| Class: | Grade III |
| Horse Race: | William Donald Schaefer Memorial Handicap |
| Location: | Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Inaugurated: | 1987 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Track: | Left-handed |
| Qualification: | Three-year-olds & up, open |
| Weight: | Assigned |
| Purse: | $100,000 |
The William Donald Schaefer Memorial Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. A Grade III event open to three-year-old horses and up, it is contested on dirt over a distance of miles (nine furlongs). This race had been run as the Never Bend Handicap from its inception in 1987 through 1993.
The race was named in honor of former Maryland Governor and industry advocate William Donald Schaefer (1921-2011). Schaefer was an American politician who served in public office for 50 years at both the state and local level in Maryland. A Democrat, he served as mayor of Baltimore from 1971 to 1987, the 58th Governor of Maryland from 1987 to 1995, and the Comptroller of Maryland from 1999 to 2007.[1]
The William Donald Schaefer Handicap became an American graded stakes race in 2001. In 2007, the race was won by West Point Thoroughbred's Flashy Bull a multiple grade one winner including a win in the Stephen Foster Handicap. The stakes record was held by Tidal Surge who won the race in 1995 in a time of 1:48.19.
Speed record:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Apart | 5 | Garrett Gomez | Albert Stall Jr. | Adele B. Dilschneider | 1-1/16 | 1:43.70 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2010 | Blame | 4 | Garrett Gomez | Albert Stall Jr. | Dlschneider/Claiborne Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:43.40 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2009 | No Advantage | 4 | J. D. Acosta | Stephanie Beattie | Joe Besecker & Kirk Wycoff | 1-1/16 | 1:42.79 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2008 | No Race | align=center | - | No Race | No Race | No Race | no race | 0:00.00 | no race | III |
| 2007 | Flashy Bull | 4 | Alan Garcia | Kiaran McLaughlin | West Point Thoroughbreds | 1-1/8 | 1:47.20 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2006 | Master Command | 4 | Garrett Gomez | Todd A. Pletcher | Aaron & Marie Jones | 1-1/8 | 1:49.42 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2005 | Zakocity | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Patrick L. Reynolds | Paul Pompa, Jr. | 1-1/8 | 1:49.19 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2004 | Seattle Fitz | 5 | Richard Migliore | Kiaran McLaughlin | West Point Thoroughbreds | 1-1/8 | 1:49.43 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2003 | Windsor Castle | 5 | José A. Santos | Frank A. Alexander | Dogwood Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:50.08 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2002 | Tenpins | 4 | Robby Albarado | Donald R. Winfree | Joseph Vitello | 1-1/8 | 1:50.20 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2001 | Perfect Cat | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Mark A. Hennig | Edward P. Evans | 1-1/8 | 1:49.55 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2000 | Ecton Park | 4 | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Mark H. Stanley | 1-1/8 | 1:49.21 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1999 | Perfect to a Tee | 7 | A. C. Cortez | Linda L. Albert | Nonsequitur Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1998 | Acceptable | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Nick Zito | Kinsman Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:48.76 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1997 | Western Echo | 5 | Edgar Prado | Bud Delp | Harry C. & Tom O. Meyerhoff | 1-1/8 | 1:49.41 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1996 | Canaveral | 5 | Shane Sellers | H. Graham Motion | Morven Stud | 1-1/8 | 1:49.03 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1995 | Tidal Surge | 5 | Jeff D. Carle | Timothy F. Ritchey | not found | 1-1/8 | 1:48.19 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1994 | Taking Risks | 4 | Mark T. Johnston | King T. Leatherbury | Lakeville Stables | 1-1/8 | 1:49.53 | $75,000 | III | |
| 1993 | Root Boy | 5 | Herb McCauley | Louis D. Bernier, Jr. | Richard F. Blue, Jr. | 1-1/16 | 1:42.60 | $75,000 | III | |
| 1992 | Senator to Be | 6 | Pat Day | Nick Zito | BCC Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:42.60 | $51,000 | III | |
| 1991 | Senator to Be | 5 | Pat Day | Nick Zito | BCC Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:42.20 | $50,000 | III | |
| 1990 | Flaming Emperor | 4 | "Jo Jo" Ladner | Kenny Cox | Hideaway Farms | 1-1/8 | 1:49.60 | $50,000 | III | |
| 1989 | Private Terms | 4 | Kent Desormeaux | Charles Hadry | Stuart Janney, Jr. | 1-1/8 | 1:47.10 | $50,000 | III | |
| 1988 | Little Bold John | 6 | Donnie Miller Jr. | Jerry Robb | John E. Owens | 1-1/8 | 1:50.20 | $55,000 | ||
| 1987 | Brilliant Stepper | 5 | Allen Stacy | King T. Leatherbury | Cot Campbell | 1-3/16 | 1:58.20 | $55,000 | ||