The Sanford Stakes is an American

Thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

held annually during the third week of July at the

Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the country, but is actu ...

Saratoga Springs, New York Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over 2 ...

. A six

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 ...

sprint race, the Grade III event is open to two-year-old horses. Inaugurated in 1913 as the Sanford Memorial Stakes, it was modified to its present name in 1927. The race is named for Stephen Sanford and his son

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

Amsterdam, New York Amsterdam is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in Montgomery County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 18,219. The city is named after Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The City of Amste ...

businessmen from one of Saratoga's original horse racing families. Their horses first appeared in the Saratoga races in 1880. Stephen Sanford named all his best horses after members of the

Mohawk nation The Mohawk people ( moh, Kanienʼkehá꞉ka) are the most easterly section of the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois Confederacy. They are an Iroquoian-speaking Indigenous people of North America, with communities in southeastern Canada and norther ...

. The race was hosted by Belmont Park from 1943 through 1945. It was contested at five and a half furlongs from 1962 through 1968. Held for almost a hundred years, the only three years in which it did not take place was 1961, 2005, and 2020. Only four horses have ever won all three Saratoga Racecourse events for two-year-olds. Regret (1914),

Campfire A campfire is a fire at a campsite that provides light and warmth, and heat for cooking. It can also serve as a beacon, and an insect and predator deterrent. Established campgrounds often provide a stone or steel fire ring for safety. Campfires ...

(1916), Dehere (1993), and City Zip (2000) each swept the Sanford Stakes,

Saratoga Special Stakes The Saratoga Special Stakes is an American grade II thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid-August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is for two-year-olds willing to race six furlongs on the dirt. With its first r ...

, and Hopeful Stakes. It was in the seventh running of the Sanford in 1919 that

Man o' War Man o' War (March 29, 1917 – November 1, 1947) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is widely regarded as the greatest racehorse of all time. Several sports publications, including ''The Blood-Horse'', ''Sports Illustrated'', ESPN, and t ...

lost his only race to the

Harry Payne Whitney Harry Payne Whitney (April 29, 1872 – October 26, 1930) was an American businessman, thoroughbred horse breeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family. Early years Whitney was born in New York City on April 29, 1872, as the eldest son ...

colt, Upset. This race was downgraded to a Grade III for its 2014 running.

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 6 furlongs) * 1:09.32 – Afleet Alex (2004) Most wins by a jockey: * 7 –

John Velazquez John R. Velazquez (born November 24, 1971) is a Puerto Rican jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He began his career in Puerto Rico and moved to New York in 1990. In 2004 and 2005 he was the United States Champion Jockey by earnings and both ye ...

(1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2015) Most wins by a Trainer * 8 – Todd A. Pletcher (1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2021) Most wins by an owner: * 8 – Greentree Stable (1933, 1941, 1950, 1951, 1956, 1959, 1963, 1978)

Winners

* † In 1938, Ariel Toy finished first, but was disqualified. † In 1939 the niece of Edward R. Bradley raced Boy Angler under the '' nom de course'' "Mr. French."

References

{{reflist

External links

The 2009 Sanford Stakes at the NTRA
Horse races in New York (state) Saratoga Race Course Flat horse races for two-year-olds Graded stakes races in the United States Grade 3 stakes races in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 1913 Sanford family 1913 establishments in New York (state)