Jockey Club Gold Cup
Horse race
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 1+ 1 ⁄4 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 1+ 1 ⁄2 miles, but from 1921 through 1975 it was two miles (3.2 km) long, second in distance only to the less prestigious, 2+ 1 ⁄4 -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 $1 million race is run on closing weekend and took the place of the Woodward Stakes , which was relocated to Belmont Park after being run in Saratoga for 15 years. NYRA management said that the Jockey Club Gold Cup – run at the same distance as the Breeders' Cup Classic – was better positioned on the racing calendar with an eight-week gap between the two races.[ 1]
Records
Time record: (at current 1+ 1 ⁄4 miles)
Most wins:
5 – Kelso (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey :
11 – Eddie Arcaro (1935, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961)
Most wins by a trainer :
Winners
Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist. (Miles )
Time
Win$
Gr.
2023
Bright Future
4
Javier Castellano
Todd A. Pletcher
Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable
11 ⁄4 m
2:03.00
$600,000
G1
2022
Olympiad
4
Junior Alvarado
William I. Mott
Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables & LNJ Foxwoods
11 ⁄4 m
2:02.11
$600,000
G1
2021
Max Player
4
Ricardo Santana Jr.
Steve Asmussen
George E. Hall & SportBLX Thoroughbreds Crop.
11 ⁄4 m
2:02.49
$600,000
G1
2020
Happy Saver
3
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Todd A. Pletcher
Wertheimer et Frere
11 ⁄4 m
2:01.77
$250,000
G1
2019
Code of Honor 1
3
John Velazquez
Shug McGaughey
William S. Farish III
11 ⁄4 m
2:00.30
$433,125
G1
2018
Discreet Lover
5
Manuel Franco
Uriah St. Lewis
Uriah St. Lewis
11 ⁄4 m
1:59.99
$433,125
G1
2017
Diversify
4
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Richard Violette Jr.
Lauren & Ralph Evans
11 ⁄4 m
2:00.96
$450,000
G1
2016
Hoppertunity
5
John Velazquez
Bob Baffert
Karl Watson, Mile Pegram , Paul Weitman
11 ⁄4 m
2:00.68
$600,000
G1
2015
Tonalist
4
John Velazquez
Christophe Clement
Robert S. Evans
11 ⁄4 m
2:02.16
$600,000
G1
2014
Tonalist
3
Joel Rosario
Christophe Clement
Robert S. Evans
11 ⁄4 m
2:02.12
$600,000
G1
2013
Ron the Greek
6
Jose Lezcano
William I. Mott
Brous Stable/Wachtel Stable et al.
11 ⁄4 m
1:59.70
$600,000
G1
2012
Flat Out
6
Joel Rosario
William I. Mott
Preston Stables LLC (Art Preston)
11 ⁄4 m
2:01.44
$600,000
G1
2011
Flat Out
5
Alex Solis
Scooter Dickey
Preston Stables LLC (Art Preston)
11 ⁄4 m
2:03.17
$450,000
G1
2010
Haynesfield
4
Ramon Domínguez
Steve Asmussen
Turtle Bird Stable (Harvey & Bernice Weinstein)
11 ⁄4 m
2:02.48
$450,000
G1
2009
Summer Bird
3
Kent J. Desormeaux
Tim A. Ice
Kalarikkal K. & Vilasini D. Jayaraman
11 ⁄4 m
2:02.51
$450,000
G1
2008
Curlin
4
Robby Albarado
Steve Asmussen
Stonestreet Stables et al.
11 ⁄4 m
2:01:93
$450,000
G1
2007
Curlin
3
Robby Albarado
Steve Asmussen
Stonestreet Stables et al.
11 ⁄4 m
2:01.20
$450,000
G1
2006
Bernardini
3
Javier Castellano
Thomas Albertrani
Darley Stable
11 ⁄4 m
2:01.02
$450,000
G1
2005
Borrego
4
Garrett Gomez
C. Beau Greely
Jon S. Kelly, Ralls & Foster LLC, Brad Scott, et al.
11 ⁄4 m
2:02.86
$600,000
G1
2004
Funny Cide
4
José A. Santos
Barclay Tagg
Sackatoga Stable (Tony Everard)
11 ⁄4 m
2:02.44
$600,000
G1
2003
Mineshaft
4
Robby Albarado
Neil J. Howard
Farish , Elkins, Webber
11 ⁄4 m
2:00.25
$600,000
G1
2002
Evening Attire
4
Shaun Bridgmohan
Patrick J. Kelly
Joseph & Mary Grant, Thomas J. Kelly
11 ⁄4 m
1:59.58
$600,000
G1
2001
Aptitude
4
Jerry Bailey
Robert J. Frankel
Juddmonte Farm
11 ⁄4 m
2:01.49
$600,000
G1
2000
Albert the Great
3
Jorge Chavez
Nick Zito
Tracy Farmer
11 ⁄4 m
1:59.24
$600,000
G1
1999
River Keen
7
Chris Antley
Bob Baffert
Hugo Reynolds
11 ⁄4 m
2:01.40
$600,000
G1
1998
Wagon Limit
4
Robbie Davis
H. Allen Jerkens
Joseph V. Shields Jr.
