The Excelsior Stakes is an American

Thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

held annually during the first week of April at

Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and casino in the South Ozone Park, Queens, South Ozone Park and Jamaica, Queens, Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack locate ...

Ozone Park, Queens Ozone Park is a neighborhood in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States. It is next to the Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, a popular spot for Thoroughbred racing and home to the Resorts Wor ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. A Listed event for three-year-olds and up, it is contested over a distance of one-and-one-eighth miles 9 furlong. "Excelsior" is

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

for "Upward, ever upward", and is the motto of the state of

. In 1928, when

Hall of Famer A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or muse ...

Grey Lag Grey Lag (1918–1942) was a Thoroughbred race horse born in Kentucky and bred by John E. Madden. At his Hamburg Place near Lexington, Kentucky, Maddon had a good stallion called Star Shoot which he bred to all of his mares. Out of a failed r ...

was ten years old, he came in third. He'd won this race as a five-year-old in 1923. The race was run at the old

Jamaica Race Course Jamaica Race Course, also called the Jamaica Racetrack, was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility operated by the Metropolitan Jockey Club in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. History The track opened on April 27, 1903, a day which featu ...

from 1903 to 1910, and then again from 1915 to 1959. In 1913, it was run at

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse racing facility in the northeastern United States, located in Elmont, New York, just east of the New York City limits. It was opened on May 4, 1905. It is operated by the non-profit New York Racin ...

. It wasn't run at all in 1909, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1933, 1967, and 2020. Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances and as initially a handicap as the race was known as the ''Excelsior Handicap'': * miles : 1903–1960 * 1 mile : 1960 * 1 mile, 1 furlong : 1961–1978 * miles : 1994–2014, 2018-2019, 2021 * miles : 1979–1993, 2015–2017 The event was downgraded from Grade III to Listed in 2022.

Records

Speed record: (at distance of miles) * 1:48.10 – Classic Endeavor (2003) * 1:48.10 – Magna Graduate (2007) Most wins: * 2 –

King Saxon King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

(1935, 1936) * 2 – Find (1954, 1956) * 2 – Lac Ouimet (1987, 1988) Most wins by a trainer: * 3 –

Todd Pletcher Todd Pletcher (born June 26, 1967 in Dallas, Texas) is an American thoroughbred horse trainer. He won the Eclipse Award seven times as Trainer of the Year, four of these in consecutive years. His horses Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (20 ...

(2006, 2007, 2019) * 3 –

William C. Winfrey William Colin Winfrey (May 9, 1916 – April 14, 1994) was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Bill Winfrey was born Colin Dickard. His father died when he was three, and two years later his mother married Hall-of-Fame tra ...

(1953, 1954, 1956) Most wins by a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

: * 3 –

Eric Guerin Oliver Eric Guerin (October 23, 1924 – March 21, 1993) was an American Hall of Fame jockey. Eric Guerin was born in Maringouin, Louisiana, in Cajun backwater country, twenty-four miles west of Baton Rouge. He was the son of an impoverished C ...

(1953, 1954, 1956) * 3 –

Ángel Cordero Jr. Ángel Tomás Cordero Jr. (born: November 8, 1942) is one of the leading Thoroughbred horse racing jockeys of the late 20th-century and the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the United States' Racing Hall of Fame. He led all jockeys in win ...

(1972, 1975, 1976) * 3 –

Bobby Ussery Robert Nelson "Bobby" Ussery (born September 3, 1935 in Vian, Oklahoma) is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing hall of fame jockey. His first race as a professional jockey came at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans on November 22, ...

(1958, 1962, 1966) * 3 – Chuck C. Lopez (1997, 2003, 2008) Most wins by an owner: * 3 –

Rancocas Stable Rancocas Farm was an American thoroughbred horse racing stud farm and racing stable located on Monmouth Road ( County Road 537) in the Jobstown section of Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. Pierre Lorillard IV The farm was foun ...

(1923, 1929, 1931) * 3 –

Alfred G. Vanderbilt II Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. (September 22, 1912 – November 12, 1999) was a British-born member of the prominent Vanderbilt railroad family, and a noted figure of American thoroughbred horse racing. He was the youngest-ever member of The Jockey ...

(1953, 1954, 1956) * 3 – Sigmund & Viola Sommer (1972, 1977, 1980)

Winners

* † In 1905 Preen finished first but was disqualified.

References

{{reflist Open mile category horse races Horse races in New York City Recurring sporting events established in 1903 Aqueduct Racetrack Jamaica Race Course 1903 establishments in New York City