The Westchester Stakes is a
Grade III 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 run over a distance of miles annually in early May at
Belmont Park, in
Elmont New York. The event currently offers a purse of $100,000 added.
History
Originally called the Yorktown Handicap, it was first run in 1918 at the old
Empire City Race Track and was won by the
1916 Kentucky Derby winner
George Smith.
For 1919, it was called the Victory Handicap, but in 1922 reverted to the Yorktown Handicap.
There was no race run in 1932 and 1933 during the
Great Depression.
In 1940 it was renamed the name Westchester Handicap in honor of
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population ...
. The race was hosted by the
Jamaica Racetrack
Jamaica Race Course, also called the Jamaica Racetrack, was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility operated by the Metropolitan Jockey Club in Jamaica, Queens, New York City.
History
The track opened on April 27, 1903, a day which feat ...
from 1943 to 1959 yet idle between 1954 and 1958. After which it was shifted to
Aqueduct Racetrack.
From 1959 to 1971, the race was open to horses age four years old and up.
Since 2012 the event has been run at Belmont Park.
Records
Speed record:
* 1:32.24 – 1 mile: Najran (2003)
Most wins:
* 2 – Thorson (1936, 1937)
* 2 –
R. Thomas (1966, 1968)
* 2 –
Rubiano (1991, 1992)
* 2 – Gygistar (2004, 2005)
Most wins by a
jockey:
* 5 –
Ángel Cordero Jr. (1969, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1990)
Most wins by a
trainer:
* 6 –
H. Allen Jerkens (1975, 1982, 1983, 1994, 1998, 2010)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 –
Alfred G. Vanderbilt II (1935, 1973, 1974)
* 3 –
King Ranch
King Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States. At some it is larger than the state of Rhode Island and country of Luxembourg. It is mainly a cattle ranch, but also produced the Triple Crown winning racehorse Assault.
The ranch is lo ...
(1946, 1947, 1948)
* 3 –
Edward P. Evans (2001, 2004, 2005)
Winners
References
{{reflist
External links
Video of Najran's record setting 2003 Westchester Handicap
Graded stakes races in the United States
Horse races in New York (state)
Open mile category horse races
Recurring sporting events established in 1918
Belmont Park
Grade 3 stakes races in the United States
1918 establishments in New York (state)