11 ⁄4 m
2:00.62
$600,000
G1
1997
Skip Away
4
Jerry Bailey
Hubert Hine
Carolyn Hine
11 ⁄4 m
1:58.89
$600,000
G1
1996
Skip Away
3
Shane Sellers
Hubert Hine
Carolyn Hine
11 ⁄4 m
2:00.70
$600,000
G1
1995
Cigar
5
Jerry Bailey
William I. Mott
Allen Paulson
11 ⁄4 m
2:01.29
$450,000
G1
1994
Colonial Affair
4
José A. Santos
Flint S. Schulhofer
Centennial Farms (Don Little Sr. racing partnership)
11 ⁄4 m
2:02.19
$450,000
G1
1993
Miner's Mark
3
Chris McCarron
C. R. McGaughey III
Ogden Phipps
11 ⁄4 m
2:02.79
$510,000
G1
1992
Pleasant Tap
5
Gary Stevens
Christopher Speckert
Buckland Farm
11 ⁄4 m
1:58.95
$510,000
G1
1991
Festin
5
Ed Delahoussaye
Ron McAnally
Kinerk Burton
11 ⁄4 m
2:00.69
$510,000
G1
1990
Flying Continental
4
Corey Black
Jay M. Robbins
Jack Kent Cooke
11 ⁄4 m
2:00.60
$503,100
G1
1989
Easy Goer
3
Pat Day
C. R. McGaughey III
Ogden Phipps
11 ⁄2 m
2:29.20
$659,400
G1
1988
Waquoit
5
José A. Santos
Guido Federico
Joseph Federico
11 ⁄2 m
2:27.60
$637,800
G1
1987
Creme Fraiche
5
Laffit Pincay Jr.
Woody Stephens
Brushwood Stable
11 ⁄2 m
2:30.80
$650,400
G1
1986
Creme Fraiche
4
Randy Romero
Woody Stephens
Brushwood Stable
11 ⁄2 m
2:28.00
$510,300
G1
1985
Vanlandingham
4
Pat Day
C. R. McGaughey III
Loblolly Stable
11 ⁄2 m
2:27.00
$516,600
G1
1984
Slew o' Gold
4
Ángel Cordero Jr.
John O. Hertler
Equusequitey Stable (Jim & Sally Hill / Mickey & Karen Taylor)
11 ⁄2 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)
11 ⁄2 m
2:26.20
$342,000
G1
1982
Lemhi Gold
4
Chris McCarron
Laz Barrera
Aaron U. Jones
11 ⁄2 m
2:31.20
$337,800
G1
1981
John Henry
6
Bill Shoemaker
Victor J. Nickerson
Dotsam Stable
11 ⁄2 m
2:28.40
$340,800
G1
1980
Temperence Hill
3
Eddie Maple
Joseph B. Cantey
Loblolly Stable
11 ⁄2 m
2:30.20
$329,400
G1
1979
Affirmed
4
Laffit Pincay Jr.
Laz Barrera
Harbor View Farm
11 ⁄2 m
2:27.40
$225,000
G1
1978
Exceller
5
Bill Shoemaker
Charles Whittingham
Nelson Bunker Hunt
11 ⁄2 m
2:27.20
$193,080
G1
1977
On The Sly
4
Gregg McCarron
Mel W. Gross
Balmak Stable (Mary Streit)
11 ⁄2 m
2:28.20
$208,080
G1
1976
Great Contractor
3
Pat Day
Roger Laurin
Howard P. Wilson
11 ⁄2 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
Ángel Cordero Jr.
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
James G. Rowe Jr.
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 Play 2
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' War 3
3
Clarence Kummer
Louis Feustel
Glen Riddle Farm
11 ⁄2 m
2:28.80
$5,850
1919
Purchase
3
Clarence Kummer
Sam Hildreth
Glen Riddle Farm
11 ⁄2 m
2:28.80
$5,350
1 In 2019, Vino Rosso finished first but was disqualified and placed second.
2 In 1927, Brown Bud finished first but was disqualified.
3 Only two horses started in 1920.
Notes
References
External links