Woodward Stakes
The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, William Woodward, it is run at 1 1⁄8 miles (1,800 m) on the dirt for a current purse of $600,000.
The Woodward was run as a handicap in 1954, 1955, and in 1976 and 1977. From 1957 through 1975 it was a weight-for-age event, and was run as an allowance stakes from 1977 through 1987. The race returned to being a handicap event in 1988, 1989, and 1990 then reverted to a weight-for-age race in 1991.
Originally run at Aqueduct Racetrack and most recently at Belmont Park, the Woodward was moved to Saratoga Race Course for its 53rd running in 2006. All three racetracks are operated by the New York Racing Association.
This race is to honor the memory of Belair Stud's William Woodward, Sr., a dedicated horseman, who was chairman of the Jockey Club from 1930 to 1950.
In 2009 Rachel Alexandra became the first female to win the Woodward facing older males for the first time. Only one other 3-year-old filly had ever run in the Woodward: Summer Guest in 1972. She finished second to Key to the Mint before being disqualified and placed third. Then in 2011 Havre De Grace a 4 year old filly became the 2nd filly to win the Woodward, but unlike Rachel Alexandra, this was the 1st time Havre De Grace had faced males at all.
Since its inception, the Woodward Stakes has been run at a variety of distances:
- 1 mile - 1954
- 1 1⁄8 miles - 1955, 1976–1977, 1981–1987, 1990 to present
- 1 1⁄4 miles - 1956-1971, 1978–1980, 1988–1989
- 1 1⁄2 miles - 1972-1975
Records
Speed record:
- 1:45.80 for 1 1⁄8 miles - Forego (1976) and Dispersal (1990)
- 1:59.40 for 1 1⁄4 miles - Alysheba (1988)
- 2:25.80 for 1 1⁄2 miles - Prove Out (1973)
Most wins:
- 4 - Forego (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977)
- 3 - Kelso (1961, 1962, 1963)
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Wins by a filly or mare:
Winners of the Woodward Stakes
Year
|
Horse
|
Age
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
Time |
2015 |
Liam's Map |
4 |
Javier Castellano |
Todd A. Pletcher |
Teresa Viola Racing Stables |
1:47.44 |
2014 |
Itsmyluckyday |
4 |
Paco Lopez |
Edward Plesa, Jr. |
Trilogy Stable/L. Plesa |
1:48.84 |
2013 |
Alpha |
4 |
John Velazquez |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
Godolphin Stables |
1:49.28 |
2012 |
To Honor and Serve |
4 |
John Velazquez |
William I. Mott |
Live Oak Plantation |
1:48.56 |
2011 |
Havre de Grace ‡ |
4 |
Ramon A. Dominguez |
J. Larry Jones |
Rick Porter |
1:49.18 |
2010 |
Quality Road |
4 |
John Velazquez |
Todd Pletcher |
Edward P. Evans |
1:50.00 |
2009 |
Rachel Alexandra ‡ |
3 |
Calvin Borel |
Steve Asmussen |
Stonestreet Stables |
1:48.29 |
2008 |
Curlin |
4 |
Robby Albarado |
Steve Asmussen |
Stonestreet Stables |
1:49.34 |
2007 |
Lawyer Ron |
4 |
John Velazquez |
Todd Pletcher |
Hines Racing LLC |
1:48.60 |
2006 |
Premium Tap |
4 |
Kent Desormeaux |
John C. Kimmel |
Kline, Alevizos, Whelihan |
1:50.65 |
2005 |
Saint Liam |
5 |
Jerry D. Bailey |
Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. |
William K. Warren, Jr. |
1:49.07 |
2004 |
Ghostzapper |
4 |
Javier Castellano |
Robert J. Frankel |
Stronach Stables |
1:46.20 |
2003 |
Mineshaft |
4 |
Robby Albarado |
Neil J. Howard |
Farish, Elkins, Webber |
1:46.20 |
2002 |
Lido Palace |
5 |
Jorge F. Chavez |
Robert J. Frankel |
Amerman Racing Stable |
1:47.60 |
2001 |
Lido Palace |
4 |
Jerry D. Bailey |
Robert J. Frankel |
John W. Amerman |
1:47.40 |
2000 |
Lemon Drop Kid |
4 |
Edgar Prado |
Scotty Schulhofer |
Jeanne G. Vance |
1:50.40 |
1999 |
River Keen |
7 |
Chris Antley |
Bob Baffert |
Hugo Reynolds |
1:46.80 |
1998 |
Skip Away |
5 |
Jerry D. Bailey |
Sonny Hine |
Carolyn H. Hine |
1:47.80 |
1997 |
Formal Gold |
4 |
Kent Desormeaux |
William W. Perry |
John D. Murphy |
1:47.40 |
1996 |
Cigar |
6 |
Jerry D. Bailey |
William I. Mott |
Allen E. Paulson |
1:47.00 |
1995 |
Cigar |
5 |
Jerry D. Bailey |
William I. Mott |
Allen E. Paulson |
1:47.00 |
1994 |
Holy Bull |
