The Withers Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old horses over the distance of 1+18 miles on the dirt scheduled annually in February at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.[1]

Withers Stakes
Grade III race
LocationAqueduct Racetrack
Queens, New York, United States
Inaugurated1874 (at Jerome Park Racetrack)
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
WebsiteNYRA
Race information
Distance1+18 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
Weight123 lbs with allowances
Purse$250,000 (since 2014)

History

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The Withers was named for David Dunham Withers (1821–1892), an important owner/breeder who won this race in 1890 with his colt, King Eric.

The inaugural run of the Withers Stakes occurred in 1874 at Jerome Park Racetrack. It was raced there through 1889 after which it was hosted by the Morris Park Racecourse from 1890 through 1904, then Jamaica Race Course in 1956, and at Belmont Park from 1957 through 1959 and 1984 through 1996. The Withers was not run in 1911 and 1912 due to a New York State legislated ban on all forms of wagering on horses. It was also not run in 2011, but returned to the New York racing calendar on February 4, 2012.

The Withers was historically run at a distance of one mile but was lengthened to 1+116 miles in 2012. In 1956, it was also contested at a mile and a sixteenth. The "Withers Mile", as it was known to racetrackers, was once one of America's great races, on par with events like England's St James's Palace Stakes and France's Prix Jacques Le Marois. Winners included outstanding sires like Dr. Fager, Jaipur, Hagley, Bold Reasoning, Hill Prince, Polynesian, Menow, and Blue Larkspur. In 1919, Sir Barton won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, then won the Withers before winning the Belmont Stakes to complete the Triple Crown. Count Fleet repeated this feat in 1943. Other famous winners of the race include Man o' War and Native Dancer.

The Withers is a prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

In 2018 the distance of the event was increased to 1+18 miles.[2]

Records

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Speed record:

  • 1+18 miles – 1:50.27 Tax (2019)
  • 1+116 miles – 1:43.93 Far From Over (2015)
  • 1 mile – 1:32.40 Williamstown (1993)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

