The Excelsior Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. A Grade III event for three-year-olds and up, it is contested over a distance of one-and-one-eighth miles 9 furlong.[1]
"Excelsior" is Latin for "Upward, ever upward," and is the motto of the state of New York.
In 1928, when Hall of Famer Grey Lag was ten years old, he came in third. He'd won this race as a five-year-old in 1923.
The race was run at the old Jamaica Racetrack from 1903 to 1910, and then again from 1915 to 1959. In 1913, it was run at Belmont Park. It wasn’t run at all in 1909, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1933, and 1967.
Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances and as initially a handicap as the race was known as the Excelsior Handicap:
- 1 1⁄16 miles : 1903-1960
- 1 mile : 1960
- 1 mile, 1 furlong : 1961-1978
- 1 1⁄8 miles : 1994–2014
- 1 1⁄4 miles : 1979-1993, 2015-present
Records
Speed record: (at distance of 1 1⁄8 miles)
- 1:48.10 - Classic Endeavor (2003)
- 1:48.10 - Magna Graduate (2007)
Most wins:
- 2 - King Saxon (1935, 1936)
- 2 - Find (1954, 1956)
- 2 - Lac Ouimet (1987, 1988)
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by an owner:
Winners
Year
|
Winner
|
Age
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
Time |
2016 |
Kid Cruz |
5 |
Jose L. Ortiz |
Linda Rice |
Vina Del Mar Thoroughbreds/Black Swan Stable |
2:04.52 |
2015 |
Effinex |
4 |
Angel S. Arroyo |
James A. Jerkens |
Tri-Bone Stables |
2:02.16 |
2014 |
Romansh |
4 |
Jose L. Ortiz |
Thomas Albertrani |
Godolphin Racing |
1:49.07 |
2013 |
Last Gunfighter |
4 |
Rajiv Maragh |
Chad Brown |
John D. Gunther |
1:50.78 |
2012 |
Marilyn's Guy |
6 |
C. C. Lopez |
Tony Dutrow |
Dubb/Bethlehem Stables/Aisquith |
1:52.54 |
2011 |
Inherit the Gold |
5 |
Eddie Castro |
James Hooper |
Glas-Tipp Stable & S. Hooper |
1:50.34 |
2010 |
Goldsville |
5 |
Ramon A. Dominguez |
Michael E. Hushion |
Marc C. Ferrell |
1:51.43 |
2009 |
Giant Moon |
4 |
Edgar Prado |
Richard E. Schosberg |
Albert Fried, Jr. |
1:50.90 |
2008 |
Temporary Saint |
5 |
Chuck C. Lopez |
Bruce N. Levine |
Maggi Moss |
1:51.13 |
2007 |
Magna Graduate |
5 |
John Velazquez |
Todd A. Pletcher |
Elisabeth Alexander |
1:48.10 |
2006 |
West Virginia |
5 |
Norberto Arroyo, Jr. |
Todd A. Pletcher |
Donald & Roberta Zuckerman |
1:48.28 |
2005 |
Offlee Wild |
5 |
Rafael Bejarano |
Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. |
AZ Azalea Stables LLC |
1:50.41 |
2004 |
Funny Cide |
4 |
Jose A. Santos |
Barclay Tagg |
Sackatoga Stable |
1:49.57 |
2003 |
Classic Endeavor |
5 |
Chuck C. Lopez |
Scott Schwartz |
Schwartz, Schwartz |
1:48.10 |
2002 |
John Little |
