The Stephen Foster Stakes is a

Grade I 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, H ...

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 horses aged three and older over a distance of miles on the dirt run annually in mid-June at

Churchill Downs Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States that hosts the annual Kentucky Derby. It opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first ...

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

. The race is named in honor of famed composer

Stephen Foster Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826January 13, 1864), known as "the father of American music", was an American composer known primarily for his parlour music, parlour and Folk music, folk music during the Romantic music, Romantic period. He wr ...

, who wrote numerous melodies including "

My Old Kentucky Home "My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!", typically shortened to "My Old Kentucky Home", is a sentimental ballad and regional anthem of Kentucky. It was written by Stephen Foster, probably composed in 1852. It was published in January 1853 by Firt ...

" which is the song that is annually played as the

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colt (horse), Colts and geldin ...

field parades on the track.

History

The Stephen Foster Handicap was inaugurated on 19 June 1982 as the Stephen Foster Handicap and has progressed from Grade III status in 1988 to Grade II in 1995 to Grade I in 2002. In 2019, it was downgraded to Grade II. In 2023 the event was upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee to Grade I. Currently offering a purse of $1,000,000, the race draws some of the top older horses from various parts of the United States. Since 2015 the event is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event, offering the winner an automatic berth in the

Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-olds and older run at a distance of on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Champion ...

. The race was restricted to horses four years of age an older in 1983 and from 1985 through 1987. The 2006 edition of the Stephen Foster Handicap produced its biggest upset ever when jockey Calvin Borel aboard 91-1 longshot Seek Gold defeated the favored 2003 winner,

Perfect Drift Perfect Drift (April 29, 1999 – January 4, 2024) was an American thoroughbred racehorse who won or placed in 21 stakes races in his career. He won the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap in 2003, as well as the Washington Park Handicap twice in 20 ...

. Four horses used victories in the Stephen Foster as part of their resumes in Horse of the Year campaigns. The four are Black Tie Affair (1991),

Saint Liam Saint Liam (April 13, 2000 – August 22, 2006) was an American thoroughbred racehorse who was voted 2005 Eclipse Award Horse of the Year honors after winning the Donn Handicap, Stephen Foster, Woodward Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic. He died ...

(2005),

Curlin Curlin (foaled March 25, 2004, in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who was the American Horse of the Year in both 2007 and 2008. He retired in 2008 as the highest North American money earner with over US$10.5 ...

(2008), and Gun Runner (2017). Five horses have won the Stephen Foster and the Breeders' Cup Classic in the same year. Black Tie Affair (1991),

Awesome Again Awesome Again (March 29, 1994December 15, 2020) was a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse and stallion. As a three-year-old, he won the Queen's Plate in Canada and the Jim Dandy Stakes in the United States. He was undefeated at age four ...

(1998) and Blame (2010) won both races at Churchill Downs. Saint Liam (2005) won his running of the Classic at Belmont Park. Gun Runner (2017) won the Classic at Del Mar. Curlin (2008) carried the highest impost of any Stephen Foster winner: 128 pounds. Colonial Colony (2004) carried the lightest winning Foster impost at 111 pounds. The race moved for one year in 2023 to Ellis Park on the Indiana-Kentucky border as a result of numerous spring meeting fatalities.

Records

Speed record * 1:47.28 - Victory Gallop (1999) Margins * 7 lengths - Gun Runner (2017) Most wins * 2 - Vodika Collins (1982, 1983) * 2 - Recoup the Cash (1994, 1995) 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 -

Robby Albarado Robby J. Albarado (born September 11, 1973) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding at the age of 10 and progressed to riding at bush tracks in his native Louisiana by the age of 12. After turning professional, he earned ...

(2007, 2008, 2009) * 3 -

Pat Day Patrick Alan "Pat" Day (born October 13, 1953, in Brush, Colorado) is a retired American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991 an ...

(1985, 1998, 2003) Most wins by a trainer * 2 - Forrest Kaelin (1982, 1983) * 2 - Jere Smith Jr. (1994, 1995) * 2 - Patrick B. Byrne (1997, 1998) * 2 -

Mark E. Casse Mark E. Casse (born February 14, 1961) is a Thoroughbred racehorse horse trainer, trainer whose most notable horses include 2015 American champion turf mare Tepin (horse), Tepin and Canadian Horse of the Year, Canadian Horses of the Year Sealy Hi ...

(2011, 2015) * 2 - Steven M. Asmussen (2011, 2015) * 2 -

Dallas Stewart Dallas Stewart (born September 15, 1959, in McComb, Mississippi) is a trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses from bases in Kentucky at Churchill Downs Turfway Park, and Keeneland Race Course. Stewart began his career training under D. Wayne Luka ...

(2009, 2019) * 2 - Albert Stall Jr. (2010, 2020) * 2 - William I. Mott (2011, 2015) Most wins by an owner * 2 - Milbert B. Collins (1982, 1983) * 2 - Richard E. Trebat (1994, 1995) * 2 -

Stronach Stables Stronach Stables is the North American racing arm of Thoroughbred horse racing owner and breeder, Frank Stronach, who also owns the horse breeding operation Adena Springs. Stronach is also the CEO of the Stronach Group which owns racetracks that i ...

(1998, 2000) * 2 - West Point Thoroughbreds (2007, 2009) * 2 -

Claiborne Farm Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred horse breeding operation near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910 by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Stud in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since. ...

(1992, 2010) * 2 - Godolphin (2002, 2021)

Winners

References

External links

Ten Things You Should Know about the Stephen Foster Handicap at Hello Race Fans!

Media guide information from Churchill Downs $750,000 Stephen Foster (Grade II)
{{Stephen Foster Grade 2 stakes races in the United States Graded stakes races in the United States Horse races established in 1982 Churchill Downs horse races Breeders' Cup Challenge series 1982 establishments in Kentucky

History

Records

Winners

See also

References

External links