The Excelsior 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 first week of April at

Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and casino in the South Ozone Park, Queens, South Ozone Park and Jamaica, Queens, Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack within ...

Ozone Park, Queens Ozone Park is a neighborhood in the southwestern section of the New York City boroughs of New York City, borough of Queens, New York (state), New York, United States. It is next to the Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, South Ozone ...

, New York. A Listed event for three-year-olds and up, it is contested over a distance of one-and-one-eighth miles 9 furlong. "Excelsior" is

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

for "Upward, ever upward", and is the motto of the state of New York. In 1928, when Hall of Famer

Grey Lag Grey Lag (1918–1942) was a Thoroughbred race horse born in Kentucky and bred by John E. Madden. At his Hamburg Place near Lexington, Kentucky, Madden had a good stallion called Star Shoot which he bred to all of his mares. Out of a failed ...

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 Race Course from 1903 to 1910, and then again from 1915 to 1959. In 1913, it was run at

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United Stat ...

. It wasn't run at all in 1909, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1933, 1967, and 2020. Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances and as initially a handicap as the race was known as the ''Excelsior Handicap'': * miles: 1903–1960 * 1 mile: 1960 * 1 mile, 1 furlong: 1961–1978 * miles: 1994–2014, 2018-2019, 2021 * miles: 1979–1993, 2015–2017 The event was downgraded from Grade III to Listed in 2022.

Records

Speed record: (at distance of 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 trainer: * 3 – Todd A. Pletcher (2006, 2007, 2019) * 3 – William C. Winfrey (1953, 1954, 1956) Most wins by a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

: * 3 – Eric Guerin (1953, 1954, 1956) * 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1972, 1975, 1976) * 3 –

Bobby Ussery Robert Nelson Ussery (September 3, 1935 – November 16, 2023) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, hall of fame jockey. His first race as a professional jockey came at Fair Grounds Race Course in ...

(1958, 1962, 1966) * 3 – Chuck C. Lopez (1997, 2003, 2008) Most wins by an owner: * 3 – Rancocas Stable (1923, 1929, 1931) * 3 – Alfred G. Vanderbilt II (1953, 1954, 1956) * 3 – Sigmund & Viola Sommer (1972, 1977, 1980)

Winners

* † In 1905 Preen finished first but was disqualified.

References

{{reflist Open mile category horse races Horse races in New York City Horse races established in 1903 Aqueduct Racetrack Jamaica Race Course 1903 establishments in New York City