4 |
Norberto Arroyo, Jr. |
Deborah Bodner |
Deborah Bodner |
1:49.25 |
2001 |
Cat's At Home |
4 |
Filberto Leon |
Mark A. Hennig |
Edward P. Evans |
1:48.92 |
2000 |
Lager |
6 |
Heberto Castillo, Jr. |
James A. Jerkens |
Susan & John Moore |
1:49.76 |
1999 |
Smart Coupons |
6 |
Rene Douglas |
Deborah Bodner |
Louis J. Porreco |
1:49.71 |
1998 |
Sir Bear |
5 |
Enrique Jurado |
Ralph Ziade |
Barbara Smollin |
1:49.24 |
1997 |
Ormsby |
5 |
Chuck C. Lopez |
Sue Alpers |
Woodside Stud |
1:47.69 |
1996 |
May I Inquire |
5 |
Joe Bravo |
Gasper Moschera |
Barbara J. Davis |
1:50.67 |
1995 |
Iron Gavel |
5 |
Jose Martinez, Jr. |
Gasper Moschera |
Joques Farm |
1:49.28 |
1994 |
Colonial Affair |
4 |
Jose A. Santos |
Flint S. Schulhofer |
Centennial Farm |
1:49.82 |
1993 |
Devil His Due |
4 |
Mike E. Smith |
H. Allen Jerkens |
Lion Crest Stable |
2:03.05 |
1992 |
Defensive Play |
5 |
David Flores |
Robert J. Frankel |
Juddmonte Farm |
2:01.95 |
1991 |
Chief Honcho |
4 |
Mike E. Smith |
William I. Mott |
Bertram R. Firestone |
2:02.60 |
1990 |
Lay Down |
6 |
Chris Antley |
C. R. McGaughey III |
Ogden Mills Phipps |
2:02.20 |
1989 |
Forever Silver |
5 |
Julie Krone |
Stanley R. Shapoff |
Chevalier Stable |
2:02.60 |
1988 |
Lac Ouimet |
5 |
Jerry Bailey |
Richard J. Lundy |
Virginia Kraft Payson |
2:00.20 |
1987 |
Lac Ouimet |
4 |
Eddie Maple |
Richard J. Lundy |
Virginia Kraft Payson |
2:02.00 |
1986 |
Garthorn |
6 |
Rafael Meza |
Robert J. Frankel |
Jerome S. Moss |
2:02.40 |
1985 |
Morning Bob |
4 |
Jacinto Vasquez |
Nick Zito |
Mike Rich Stable |
2:04.20 |
1984 |
Canadian Factor |
4 |
Jorge Velasquez |
Melvin W. Gross |
Frank Stronach |
2:03.00 |
1983 |
Fast Gold |
4 |
Jean-Luc Samyn |
Sally Bailie |
Aisco Stables |
2:04.00 |
1982 |
Globe |
5 |
Michael Venezia |
Victor J. Nickerson |
Nelson Bunker Hunt |
2:03.40 |
1981 |
Irish Tower |
4 |
Jeffrey Fell |
Stanley M. Hough |
Malcolm H. Winfield |
2:00.80 |
1980 |
Ring of Light |
5 |
Cash Asmussen |
Pancho Martin |
Viola Sommer |
2:01.40 |
1979 |
Special Tiger |
4 |
George Martens |
William F. Schmitt |
Albert Fried, Jr. |
2:03.80 |
1978 |
Cox's Ridge |
4 |
Eddie Maple |
Joseph B. Cantey |
Loblolly Stable |
1:50.60 |
1977 |
Turn And Count |
4 |
Steve Cauthen |
Pancho Martin |
Sigmund Sommer |
1:51.00 |
1976 |
Double Edge Sword |
6 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
Richard Dutrow, Sr. |
Aisquith Stable |
1:48.00 |
1975 |
Step Nicely |
5 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
H. Allen Jerkens |
Hobeau Farm |
1:48.40 |
1974 |
Everton |
5 |
Marco Castaneda |
Laz Barrera |
Enrique Ubarri |
1:49.00 |
1973 |
Key To The Mint |
4 |
Ron Turcotte |
