Round Table Stakes
The Round Table Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run on dirt and on turf forty-four times between 1961 and 2007. First run at Washington Park Race Track in Homewood, Illinois as the Round Table Handicap, in 1963 it was moved to Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights. In 1985 a fire destroyed the track's grandstand and clubhouse and its races were hosted that year by Chicago's Hawthorne Race Course. A stakes race open to three-year-old horses, it was last contested on Polytrack synthetic dirt over a distance of one and one-eighth miles. From inception through 1968, it was a handicap race for horses age three and older.[1]
| Discontinued stakes race | |
| Location | Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1961 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Purse | $100,000 |
The race was named for Round Table, the 1958 American Horse of the Year and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. Round Table retired with earnings of $1,749,869, the most for any horse in world Thoroughbred racing history.[2] Kerr Stable's win with Rambler II in the 1964 edition of the Round Table Handicap was particularly special for stable owner Travis Kerr who was the owner of Round Table.[3]
The Round Table was run in two divisions in 1974, 1975 and 1983. It was not run in 1988, 1998 and 1999.
Notable past winners include John Henry who won his first graded stakes in impressive style with a twelve-length margin of victory in the September 16, 1978 Round Table Handicap.[1]
In its last running in 2007, the colt Pavarotti set a track record in winning the 2007 edition of the Round Table Stakes. The race was slated to be run in 2008 but was placed on hiatus and dropped from the 2009 schedule.
Track
Surface
- Turf (31) : 1961–1972, 1974–1987, 1989–1993 (31)
- Dirt (13) : 1973, 1994–1997, 2000–2006 (12)
- Polytrack (1) : 2007 (1)
Distances
- 1 mile (2) : 1973, 1974
- 1 1/16 miles (14) : 1961–1962, 1964–1966, 1968–1972, 1975–1978
- 1 1/8 miles (24) : 1963, 1967, 1979–1984, 1986–1987, 1992–1997, 2000–2007
- 1 3/16 miles (4) : 1985, 1989–1991
Records
Speed record:
- 1:42 flat @ 1 1/16 miles on turf: Rambler II (1964)
- 1:47.40 @ 1 1/8 miles on turf: World Class Splash (1992)
- 1:47.73 @1 1/8 miles on dirt: Devilment 1:47.73 (2005)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 2 – Herberto Hinojosa (1963, 1964)
- 2 – Earlie Fires (1966, 1984)
- 2 – Pat Day (1980, 1982)
- 2 – Don Brumfield (1983, 1985)
- 2 – Don Pettinger (1996, 2004)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 2 – Harry Trotsek (1962, 1974)
- 2 – MacKenzie Miller (1967, 1969)
- 2 – Robin Frank (1981, 1983)
- 2 – Steven Penrod (1982, 1990)
- 2 – Richard J. Lundy (1989, 1991)
- 2 – Donnie K. Von Hemel (1996, 2004)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – Hasty House Farm (1962, 1974)
- 2 – Cragwood Stables (1967, 1969)
- 2 – Ogden Phipps (1970, 1976)
- 2 – Pin Oak Stable (2004, 2005)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Dist. (Miles) |
Time |
Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Pavarotti | 3 | René Douglas | Todd Pletcher | Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:49.75 | |
| 2006 | Casino Evil | 3 | Francisco Torres | Michael A. Tomlinson | Haps Stable (Paul Hanifl & Vince Foglia) | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:50.12 | |
| 2005 | Devilment | 3 | Carlos H. Marquez Jr. | Michael Stidham | Pin Oak Stable | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:47.73 | |
| 2004 | Cryptograph | 3 | Don Pettinger | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Pin Oak Stable | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:51.53 | |
| 2003 | Wiggins | 3 | Eusebio Razo Jr. | Anthony Granitz | William Pacella, Joseph Rizza, Ronald Schwed | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:50.47 | |
| 2002 | Cowboy Stuff | 3 | Pat Valenzuela | Don Von Hemel Sr. | Shelley Bates & Don Von Hemel Sr. | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:48.98 | |
| 2001 | Discreet Hero | 3 | Shane Laviolette | Albert Stall Jr. | B. Wayne Hughes | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:49.72 | G3 |
| 2000 | Fan The Flame | 3 | Eddie Martin Jr. | Randy L. Morse | Michael Langford | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:50.08 | G3 |
| 1998 | – 1999 | Race not held | ||||||
| 1997 | Rojo Dinero | 3 | Mark Guidry | Kelly Von Hemel | Steven D. Caldwell | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:51.90 | G3 |
| 1996 | Slew O' Mink | 3 | Don Pettinger | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Bad Boy Racing Ltd. | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:51.51 | G3 |
| 1995 | Kingdom City | 3 | Craig Perret | W. Elliott Walden | Jeffrey S. Sullivan & John L. Wieczorek | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:50.38 | G3 |
| 1994 | Danville | 3 | Larry Melancon | William G. Huffman | Top of the Key Stable (Gary Lavin & partners) | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:51.07 | G3 |
