The Opening Verse Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at

Churchill Downs Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, famed for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was ...

. A race on turf over a distance of one mile, it is open to horses of either sex age three and older. The race is named for

Opening Verse Opening Verse (1986–2002) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in England and the United States. Background Bred in Kentucky, his sire was the 1977 Epsom and Irish Derby winner, The Minstrel. Out of the mare Shy Dawn, his damsire was ...

, winner of the 1991 Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs, and was run as the Opening Verse Handicap from inception through 2008.

Historical notes

The inaugural running of the Opening Verse took place on June 12, 2004, and was won by Senor Swinger. Owned by prominent Californians Robert & Beverly Lewis and trained by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Bob Baffert, Senior Swinger returned to win the race for a second time on June 18, 2005. In 2013 and again in 2020, weather conditions were such that for safety reasons the race was switched from the turf course to the dirt track.

Records

Speed record: * 1:34.10 @ 1 mile: Crafty Daddy (2020) * 1:40.41 @ 11/16 miles: Turallure (2011) Most wins: * Senor Swinger (2004, 2005) 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 ...

: * 2 - Corey Lanerie (2012, 2017) * 2 -

Brian Hernandez Jr. Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr. (born November 3, 1985, in Lafayette, Louisiana) is an American Eclipse Award-winning jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding professionally in 2003 and got his first win on November 29 of that year at Lou ...

(2016, 2020) Most wins by a trainer: * 2 - Bob Baffert (2004, 2005) * 2 - Dale L. Romans (2012, 2013) * 2 - Steven M. Asmussen (2014, 2018) * 2 -

Ian R. Wilkes Ian R. Wilkes (born May 25, 1965, in Muswellbrook, New South Wales, Australia) is a trainer in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He worked for leading Australian trainer Colin Hayes before taking a job in 1990 with trainer Carl Nafzger in t ...

(2016, 2018) Most wins by an owner: * 2 - Robert & Beverly Lewis (2004, 2005)

Winners

References

{{Reflist Ungraded stakes races in the United States Open mile category horse races Churchill Downs horse races June sporting events Recurring sporting events established in 2004 2004 establishments in Kentucky