Turf Classic Stakes

The Turf Classic Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for open to horses aged four and older, over a distance of one and one-eighth miles, on the turf held annually in early May on the Kentucky Derby day meeting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky during the spring meeting.

Turf Classic Stakes
Grade I race
LocationChurchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated1987 (as Early Times Turf Classic Stakes)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
SponsorOld Forester (since 2018)
WebsiteChurchill Downs
Race information
Distance​1 1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour-year-olds and older
Weight124 lbs with allowances
Purse$1,000,000 (since 2019)

History

This race was inaugurated on 1 May 1987 as the Early Times Turf Classic Stakes and was the first stakes race run on the new Matt Winn Turf Course.[1] The event was won by the reigning US Champion Male Turf Horse Manila, his eighth straight victory by three lengths as the short 2-5 odds-on favorite in a small field of four starters.[2]

The event was classified as Grade III in 1989 for its third running, upgraded to Grade II in 1994 and since 1996 a Grade I.[3]

The event has had three sponsor name changes which have contributed to the high purse and growth is status of the event. The sponsorship has been by the Brown-Forman Corporation, one of the largest North American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business which is based in Louisville. The sponsorship has been reflected in the name of the event since the first running. Early Times, from 1987 to 1999, Woodford Reserve, from 2000 to 2017 and since 2018 Old Forester.[4]

The event has attracted the finest turf horses. The 1993 winner Lure set the speed record for the event with fast time of 1:46.34. Lure continued on to win the Breeders' Cup Mile for the second time later that year. The following year, in 1994 the winner Paradise Creek won the Arlington Million en route to being voted the U. S. Champion Male Turf Horse. In recent years the winners include two-time US Horse of the Year Wise Dan dual winner in 2013 and 2014 and Bricks and Mortar who would be crowned U. S. Horse of the Year in 2019.

Records
Speed record
  • 1:46.34 – Lure (1993)
Margins
Most wins
Most wins by an owner
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a Trainer

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
2020 Digital Age (IRE) 4 Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:47.79 $1,000,000 I [5]
2019 Bricks and Mortar 5 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:51.80 $1,000,000 I [6]
2018 Yoshida (JPN) 4 José L. Ortiz William I. Mott China Horse Club, WinStar Farm & Head of Plains Partners ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:54.64 $500,000 I [7]
2017 Divisidero 5 Julien R. Leparoux William B. Bradley Gunpowder Farms ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:52.42 $500,000 I [8]
2016 Divisidero 4 Edgar S. Prado William B. Bradley Gunpowder Farms ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:47.37 $500,000 I [9]
2015 Finnegans Wake 6 Victor Espinoza Peter L. Miller Donegal Racing & Rockingham Ranch ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:47.24 $500,000 I [10]
2014 Wise Dan 7 John R. Velazquez Charles LoPresti Morton Fink ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:47.73 $559,100 I [11]
2013 Wise Dan 6 Jose Lezcano Charles LoPresti Morton Fink ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:51.84 $546,400 I [12]
2012 Little Mike 5 Joe Bravo Dale L. Romans Priscilla Vaccarezza ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:48.81 $561,500 I [13]
2011 Get Stormy 5 Ramon A. Dominguez Thomas M. Bush Sullimar Stables ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:50.81 $581,400 I [14]
2010 General Quarters 4 Rafael Bejarano Thomas R. McCarthy Thomas R. McCarthy ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:53.42 $578,100 I [15]
2009 Einstein (BRZ) 7 Julien R. Leparoux Helen Pitts-Blasi Midnight Cry Stable ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:49.62 $557,600 I [16]
2008 Einstein (BRZ) 6 Robby Albarado Helen Pitts-Blasi Patricia Cunningham & Melissa Greene ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:50.50 $548,300 I [17]
2007 Sky Conqueror 5 Javier Castellano Darwin D. Banach William A. Sorokolit Sr. ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:49.01 $561,000 I [18]
2006 English Channel 4 Garrett K. Gomez Todd A. Pletcher James T. Scatuorchio ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:47.15 $454,900 I [19]
2005 America Alive 4 Robby Albarado Neil J. Howard Mill House Stable ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:47.34 $470,400 I [20]
2004 Stroll 4 Jerry D. Bailey William I. Mott Claiborne Farm ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:53.00 $453,900 I [21]
2003 Honor in War 4 David R. Flores Paul J. McGee 3rd Turn Stables ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:46.67 $445,300 I [22]
2002 Beat Hollow (GB) 5 Alex O. Solis Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:47.35 $452,500 I [23]
2001 White Heart (GB) 6 Gary L. Stevens Neil D. Drysdale Gainsborough Farms ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:48.75 $349,900 I [24]
2000 Manndar (IRE) 4 Corey Nakatani C. Beau Greely Columbine Stable, Jay M. Jones & Tom Nichols ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:47.91 $350,500 I [25]
1999 Wild Event 6 Shane Sellers Louis M. Goldfine Arthur I. Appleton ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:47.25 $333,300 I [26]
1998 Joyeux Danseur 5 Robby Albarado Albert Stall Jr. B. Wayne Hughes ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:48.14 $281,100 I [27]
1997 Always a Classic 4 Jerry D. Bailey Mark R. Frostad Sam-Son Farm ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:49.29 $234,400 I [28]
1996 Mecke 4 Pat Day Emanuel Tortora James R. Lewis Jr. ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:49.48 $254,200 I [29]
1995 Romarin (BRZ) 5 Corey Nakatani Richard E. Mandella Linneo Eduardo de Paula Machado ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:46.86 $246,300 II [30]
1994 Paradise Creek 5 Pat Day William I. Mott Masayuki Nishiyama ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:48.34 $233,950 II [31]
1993 Lure 4 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Claiborne Farm ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:46.34 $181,050 III [32]
1992 Cudas 4 Pat Valenzuela Richard J. Lundy Allen E. Paulson ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:46.56 $191,850 III [33]
1991 § Opening Verse 5 Chris McCarron Richard J. Lundy Allen E. Paulson ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:47.22 $192,400 III [34]
1990 Ten Keys 6 Kent J. Desormeaux Michael V. Pino Charles Linhoss ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:50.80 $169,900 III [35]
1989 Equalize 7 José A. Santos Angel Penna Sr. Alejandro Menditeguy ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:51.40 $175,600 III [36]
1988 Yankee Affair 6 Pat Day Henry L. Carroll Jujugen Stable ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:50.00 $186,500 Listed [37]
1987 Manila 4 Jacinto Vásquez LeRoy Jolley Bradley M. Shannon ​1 1⁄8 miles 1:48.80 $169,300 Listed [2]

