The Skip Away 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 ...

run annually at

Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park, owned by The Stronach Group, is a Thoroughbred race track, casino and outdoor entertainment and shopping destination in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Thoroughbred horse racing occurs year-round, defined by three distinct race meets ...

Hallandale Beach, Florida Hallandale Beach (formerly known simply as Hallandale) is a city in southern Broward County, Florida, United States. The city is named after Luther Halland, the son of a Swedish worker for Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. As of the 20 ...

. A Listed event open to horses age four and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of miles (9

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hor ...

s). The race is a Listed event with a current purse of $100,000. Inaugurated as the Broward Handicap, in 2001 Gulfstream Park changed the name to the Skip Away Handicap to honor 1998 American Horse of the Year,

Skip Away Skip Away (April 4, 1993 – May 14, 2010), was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 1998 Horse of the Year, 1996 Champion Three-Year-Old, and 1997 and 1998 Champion Handicap Horse. He won 10 Grade One races for $9,616,360 in ...

. In 2000, the South African-bred

Horse Chestnut The genus ''Aesculus'' ( or ), with species called buckeye and horse chestnut, comprises 13–19 species of flowering plants in the family Sapindaceae. They are trees and shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with six species n ...

, 1999 Horse of the Year in his native country, made his American debut in this race, winning going away by five and one-half lengths. Other past winners of note include U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Swaps who won in 1956 and set a new

world record A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organization ...

for 1 mile, 70 yards with time of 1:39 3/5. Since its inception, the race has been run at various distances: * miles : 1987, 1990, 1993–2004 * miles : 1991-1992, 2005–2008, 2016-2017 * miles : 2009-2015, 2019

Records

Speed record: * 1:48.10 - Chief Honcho (at current distance of miles) (1991) * 1:53.92 - Fort Larned (at former distance of miles) (2012) (This is also the track record, eclipsing the former track record set by Eddington in 2005 of 1:54.74.) Most wins: * 3 - Sir Bear (1998, 1999, 2002)

Winners since 1987

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! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:140px", Jockey
! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:140px", Trainer
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! style="background-color:#DACAA5" , Time , - , 2017 , Fear The Cowboy , 5 , Jesus M. Rios , Efren Loza, Jr. , Kathleen Amaya , 1:51.81 , - , 2016 , Valid , 6 , Nik Juarez , Marcus J. Vitali , Crossed Sabres Farm , 1:48.42 , - , 2015 , Commissioner , 4 ,

Javier Castellano Javier Castellano (born October 23, 1977, in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. Castellano began his riding career in 1996 at Santa Rita and La Rinconada racecourses in Venezuela. In June 1997 ...

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 ...

WinStar Farm WinStar Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing farm near Versailles, Kentucky, owned by Kenny Troutt. It won the 2010 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner and 2016 Outstanding Breeder. WinStar Farm owned 2018 Triple Crown ...

, 1:58.60 , - , 2014 , Micromanage , 4 ,

Repole Stable Mike Repole (born January 21, 1969) is an American entrepreneur, businessman, and owner of Repole Stables, best known for co-founding Glaceau (maker of Vitaminwater), which sold to Coca-Cola for $4.1 billion, and BODYARMOR SuperDrink, a spor ...

, 1:55.36 , - , 2013 , Cigar Street , 4 ,

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 ...

William I. Mott William I. "Bill" Mott (born July 29, 1953, in Mobridge, South Dakota) is an American horse trainer, most notable for his work with Cigar. Mott earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in 1995 and 1996. He was inducted into the Nationa ...

, J & L Ballis , 1:56.84 , - , 2012 , Fort Larned , 4 , Julien Leparoux , Ian Wilkes , Janis Whitham , 1:53.92 , - , 2011 , S. S. Stone , 5 , Julien Leparoux ,

Nick Zito Nicholas Philip Zito (born February 6, 1948, in New York City, New York) is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer. Zito began his career as a hot walker and worked his way up to a groom, to an assistant trainer, and to a trainer. His first top ...

, Robert V. LaPenta , 1:55.73 , - , 2010 , Arson Squad , 7 , Paco Lopez ,

Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. Richard E. "Rick" Dutrow Jr. (born August 5, 1959, in Hagerstown, Maryland) is an American thoroughbred horse trainer, racehorse trainer. A winner of multiple stakes races including three victories in the Breeders' Cup, Dutrow campaigned Big Brown ...

, Jay Em Ess Stable , 1:55.65 , - , 2009 , Finallymadeit , 5 ,

Eduardo Núñez Eduardo Michelle Núñez Méndez (born June 15, 1987) is a Dominican former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and the New ...

, Javier Negrete , Rolbea Stables , 1:56.76 , - , 2008 , Gottcha Gold , 5 , Chuck C. Lopez , Edward Plesa, Jr. , Centaur Farms , 1:51.31 , - , 2007 , A. P. Arrow , 5 ,

Edgar Prado Edgar S. Prado (Lima, June 12, 1967) is a Peruvian-born American jockey, a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey in thoroughbred horse racing. His big break came in 1997 when he won 536 races, making him the fourth rider in history to win 500 races ...

, Todd A. Pletcher ,

Allen E. Paulson Allen Eugene Paulson (April 22, 1922 – July 19, 2000) was an American businessman. Business career in aviation Born in Clinton, Iowa, Clinton, Iowa, Allen E. Paulson was on his own at age 13, supporting himself selling newspapers and doing ...

