The Belmont Oaks Invitational 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 in early July at

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United Stat ...

Elmont, New York Elmont is an unincorporated Hamlet (New York), hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located in northwestern Hempstead, New York, Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, Nassau County, New York, United States, along its border with the borough ...

. A

Grade I In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...

event open to three-year-old fillies and raced over a distance of a mile and one quarter. The current purse is $500,000. In 2024 Belmont Park was shut down due to a major two-year refurbishing program. Races, including the Belmont Oaks, were transferred temporarily to Aqueduct Race Track, another NYRA facility. There, the Oaks was run at a mile and three sixteenths. The Belmont Oaks is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. In 199, the Belmont Oaks became a Grade I race. It was previously known as the Garden City Stakes then it was modified to the Garden City Breeders' Cup, and the Rare Perfume before that. The latter name was in honor of George Widener's racing mare, Rare Perfume. The Garden City name referred to

Garden City, New York Garden City is a village located in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 23,272 at the time of the 2020 census. The Incorporated Village of Garden City is primarily located within the Town of Hempstead ...

, a

village A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...

in the Town of Hempstead in central Nassau County located near the racetrack.The Garden City Stakes history at the NYRA

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of miles) * 1:53.42 - Cinderella's Dream (2024) ( Aqueduct NCR) *At distance of miles) : 1:58.71 – Athena (2018) Most wins by an owner: * 3 – Tabor, Magnier & Derrick Smith (2014, 2018, 2021) * 2 – Ogden Phipps (1981, 1987) * 2 – John W. Phillips (2002, 2011) Most wins by a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), 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 ...

: * 4 – José A. Santos (1989, 1990, 1991, 2004) Most wins by a trainer: * 5 – Chad C. Brown (2012–2015, 2017) * 3 –

H. Allen Jerkens Harry Allen Jerkens (April 21, 1929 – March 18, 2015) was an American thoroughbred race horse Hall of Fame horse trainer, trainer. Jerkens' father owned a riding academy on Long Island that led to his interest in horse racing, and in the spri ...

(1988, 1992, 1993)

Winners

References

{{reflist Graded stakes races in the United States Flat horse races for three-year-old fillies Grade 1 stakes races in the United States Horse races in New York (state) Turf races in the United States Belmont Park Horse races established in 1978 1978 establishments in New York (state) Breeders' Cup Challenge series