| 1993 | Snake Eyes | 3 | Wigberto Ramos | Steven L. Morguelan | Melvin Isenstein | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:49.80 | G3 |
| 1992 | World Class Splash | 3 | Garrett Gomez | P. Noel Hickey | Richard E. Trebat | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:47.40 | G3 |
| 1991 | Fraise | 3 | Robbie Davis | Richard J. Lundy | Madeleine Paulson | 1 3⁄16 m | 1:56.25 | G3 |
| 1990 | Super Fan | 3 | Shane Sellers | Steven Penrod | Hermitage Farm (Warner L. Jones Jr.) | 1 3⁄16 m | 2:02.40 | G3 |
| 1989 | Ebros | 3 | Jorge Velásquez | Richard J. Lundy | Allen E. Paulson | 1 3⁄16 m | 1:58.40 | G2 |
| 1988 | Race not held | |||||||
| 1987 | Blue Finn | 3 | Dave Penna | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:56.40 | G2 |
| 1986 | Marvin's Policy | 3 | Sandy Hawley | Darrell Vienna | David Milch | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:49.20 | G2 |
| 1985 | Montagnet | 3 | Don Brumfield | Dennis W. Ebert | Jim H. Plemmons | 1 3⁄16 m | 1:56.40 | G2 |
| 1984 | Tall Grass Walker | 3 | Earlie Fires | Henry M. "Pete" Wylie | Kenneth C. Plattner | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:53.40 | G2 |
| 1983-1 | Jack Slade | 3 | Don Brumfield | David C. Kassen | Andrew Adams | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:49.60 | G2 |
| 1983-2 | Susie's Table | 3 | Gerland Gallitano | Robin Frank | Oriental Stable (Vernal Lee & Eric Frank) | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:49.80 | G2 |
| 1982 | Lucence | 3 | Pat Day | Steven Penrod | Claiborne Farm | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:52.80 | G2 |
| 1981 | Waterway Drive | 3 | Jerry Bailey | Robin Frank | Eric Frank | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:56.80 | G2 |
| 1980 | The Messanger | 3 | Pat Day | Oscar Dishman Jr. | Archie Donaldson | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:58.00 | G3 |
| 1979 | Rossi Gold | 3 | Ron Hirdes | Raymond S. Lawrence Jr. | Frank McMahon | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:53.60 | G3 |
| 1978 | John Henry | 3 | Jose Amy | Robert A. Donato | Dotsam Stable | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:45.80 | G3 |
| 1977 | True Colors | 3 | Ed Delahoussaye | Willard C. Freeman | Robert C. Billips | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:44.80 | G3 |
| 1976 | Effervescing | 3 | Rudy Turcotte | John W. Russell | Ogden Phipps | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:44.60 | G3 |
| 1975-1 | Brents Prince | 3 | Ben Feliciano | James Morgan | Mary Classen | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:43.80 | G3 |
| 1975-2 | Crafty Drone | 3 | John Powell | Richard P. Hazelton | Harham Farm | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:45.80 | G3 |
| 1974-1 | Emperor Rex | 3 | Hector Viera | Howard M. Tesher | Harold Snowden | 1 m | 1:36.60 | G3 |
| 1974-2 | Hasty Flyer | 3 | Mike Miceli | Harry Trotsek | Hasty House Farm | 1 m | 1:37.20 | G3 |
| 1973 | King's Reel | 3 | Robert Breen | William J. Resseguet Jr. | Gerald Robins | 1 m | 1:37.20 | G3 |
| 1972 | King's Bishop | 3 | Jacinto Vásquez | Thomas J. Kelly | Craig F. Cullinan Jr. | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:43.40 | |
| 1971 | Mr. Pow Wow | 3 | Ray Broussard | Joseph M. Bollero | Greenbrier Stable | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:43.40 | |
| 1970 | Pass The Drink | 3 | Mike Venezia | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:43.80 | |
| 1969 | Larceny Kid | 3 | David Whited | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stables | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:43.40 | |
| 1968 | Come On II | 7 | Walter Blum | Jose d'Agostino | Alberto d'Agostino | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:47.80 | |
| 1967 | Assagai | 4 | Larry Adams | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stables | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:51.40 | |
| 1966 | Maris | 4 | Earlie Fires | Willard L. Proctor | Josephine Potrykus | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:42.80 | |
| 1965 | Lord Date | 4 | Mickey Solomone | Frank H. Merrill Jr. | North Star Ranch | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:43.20 | |
| 1964 | Rambler II | 5 | Herberto Hinojosa | Warren Stute | Kerr Stable | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:42.00 | |
| 1963 | Bronze Babu | 5 | Herberto Hinojosa | Jose de Murguiondo | Hill 'n' Dale Farms | 1 1⁄8 m | 1:55.80 | |
| 1962 | Porvenir II | 8 | Avelino Gomez | Harry Trotsek | Hasty House Farm | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:43.20 | |
| 1961 | Oink | 4 | Johnny Sellers | Steve Ippolito | Jacnot Stable (O. T. & Jack R. Hogan) | 1 1⁄16 m | 1:43.00 | |
References
- "Wire-To-Wire Recaps of Arlington Million". Chicago Tribune. 1989-06-28. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
- "Round Table, Thoroughbred Champion, Dies". Los Angeles Timesagency=AP. 1987-06-14. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
- "Rambler 2nd Triumphs". Democrat and Chronicle, page 32. 1964-05-31. Retrieved 2020-08-05.