J. Elliott Burch |
Rokeby Stable |
1:47.80 |
1972 |
Autobiography |
4 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
Pancho Martin |
Sigmund Sommer |
1:49.00 |
1971 |
Loud |
4 |
Jacinto Vasquez |
James W. Maloney |
William Haggin Perry |
1:50.80 |
1970 |
Hydrologist |
4 |
Chuck Baltazar |
Roger Laurin |
Meadow Stable |
1:48.80 |
1969 |
San Roque |
4 |
Heliodoro Gustines |
Sherrill W. Ward |
Lazy F Ranch |
1:49.60 |
1968 |
Peter Piper |
5 |
Jorge Velasquez |
not found |
Joseph R. Daly |
1:48.00 |
1966 |
Choker |
6 |
Bobby Ussery |
H. Allen Jerkens |
Hobeau Farm |
1:49.20 |
1965 |
Tenacle |
5 |
William Mayorga |
Homer C. Pardue |
Joseph R. Straus |
1:49.40 |
1964 |
Uppercut |
5 |
Johnny Sellers |
Willard C. Freeman |
William L. Harmonay |
1:50.00 |
1963 |
Greek Money |
4 |
John L. Rotz |
Virgil W. Raines |
Brandywine Stable |
1:48.60 |
1962 |
Hitting Away |
4 |
Bobby Ussery |
James E. Fitzsimmons |
Ogden Phipps |
1:50.00 |
1961 |
Mail Order |
5 |
Larry Adams |
Larry Thompson |
Alamode Farm |
1:49.20 |
1960 |
Talent Show |
5 |
Ray Broussard |
Clyde Troutt |
Ada L. Rice |
1:34.80 |
1959 |
Whitley |
4 |
Sam Boulmetis, Sr. |
Max Hirsch |
W. Arnold Hanger |
1:43.80 |
1958 |
Kingmaker |
5 |
Bobby Ussery |
Frank I. Wright |
Happy Hill Farm |
1:43.60 |
1957 |
Midafternoon |
5 |
Eddie Arcaro |
Thomas M. Waller |
Mrs. Edward E. Robbins |
1:43.60 |
1956 |
Find |
6 |
Eric Guerin |
William C. Winfrey |
Alfred G. Vanderbilt II |
1:43.20 |
1955 |
Fisherman |
4 |
Hedley Woodhouse |
Sylvester Veitch |
C. V. Whitney |
1:45.00 |
1954 |
Find |
4 |
Eric Guerin |
William C. Winfrey |
Alfred G. Vanderbilt II |
1:44.00 |
1953 |
First Glance |
6 |
Eric Guerin |
William C. Winfrey |
Alfred G. Vanderbilt II |
1:44.00 |
1952 |
Spartan Valor |
4 |
James Stout |
Frank Catrone |
William G. Helis Jr. |
1:44.60 |
1951 |
Lotowhite |
4 |
Eddie Arcaro |
Lydell T. Ruff |
Thomas G. Benson |
1:44.20 |
1950 |
Arise |
4 |
Douglas Dodson |
James C. Bentley |
Addison Stable |
1:43.80 |
1949 |
My Request |
4 |
Claude Erickson |
James P. Conway |
Mrs. Ben F. Whitaker |
1:44.80 |
1948 |
Knockdown |
5 |
Ferril Zufelt |
James W. Smith |
Maine Chance Farm |
1:46.00 |
1947 |
Coincidence |
5 |
Ted Atkinson |
John M. Gaver, Sr. |
Greentree Stable |
1:44.00 |
1946 |
Fighting Step |
4 |
Johnny Adams |
Charles C. Norman |
Murlogg Farm |
1:45.00 |
1945 |
Saguaro |
4 |
Mike Caffarella |
Woody Stephens |
Jule Fink |
1:44.60 |
1944 |
Alex Barth |
4 |
Nick Jemas |
James R. Hastie |
Milbrook Stable |
1:46.40 |
1943 |
Riverland |
5 |
Steve Brooks |
Moody Jolley |
Louisiana Farm |
1:44.40 |
1942 |
Waller |
4 |
Charles Wahler |
A. G. Robertson |
John C. Clark |
1:46.80 |
1941 |
