan | Sarah F. Jeffords | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.60 | $15,050 | |
| 1925 | Dangerous | Clarence Kummer | William B. Duke | Gifford A. Cochran | 1-1/4 m | 2:10.80 | $13,425 | |
| 1924 | Sun Flag | Frank Keogh | Carroll H. Shilling | Gifford A. Cochran | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.40 | $14,675 | |
| 1923 | Wilderness | Benny Marinelli | Thomas J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.00 | $13,500 | |
| 1922 | Little Chief | Laverne Fator | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:13.40 | $11,325 | |
| 1921 | Sporting Blood | Lawrence Lyke | Willie Booth | Redstone Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.80 | $10,275 | |
| 1920 | Man o' War | Andy Schuttinger | Louis Feustel | Glen Riddle Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.80 | $9,275 | |
| 1919 | Hannibal | Lavelle Ensor | Thomas J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.80 | $9,835 | |
| 1918 | Sun Briar | Willie Knapp | Henry McDaniel | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.20 | $7,700 | |
| 1917 | Omar Khayyam | James Butwell | Richard F. Carmen | Wilfrid Viau | 1-1/4 m | 2:08.80 | $5,350 | |
| 1916 | Spur | Johnny Loftus | James H. McCormick | James Butler | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.00 | $3,125 | |
| 1915 | Lady Rotha | Mack Garner | A. J. Goldsborough | Andrew Miller | 1-1/4 m | 2:11.40 | $2,150 | |
| 1914 | Roamer | James H. Butwell | A. J. Goldsborough | Andrew Miller | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.00 | $3,000 | |
| 1913 | Rock View | Thomas McTaggart | Louis Feustel | August Belmont Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:06.60 | $2,725 | |
| 1911 - 1912 | Race not held | |||||||
| 1910 | Dalmatian | Carroll H. Shilling | Sam Hildreth | Sam Hildreth | 1-1/4 m | 2:10.00 | $4,825 | |
| 1909 | Hilarious | Richard Scoville | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene | 1-1/4 m | 2:06.00 | $5,800 | |
| 1908 | Dorante | James Lee | Raleigh Colston Jr. | Frederick A. Forsythe | 1-1/4 m | 2:09.60 | $5,800 | |
| 1907 | Frank Gill | Joe Notter | John I. Smith | Jack L. McGinnis | 1-1/4 m | 2:07.00 | $5,800 | |
| 1906 | Gallavant | Walter Miller | Thomas J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:08.20 | $5,800 | |
| 1905 | Dandelion | Willie Shaw | John E. Madden | Francis R. Hitchock | 1-1/4 m | 2:08.00 | $8,350 | |
| 1904 | Broomstick | Tommy Burns | Robert Tucker | Samuel S. Brown | 1-1/4 m | 2:06.80 | $5,850 | |
| 1903 | Ada Nay | Frank O'Neill | A. Jack Joyner | James B. A. Haggin | 1-1/8 m | 1:57.00 | $8,150 | |
| 1902 | Hermis | Bruce Rice | John H. McCormack | Henry M. Ziegler | 1-1/8 m | 1:54.80 | $6,750 | |
| 1901 | Blues | Willie Shaw | Thomas Welsh | C. Fleischmann Sons | 1-1/8 m | 1:56.60 | $6,750 | |
| 1900 | align=center colspan=8 | Race not held | ||||||
| 1899 | align=center colspan=8 | Race not held | ||||||
| 1898 | align=center colspan=8 | Race not held | ||||||
| 1897 | Rensselaer | Fred Taral | Henry Harris | John E. McDonald | 1-1/8 m | 1:56.60 | $1,425 | |
| 1896 | align=center colspan=8 | Race not held | ||||||
| 1895 | Liza | Henry Griffin | John Huggins | Pierre Lorillard IV | 1-1/8 m | 1:55.50 | $1,125 | |
| 1894 | Henry of Navarre | Fred Taral | Byron McClelland | Byron McClelland | 1-1/4 m | 2:10.25 | $2,350 | |
