The Kentucky Turf Cup is a

Grade II In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

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 ...

for three-year-olds and older, over a distance of miles on the

turf Sod is the upper layer of turf that is harvested for transplanting. Turf consists of a variable thickness of a soil medium that supports a community of turfgrasses. In British and Australian English, sod is more commonly known as ''turf'', ...

, held annually in September at

Kentucky Downs Kentucky Downs is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, in the city of Franklin, Kentucky, just off Interstate 65. It is unique among American tracks in that it is a European-style course—it ...

racetrack in

Franklin, Kentucky Franklin is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Simpson County, Kentucky, United States. The county is located on the south central border of the state, and its population was 10,176 at the 2020 census. Kentucky Downs, formerl ...

, during their short turf meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $2,000,000, which includes $1,000,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

History

The event was inaugurated on 22 April 1990 as the Sam Houston Stakes on the first ever meeting at the new track, then the Duelling Grounds Racecourse. The race was in honor of

Sam Houston Samuel Houston (, ; March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was an American general and statesman who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas and was one of the first two indi ...

, who took part in a duel on the site of where the racetrack is located near the border of Kentucky and Tennessee. The following year, the event was renamed the Sam Houston Handicap, and conditions were changed to a handicap. In 1996 and 1997, the event was not held because the track was shut down and in bankruptcy proceedings. When the track reopened in 1998, the race was renamed the Kentucky Cup Turf Handicap as part of the Kentucky Cup Turf Festival. In 2001, the event was classified as a Grade III. In 2019, the purse was increased to $1,000,000. In 2021, the

Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) is an American trade organization for Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeders, which is based in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 1961, TOBA's stated mission is to "improve the economics, i ...

upgraded the event to a

. For the 2021 running, Kentucky Downs renamed the event The Calumet Turf Cup, which Calumet Farm sponsors. The event winner, Imperador, set a new track record for the distance of 2:25.70.

Records

;Speed record * miles: 2:24.93 – Grand Sonata (2024) (new track record) ;Margins * lengths – Silverfoot (2005) ;Most wins * 2 – Rochester (2002, 2003) * 2 – Da Big Hoss (2015, 2016) * 2 – Arklow (2018, 2020) ;Most wins by an owner * 2 –

Augustin Stable George W. Strawbridge Jr. (born October 10, 1937) is an American educator, historian, investor, sportsman and philanthropist. Biography Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Margaret ("Peggy") Dorrance and the stockbroker George ...

(2002, 2003) * 2 – Robert E. Courtney Jr. (2011, 2012) * 2 – Skychia Racing (2015, 2016) * 2 – Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger & Peter Coneway (2018, 2020) ;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 ...

* 4 –

Florent Geroux Florent Geroux (born July 16, 1986) is a French jockey who has earned over 1,700 wins in American thoroughbred horse racing, including the 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic on Gun Runner, two Breeders' Cup Distaff wins with Monomoy Girl, and the 20 ...

(2014, 2016, 2018, 2020) ;Most wins by a trainer * 5 –

Michael J. Maker Michael J. Maker (born February 7, 1969) is an American Horse trainer, trainer of Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorses. The son of a trainer, he learned the business from his father then set up his own public stable in 1991. In 1993 he went to wo ...

(2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022)

Winners

''Notes:''
† In the 2003 running, Art Variety was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the straight and placed third. Rochester was declared the winner.

References

{{reflist, 2 Kentucky Downs Graded stakes races in the United States Grade 2 stakes races in the United States Horse races in Kentucky Turf races in the United States Open middle distance horse races Recurring events established in 1990 Horse racing in Kentucky

History

Records

Winners

See also

References