3 |
Mike E. Smith |
Warren A. Croll, Jr. |
Warren A. Croll, Jr. |
1:46.80 |
1993 |
Bertrando |
4 |
Gary Stevens |
Robert J. Frankel |
Edward Nahem / 505 Farms |
1:47.00 |
1992 |
Sultry Song |
4 |
Jerry D. Bailey |
Patrick J. Kelly |
Live Oak Plantation Racing |
1:47.00 |
1991 |
In Excess |
4 |
Gary Stevens |
Bruce L. Jackson |
Jack J. Munari |
1:46.20 |
1990 |
Dispersal |
4 |
Chris Antley |
Grover G. Delp |
Tom Meyerhoff |
1:45.80 |
1989 |
Easy Goer |
3 |
Pat Day |
Shug McGaughey |
Ogden Phipps |
2:01.00 |
1988 |
Alysheba |
4 |
Chris McCarron |
Jack Van Berg |
Dorothy Scharbauer |
1:59.40 |
1987 |
Polish Navy |
3 |
Randy Romero |
Shug McGaughey |
Ogden Phipps |
1:47.00 |
1986 |
Precisionist |
5 |
Chris McCarron |
Ross Fenstermaker |
Fred W. Hooper |
1:46.00 |
1985 |
Track Barron |
4 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
LeRoy Jolley |
Peter M. Brant |
1:46.60 |
1984 |
Slew o' Gold |
4 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
John O. Hertler |
Equusequity Stable |
1:47.80 |
1983 |
Slew o' Gold |
3 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
Sidney Watters, Jr. |
Equusequity Stable |
1:46.60 |
1982 |
Island Whirl |
4 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
D. Wayne Lukas |
Elcee-H Stable |
1:46.80 |
1981 |
Pleasant Colony |
3 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
John P. Campo |
Buckland Farm |
1:47.20 |
1980 |
Spectacular Bid |
4 |
Bill Shoemaker |
Grover G. Delp |
Hawksworth Farm |
2:02.40 |
1979 |
Affirmed |
4 |
Laffit Pincay, Jr. |
Lazaro S. Barrera |
Harbor View Farm |
2:01.60 |
1978 |
Seattle Slew |
4 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
Douglas Peterson |
Tayhill Stable |
2:00.00 |
1977 |
Forego |
7 |
Bill Shoemaker |
Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr. |
Lazy F Ranch |
1:48.00 |
1976 |
Forego |
6 |
Bill Shoemaker |
Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr. |
Lazy F Ranch |
1:45.80 |
1975 |
Forego |
5 |
Heliodoro Gustines |
Sherrill W. Ward |
Lazy F Ranch |
2:27.20 |
1974 |
Forego |
4 |
Heliodoro Gustines |
Sherrill W. Ward |
Lazy F Ranch |
2:27.40 |
1973 |
Prove Out |
4 |
Jorge Velasquez |
H. Allen Jerkens |
Hobeau Farm |
2:25.80 |
1972 |
Key To The Mint |
3 |
Braulio Baeza |
J. Elliott Burch |
Rokeby Stable |
2:28.40 |
1971 |
West Coast Scout † |
3 |
John L. Rotz |
Mervin Marks |
Oxford Stable |
2:00.40 |
1970 |
Personality |
3 |
Eddie Belmonte |
John W. Jacobs |
Ethel D. Jacobs |
2:01.80 |
1969 |
Arts and Letters |
3 |
Braulio Baeza |
J. Elliott Burch |
Rokeby Stable |
2:01.00 |
1968 |
Mr. Right |
5 |
Heliodoro Gustines |
Evan S. Jackson |
Cheray Duchin |
2:03.00 |
1967 |
Damascus |
3 |
Bill Shoemaker |
Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr. |
Edith W. Bancroft |
2:00.60 |
1966 |
Buckpasser |
3 |
Braulio Baeza |
Edward A. Neloy |
Ogden Phipps |
2:02.80 |
1965 |
Roman Brother |
4 |
Braulio Baeza |
Burley Parke |
Harbor View Farm |
2:01.80 |
1964 |
Gun Bow |
4 |
Walter Blum |
Edward A. Neloy |
Gedney Farm |
2:02.40 |
1963 |
Kelso |
6 |
Ismael Valenzuela |
Carl Hanford |
Bohemia Stable |
2:00.80 |
1962 |
Kelso |
5 |
Ismael Valenzuela |
Carl Hanford |
Bohemia Stable |
2:03.20 |
1961 |
Kelso |
4 |
Eddie Arcaro |
Carl Hanford |
Bohemia Stable |
2:00.00 |
1960 |
Sword Dancer |
4 |
Eddie Arcaro |
J. Elliott Burch |
Brookmeade Stable |
2:01.20 |
1959 |
Sword Dancer |
3 |
Eddie Arcaro |
J. Elliott Burch |
Brookmeade Stable |
2:04.40 |
1958 |
Clem |
4 |
Bill Shoemaker |
William W. Stephens |
Adele L. Rand |
2:01.00 |
1957 |
Dedicate |
5 |
Bill Hartack |
G. Carey Winfrey |
Jan Burke |
2:01.00 |
1956 |
Mister Gus |
5 |
Ismael Valenzuela |
Charlie Whittingham |
Gustave Ring |
2:03.00 |
1955 |
Traffic Judge |
3 |
Eddie Arcaro |
Woody Stephens |
Clifford Mooers |
1:48.20 |
1954 |
Pet Bully |
6 |
Bill Hartack |
Tommy Kelly |
Ada L. Rice |
1:35.60 |
- A ‡ designates that this is a filly or mare that won the race.
- † Cougar II finished first, but was disqualified and placed third.
See also
External links