The Lukas Classic 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 three years old and older, over a distance of miles on the dirt held annually in September at Churchill Downs, in

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...

. The event currently carries a purse of $500,000.

History

The race was inaugurated in 2013, as the Homecoming Classic Stakes with a stakes purse of $175,000. In 2015 the event was renamed to the Lukas Classic Stakes after U.S. Racing Hall of Fame

horse trainer A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some of the responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals' physical needs, as well as teaching them submissive behaviors and/or coaching them for e ...

D. Wayne Lukas. Churchill Downs administration indicated that the change of name to Lukas Classic was "to salute Lukas' accomplishments, contributions and influence on Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby and Oaks, and the horse industry." Lukas has won the Kentucky Derby and the Oaks four times apiece. Previously a Listed race, it was upgraded to Grade III status for 2017 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 ...

. In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Churchill Downs did not schedule the event in their updated meeting. In 2022 the

upgraded the event to Grade II.

Records

Speed record: *1:47.85 –

Knicks Go Knicks Go (foaled January 29, 2016) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2021 American Horse of the Year after winning five of seven starts, including the Breeders' Cup Classic, Whitney Stakes and Pegasus World Cup. The year before h ...

(2021) Margins: * lengths – Mind Your Biscuits (2017) & Honorable Duty (2018) Most wins * No horse has won this race more than once. Most wins by a jockey * 2 –

Tyler Gaffalione Tyler Gaffalione (born September 12, 1994 in Davie, Florida) is an American jockey who, since being voted the Eclipse Award for the 2015 U.S. Champion Apprentice Jockey, has become one of racing's rising stars having won more than 200 races ever ...

(2018, 2022) Most wins by a trainer * No trainer has won this race more than once. Most wins by an owner * No owner has won this race more than once.

Winners

References

{{reflist, 2 Recurring sporting events established in 2013 Churchill Downs horse races 2013 establishments in Kentucky Grade 3 stakes races in the United States Graded stakes races in the United States

History

Records

Winners

See also

References