The Count Fleet Stakes is an American

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

horse race run at Aqueduct Racetrack, located in

Jamaica, New York Jamaica is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It is mainly composed of a large commercial and retail area, though part of the neighborhood is also residential. Jamaica is bordered by Hollis to the east; St. Albans, Springf ...

, at the beginning of January each year. It is the first stakes race of the year run in New York City for three-year-olds. Named after

Count Fleet Count Fleet (March 24, 1940 – December 3, 1973) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the sixth winner of the American Triple Crown. He won the Belmont Stakes by a then record margin of twenty-five lengths. After an undefeated ...

, the 1943

Triple Crown Triple Crown may refer to: Sports Horse racing * Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing * Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States) ** Triple Crown Trophy ** Triple Crown Productions * Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing * Tri ...

winner, the race is open to three-year-olds willing to race one mile and seventy yards on the inner dirt track. Offering a purse of $65,000 added, the race is a prep to the

Whirlaway Stakes The Whirlaway Stakes is a race for Thoroughbred horses held in February at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Whirlaway Stakes is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles (8.5 furlongs) on the dirt. It is an ungraded event offer ...

, the

Gotham Stakes The Gotham Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run in early March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A Grade III event with a current purse of US$300,000, it is set at a distance of 1 mile on the d ...

, the

Bay Shore Stakes The Bay Shore Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt run annually in early April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The event currently offers a ...

and the

Wood Memorial Stakes The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. It is run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt. The Wood Memorial ...

. Inaugurated in 1975 as the Count Fleet Handicap at Belmont Park, it was run that year at a distance of one mile. In 1976 it was raced at seven

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hor ...

s then from 1977 through 1983 at a mile and a sixteenth. It has been contested at a mile and seventy yards since 1984.Count Fleet Stakes history at the NYRA
There was no race run in 1982.

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1 mile, 70 yards) * 1:39.61 – Achilles of Troy (2006) Most wins by a jockey: * 3 –

Jorge Velásquez Jorge Velásquez (born December 28, 1946 in Chepo, Panama) is a thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. Jorge Velasquez's career in thoroughbred racing began in his native Panama but as a teenager moved to the United States. In 1967 he won ...

(1975, 1984, 1990) * 3 –

Richard Migliore Richard Migliore (born March 14, 1964 in Babylon, New York) is a retired American jockey. He now works as a racing analyst for XBTV. He was nicknamed "The Mig," which is a type of Russian fighter jet, for his tenacious style of riding. He lives ...

(1985, 1988, 2002) Most wins by a trainer: * 2 – John P. Campo (1977, 1991) Most wins by an owner: * 2 – Paraneck Stable (2006, 2007)

Winners

* † In 1991, Stately Wager finished first but was disqualified to second.

References

{{coord, 40.672306, -73.830829, region:US, format=dms, display=title Triple Crown Prep Races Horse races in New York (state) 1975 establishments in New York (state) Flat horse races for three-year-olds Ungraded stakes races in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 1975 Aqueduct Racetrack