Legend:

  Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry

See also

References
  1. Churchill Downs (2019). "$1 million Old Forester Turf Classic (Grade I)" (PDF). KentuckyDerby.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  2. Cushing, Rick (2 May 1987). "Manila folds field, wins Turf Classic by 3 lengths (1987 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes – race 8: held 1 May 1987)". The Courier-Journal. pp. 7, 10. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  3. "TURF CLASSIC STAKES – MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  4. "Turf Classic Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  5. "2020 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 13)". Equibase. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  6. "2019 Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 11)". Equibase. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  7. "2018 Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 11)". Equibase. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  8. "2017 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 11)". Equibase. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  9. "2016 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 11)". Equibase. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  10. "2015 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)". Equibase. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  11. "2014 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)". Equibase. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  12. "2013 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)". Equibase. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  13. "2012 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)". Equibase. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  14. "2011 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)". Equibase. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  15. "2010 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)". Equibase. 1 May 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  16. "2009 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)". Equibase. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  17. "2008 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  18. "2007 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  19. "2006 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 6 May 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  20. "2005 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 7 May 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  21. "2004 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  22. "2003 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  23. "2002 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 4 May 2002. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  24. "2001 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 5 May 2001. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  25. "2000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 6 May 2000. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  26. "1999 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 1 May 1999. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  27. "1998 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 2 May 1998. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  28. "1997 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 3 May 1997. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  29. "1996 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 4 May 1996. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  30. "1995 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 6 May 1995. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  31. "1994 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 6 May 1994. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  32. "1993 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 30 April 1993. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  33. "1992 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 1 May 1992. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  34. "1991 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 3 May 1991. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  35. Terhume, Jim (5 May 1990). "Ten Keys, a bet that keeps paying, wins Turf Classic (1990 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes – race 9: held 4 May 1990)". The Courier-Journal. p. 13. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  36. Berry, Jack (6 May 1989). "Equalize reigns in rain, wins Turf Classic (1989 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes – race 8: held 5 May 1989)". The Courier-Journal. pp. 14, 19. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  37. Berry, Jack (7 May 1988). "Yankee Affair charges to late to capture Turf Classic (1988 Early Times Turf Classic Stakes – race 8: held 6 May 1988)". The Courier-Journal. pp. 7, 10. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
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