Trust Trust often refers to: * Trust (social science), confidence in or dependence on a person or quality It may also refer to: Business and law * Trust law, a body of law under which one person holds property for the benefit of another * Trust (bus ...

, 1:49.70 , - , 2006 , Bandini , 4 ,

, Todd A. Pletcher ,

Tabor Tabor may refer to: Places Czech Republic * Tábor, a town in the South Bohemian Region ** Tábor District, the surrounding district * Tábor, a village and part of Velké Heraltice in the Moravian-Silesian Region Israel * Mount Tabor, Galilee ...

Smith Smith may refer to: People * Metalsmith, or simply smith, a craftsman fashioning tools or works of art out of various metals * Smith (given name) * Smith (surname), a family name originating in England, Scotland and Ireland ** List of people wi ...

, 1:49.11 , - , 2005 , Eurosilver , 4 ,

Carl Nafzger Carl A. Nafzger (born August 29, 1941, in Plainview, Texas) is an American Hall of Fame horse trainer. Before he was involved in horseracing he was a championship rodeo bull rider. Nafzger trained Unbridled who won the 1990 Kentucky Derby and ...

Buckram Oak Farm Buckram is a stiff cotton (occasionally linen or Horsehair , horse hair) cloth with a loose weave, often muslin. The fabric is soaked in a sizing agent such as wheat-starch paste, glue (such as Polyvinyl acetate , PVA glue), or pyroxylin (g ...

, 1:49.29 , - , 2004 , Newfoundland , 4 ,

, Todd A. Pletcher , Sumaya Us Stables , 1:43.26 , - , 2003 , Best of the Rest , 8 , Eibar Coa , Edward Plesa, Jr. , Bea Oxenberg , 1:42.72 , - , 2002 , Sir Bear , 9 ,

, Ralph Ziadie , Barbara Smollin , 1:43.98 , - , 2001 , American Halo , 5 ,

Robbie Davis Robbie Glen Davis (born July 18, 1961 in Pocatello, Idaho) is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Early life Davis grew up in a single parent household forced onto welfare, something that would impact him for the rest of his l ...

, Angel Medina , Jose Paparoni , 1:42.31 , - , 2000 ,

, 5 ,

Mike E. Smith Michael Earl Smith (born August 10, 1965) is an American jockey who has been one of the leading riders in U.S. Thoroughbred racing since the early 1990s, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2003, and has won the ...

, Michael de Kock , Harry & Bridget Oppenheimer , 1:42.78 , - , 1999 , Sir Bear , 6 , Jerry D. Bailey , Ralph Ziadie , Barbara Smollin , 1:43.66 , - , 1998 , Sir Bear , 5 , Enrique Jurado , Ralph Ziadie , Barbara Smollin , 1:43.27 , - , 1997 , Crafty Friend , 4 ,

Mark A. Hennig Mark A. Hennig (born April 10, 1965, in Mansfield, Ohio) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. Racing career Born into a horse racing family, his father, John Hennig, was also a trainer. After working with his father, Mark was enc ...

, Ken Karlan , 1:42.27 , - , 1996 , Halo's Image , 5 ,

Pat Day Patrick Alan "Pat" Day (born October 13, 1953, in Brush, Colorado) is a retired American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991 a ...

, Happy Alter , Alter & Appleton , 1:42.71 , - , 1995 , Fight For Love , 5 , Jerry D. Bailey , Bert Sonnier , Irving & Marjorie Cowan , 1:43.98 , - , 1994 ,

Devil His Due Devil His Due (April 18, 1989 – May 22, 2017) was a multimillionaire American Thoroughbred racehorse and successful sire. Bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum and raced under the Blue Ribbon Farm banner, he had a record of 41: 11-12-3 with career ...

, 5 ,

, H. Allen Jerkens , Lion Crest Stable , 1:43.17 , - , 1993 , Technology , 4 , Jerry D. Bailey ,

Sonny Hine Hubert "Sonny" Hine (January 9, 1931 – March 17, 2000) was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred horse trainer best known as the trainer of 1998 U.S. Horse of the Year, Skip Away. Early life Hine was born in The Bronx, New York, the son of ...

, S. Savin & Classic Partners , 1:42.47 , - , 1992 , Honest Ensign , 4 ,

Jean Cruguet Jean Cruguet (born March 8, 1939 in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, France) is a retired French-American thoroughbred horse racing jockey who won the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. At age five, Cruguet was placed in an orphanage after h ...

, Guillame Soyer , Clarence Hill, Jr. , 1:49.41 , - , 1991 , Chief Honcho , 4 ,

, Bertram R. Firestone , 1:48.10 , - , 1990 , Primal , 5 , Earlie Fires , James E. Bracken , Tartan Stable , 1:43.40 , - , - bgcolor="#eeeeee" , 1989 , No Race , - , No Race , No Race , No Race , ''0:00.00'' , - bgcolor="#eeeeee" , 1988 , No Race , - , No Race , No Race , No Race , ''0:00.00'' , - , 1987 , Big Blowup , 3 , Chuck Baltazar , J. David Braddy , not found , 1:44.40 , -

References

The 2009 Skip Away Handicap at the NTRA
Graded stakes races in the United States Flat horse races for four-year-olds Open middle distance horse races Horse races in Florida Gulfstream Park Recurring sporting events established in 1987 1987 establishments in Florida Grade 3 stakes races in the United States