| 1893 | Stowaway | Lawrence McDermott | H. H. Brandt | Woodland Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:10.75 | $2,450 | |
| 1892 | Azra | Alonzo Clayton | John H. Morris | Bashford Manor Stable | 1-1/2 m | 2:43.75 | $2,750 | |
| 1891 | Vallera | Robert Williams | Enoch Wishard | Scoggan Bros. (George W., Hiram J., John) | 1-1/2 m | 2:49.00 | $2,900 | |
| 1890 | Sir John | Marty Bergen | Frank McCabe | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 1-1/2 m | 2:39.00 | $4,925 | |
| 1889 | Long Dance | Shelby Barnes | G. M. Rye | G. M. Rye | 1-3/4 m | 3:08.75 | $3,700 | |
| 1888 | Sir Dixon | Jim McLaughlin | Frank McCabe | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 1-3/4 m | 3:07.75 | $4,625 | |
| 1887 | Carey | Harry Blaylock | Edward Corrigan | Edward Corrigan | 1-3/4 m | 3:17.75 | $4,625 | |
| 1886 | Inspector B | Jim McLaughlin | Frank McCabe | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 1-3/4 m | 3:10.25 | $3,825 | |
| 1885 | Bersan | John Spellman | Green B. Morris | Green B. Morris | 1-3/4 m | 3:08.25 | $4,025 | |
| 1884 | Rataplan | William Fitzpatrick | Frank Midgley | Norman W. Kittson | 1-3/4 m | 3:07.50 | $4,150 | |
| 1883 | Barnes | Jim McLaughlin | James G. Rowe Sr. | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 1-3/4 m | 3:18.00 | $3,400 | |
| 1882 | Carley B | George Quantrell | H. Welch | A. Burnham | 1-3/4 m | 3:28.75 | $3,450 | |
| 1881 | Hindoo | Jim McLaughlin | James G. Rowe Sr. | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 1-3/4 m | 3:07.50 | $2,950 | |
| 1880 | Grenada | Lloyd Hughes | R. Wyndham Walden | George L. Lorillard | 1-3/4 m | 3:12.50 | $3,750 | |
| 1879 | Falsetto | Isaac Burns Murphy | Eli Jordan | J. W. Hunt Reynolds | 1-3/4 m | 3:09.25 | $4,950 | |
| 1878 | Duke of Magenta | Lloyd Hughes | R. Wyndham Walden | George L. Lorillard | 1-3/4 m | 3:08.00 | $4,250 | |
| 1877 | Baden-Baden | Tom Sayres | James Williams | William Astor Jr. | 1-3/4 m | 3:15.50 | $3,700 | |
| 1876 | Sultana | William Hayward | John W. McClelland | August Belmont Sr. | 1-3/4 m | 3:15.50 | $3,700 | |
| 1875 | D'Artagnan | George Barbee | J. B. Pryor | James A. Grinstead | 1-3/4 m | 3:06.50 | $4,850 | |
| 1874 | Attila | George Barbee | William Pryor | Pierre Lorillard IV | 1-3/4 m | 3:09.50 | $5,050 | |
| 1873 | Tom Bowling | Robert Swim | Ansel Williamson | H. Price McGrath | 1-3/4 m | 3:09.75 | $5,400 | |
| 1872 | Joe Daniels | James G. Rowe Sr. | David McDaniel | David McDaniel | 1-3/4 m | 3:08.25 | $5,500 | |
| 1871 | Harry Bassett | W. Miller | David McDaniel | David McDaniel | 1-3/4 m | 3:21.60 | $5,600 | |
| 1870 | Kingfisher | Charles Miller | Raleigh Colston Sr. | Daniel Swigert | 1-3/4 m | 3:15.25 | $4,950 | |
| 1869 | Glenelg | Charles Miller | Jacob Pincus | August Belmont | 1-3/4 m | 3:14.00 | $3,000 | |
| 1868 | The Banshee | Smith | J. H. Davis | John M. Clay | 1-3/4 m | 3:10.75 | $3,150 | |
| 1867 | Ruthless | Gilbert W. Patrick | A. Jackson Minor | Francis Morris | 1-3/4 m | 3:18.25 | $2,850 | |
| 1866 | Merrill | Abe Hawkins | Ansel Williamson | Robert A. Alexander | 1-3/4 m | 3:29.00 | $3,500 | |
| 1865 | Maiden | W. Sewell | T. G. Moore | T. G. Moore | 1-3/4 m | 3:18.50 | $3,400 | |
| 1864 | Kentucky | Gilbert W. Patrick | A. Jackson Minor | John Hunter & William R. Travers | 1-3/4 m | 3:18.75 | $2,950 | |