The Flower Bowl Stakes is a
Grade II 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 ...
for
fillies
A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use:
*In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old.
*In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, t ...
and
mare
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than fo ...
s aged four years old and older over a distance of miles on the
turf
Sod, also known as turf, is the upper layer of soil with the grass growing on it that is often harvested into rolls.
In Australian and British English, sod is more commonly known as ''turf'', and the word "sod" is limited mainly to agricult ...
held annually in early September at
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the country, but is actu ...
in
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over 2 ...
.
History
It had originally been run at
Belmont Park from its inception in 1978 until 2020.
The race is part of the Breeders Cup Challenge series. The winner of the Flower Bowl automatically qualifies for the
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for fillies and mares, three years old and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Champion ...
.
In 1987, the race was switched from turf to dirt due to heavy rain.
The race was named for
Flower Bowl, a winner of the
Ladies Handicap
The Ladies Stakes is a historic American Thoroughbred horse race for Fillies and Mares four years of age and older held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Inaugurated at the Jerome Park Racetrack in 1868, it is the oldest stakes ...
at Belmont Park and an outstanding
broodmare.
In 2022 the event was downgraded by the
American Graded Stakes Committee {{short description, Organization for Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeders
The American Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) based in Lexington, Kentucky is a trade organization for Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeder ...
to Grade II status.
Records
Speed record:
* miles: 2:13.07
War Like Goddess
War Like Goddess (foaled April 14, 2017) is an American multiple Graded Stakes winning Thoroughbred racehorse. Her graded wins include the Grade I Flower Bowl Stakes in 2021 the Grade II Glens Falls Stakes twice (2021 and 2022) at Saratoga R ...
(2021)
* miles: 1:59.05 Lahudood
(GB) (2007)
Margins:
* 13 lengths – Dahlia's Dreamer (1994)
Most wins:
* 2 – Riskaverse (2004, 2005)
* 2 – Stephanie's Kitten (2014, 2015)
Most wins by a
jockey:
* 5 –
John Velazquez
John R. Velazquez (born November 24, 1971) is a Puerto Rican jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He began his career in Puerto Rico and moved to New York in 1990. In 2004 and 2005 he was the United States Champion Jockey by earnings and both ye ...
(1998, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2019)
Most wins by a
trainer:
* 7 –
Chad C. Brown (2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022)
Most wins by an owner:
* 5 –
Peter M. Brant (1980, 1986, 1989, 2019, 2022)
Winners
''Legend:''
''Notes:''
§ Ran as an
entry
Entry may refer to:
*Entry, West Virginia, an unincorporated community in the United States
*Entry (cards), a term used in trick-taking card-games
*Entry (economics), a term in connection with markets
*Entry (film), ''Entry'' (film), a 2013 Indian ...
See also
List of American and Canadian Graded races
The List of American and Canadian Graded races is a list of Thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada that meet the graded stakes standards maintained by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders ...
References
{{reflist, 2
Graded stakes races in the United States
Middle distance horse races for fillies and mares
Grade 2 stakes races in the United States
Turf races in the United States
Horse races in New York (state)
Recurring sporting events established in 1978
Breeders' Cup Challenge series
1978 establishments in New York (state)
Saratoga Race Course