Robert Morris |
3 |
Nick Wall |
Tom McCreery |
J. Frederic Byers |
1:43.60 |
1940 |
The Chief |
5 |
Irving Anderson |
Earl Sande |
Maxwell Howard |
1:44.20 |
1939 |
Thanksgiving |
4 |
Raymond Workman |
Max Hirsch |
Mrs. Parker Corning |
1:44.20 |
1938 |
Caballero |
6 |
Wayne D. Wright |
Hirsch Jacobs |
Ethel D. Jacobs |
1:45.40 |
1937 |
Thorson |
5 |
William Ray |
not found |
Buckley M. Byers |
1:43.80 |
1936 |
King Saxon |
5 |
Charles Landolt |
C. H. Knebelkamp |
C. H. Knebelkamp |
1:45.20 |
1935 |
King Saxon |
4 |
Cal Rainey |
C. H. Knebelkamp |
C. H. Knebelkamp |
1:43.60 |
1934 |
Watch Him |
5 |
Earl Steffen |
Bill Knapp |
Fannie Hertz |
1:46.00 |
1932 |
Pompeius |
3 |
Joe Knapp |
J. P. "Sammy" Smith |
William R. Coe |
1:45.20 |
1931 |
Mokatam |
4 |
Willie Kelsay |
Frank M. Taylor |
Rancocas Stable |
1:46.00 |
1930 |
Minotaur |
4 |
Charles Kurtsinger |
Charles Graffagnini |
John R. Thompson, Jr. |
1:45.80 |
1929 |
Mowlee |
4 |
Laverne Fator |
Sam Hildreth |
Rancocas Stable |
1:45.20 |
1928 |
Brown Flash |
4 |
Virgil Peterson |
not found |
Frederick Johnson |
1:46.40 |
1927 |
Amberjack |
4 |
James McCoy |
James E. Fitzsimmons |
Belair Stud |
1:44.00 |
1926 |
Turf Idol |
4 |
Sidney Hebert |
Jimmy Johnson |
James Butler |
1:45.60 |
1925 |
Sting |
4 |
Benjamin Breuning |
Jimmy Johnson |
James Butler |
1:42.60 |
1924 |
Rialto |
4 |
Johnny Corcoran |
James G. Rowe, Sr. |
Greentree Stable |
1:46.00 |
1923 |
Grey Lag |
5 |
Laverne Fator |
Sam Hildreth |
Rancocas Stable |
1:45.00 |
1922 |
Sennings Park |
6 |
Charles Fairbrother |
A. Jack Joyner |
Westmont Stable |
1:44.80 |
1921 |
Blazes |
4 |
Ted R. Rice |
William Garth |
Joshua S. Cosden |
1:47.20 |
1920 |
Boniface |
5 |
Earl Sande |
H. Guy Bedwell |
J. K. L. Ross |
1:45.20 |
1919 |
Naturalist |
5 |
Charles Fairbrother |
Thomas Welsh |
Joseph E. Widener |
1:45.40 |
1918 |
George Smith |
5 |
Willie Kelsay |
Hollie Hughes |
John Sanford |
1:45.40 |
1917 |
Roamer |
6 |
Andy Schuttinger |
A. J. Goldsborough |
Andrew Miller |
1:45.40 |
1916 |
Sand Marsh |
4 |
James Butwell |
not found |
Fred E. Rose |
1:46.00 |
1915 |
Addie M. |
4 |
Joe McCahey |
not found |
J. W. Messervy |
1:45.80 |
1913 |
Meridian |
5 |
Buddy Glass |
Albert Ewing |
Richard F. Carman |
1:44.60 |
1906 |
Merry Lark |
4 |
Walter Miller |
Thomas Welsh |
Newcastle Stable |
1:47.20 |
1905 |
Santa Catalina † |
3 |
Walter Miller |
R. Wyndham Walden |
Albermale Stable |
1:46.40 |
1904 |
Rostand |
4 |
Herman Phillips |
George Cornell |
F. R. Doctor |
1:45.60 |
1903 |
Blackstock |
4 |
Grover Fuller |
John W. Rogers |
William C. Whitney |
1:46.60 |
- † In 1905 Preen finished first but was disqualified.
References