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Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Win$ Gr.
2024 Uncle Heavy Mychel Sanchez Robert Reid Jr. Michael Milam 118 M 1:53.79 $137,500 G3
2023 Hit Show Manuel Franco Brad H. Cox Gary West & Mary West 118 M 1:54.71 $137,500 G3
2022 Early Voting José Ortiz Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables 118 M 1:55.90 $137,500 G3
2021 Risk Taking Eric Cancel Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables 118 M 1:51.91 $137,500 G3
2020 Max Player Dylan Davis Linda L. Rice George Hall 118 M 1:53.87 $137,500 G3
2019 Tax Junior Alvarado Danny Gargan R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Racing, Hugh Lynch & Corms Racing 118 M 1:50.27 $137,500 G3
2018 Avery Island Joe Bravo Kiaran McLaughlin Godolphin Racing 118 M 1:51.01 $150,000 G3
2017 El Areeb Trevor McCarthy Cathal Lynch M M C Stables LLC 1116 M 1:44.47 $150,000 G3
2016 Sunny Ridge Manuel Franco Jason Servis Dennis Drazin 1116 M 1:46.99 $150,000 G3
2015 Far From Over Manuel Franco Todd A. Pletcher Black Rock Thoroughbreds 1116 M 1:43.93 $150,000 G3
2014 Samraat José Ortiz Richard A. Violette Jr. My Meadowview Farm 1116 M 1:46.31 $150,000 G3
2013 Revolutionary Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher WinStar Farm 1116 M 1:44.32 $120,000 G3
2012 Alpha Ramon A. Dominguez Kiaran McLaughlin Godolphin Racing 1116 M 1:44.23 $120,000 G3
2011 Race not held
2010 Afleet Again Abel Mariano Robert Reid Jr. Chuck Zacney 1 M 1:34.05 $90,000 G3
2009 Mr. Fantasy Richard Migliore Kiaran McLaughlin West Point Thoroughbreds 1 M 1:34.91 $90,000 G3
2008 Harlem Rocker Eibar Coa Todd A. Pletcher Adena Racing Venture II 1 M 1:34.50 $90,000 G3
2007 Divine Park Alan Garcia Kiaran McLaughlin James J. Barry 1 M 1:34.65 $90,000 G3
2006 Bernardini Javier Castellano Tom Albertrani Darley Stable 1 M 1:35.07 $90,000 G3
2005 Scrappy T Norberto Arroyo Jr. W. Robert Bailes Marshall E. Dowell 1 M 1:35.60 $90,000 G3
2004 Medallist Jorge Chavez H. Allen Jerkens Robert N. Clay 1 M 1:34.40 $90,000 G3
2003 Spite the Devil Luis Chavez H. Allen Jerkens Hardwicke Stable 1 M 1:35.80 $90,000 G3
2002 Fast Decision José A. Santos Christophe Clement Peter Karches 1 M 1:36.40 $90,000 G3
2001 Richly Blended Rick Wilson Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. Raymond Dweck 1 M 1:35.60 $90,000 G3
2000 Big E E Heberto Castillo Jr. James A. Jerkens Hollow Farms 1 M 1:35.60 $90,000 G3
1999 Successful Appeal Jose Espinoza John C. Kimmel Starview Stable (Joseph & Pam Petruska) 1 M 1:35.00 $90,000 G2
1998 Dice Dancer Jorge Chavez H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 1 M 1:34.40 $90,000 G2
1997 Statesmanship Herb McCauley Christophe Clement Peter F. Karches 1 M 1:35.20 $67,140 G2
1996 Appealing Skier Rick Wilson Ben W. Perkins Sr. New Farm 1 M 1:35.00 $66,120 G2
1995 Blu Tusmani José A. Santos Christophe Clement Sidney L. Port 1 M 1:35.00 $67,260 G2
1994 Twining José A. Santos Scotty Schulhofer Sheikh Mohammed 1 M 1:34.60 $67,140 G2
1993 Williamstown Craig Perret Peter M. Vestal Peter S. Willmott 1 M 1:32.40 $76,800 G2
1992 Dixie Brass Julio Pezua Dennis J. Brida Michael Watral 1 M 1:33.60 $73,080 G2
1991 Subordinated Debt Julie Krone David Monaci Leslie R. Grimm 1 M 1:34.00 $73,920 G2
1990 Housebuster Craig Perret Warren A. Croll Jr. Robert P. Levy 1 M 1:34.80 $71,040 G2
1989 Fire Maker Jerry Bailey William Badgett Jr. Arthur I. Appleton 1 M 1:36.40 $73,800 G2
1988 Once Wild Pat Day John J. Lenzini Jr. Gary Marano 1 M 1:35.20 $69,360 G2
1987 Gone West Eddie Maple Woody Stephens Hickory Tree Stable 1 M 1:36.40 $82,620 G2
1986 Clear Choice Jorge Velásquez D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 1 M 1:35.60 $58,050 G2
1985 El Basco Jacinto Vásquez Woodrow Sedlacek Jacques Wimpfheimer 1 M 1:36.60 $72,990 G2
1984 Play On Jean-Luc Samyn William H. Turner Jr. Welcome Farm 1 M 1:36.40 $69,750 G2
1983 Country Pine Jerry D. Bailey Lou Rondinello Daniel M. Galbreath 1 M 1:35.60 $52,380 G2
1982 Aloma's Ruler Jack Kaenel John J. Lenzini Jr. Nathan Scherr 1 M 1:35.40 $33,300 G2
1981 Spirited Boy Ángel Cordero Jr. Joseph Nash Harry Speier 1 M 1:36.80 $33,600 G2
1980 Colonel Moran Jorge Velásquez Thomas J. Kelly Townsend B. Martin 1 M 1:34.40 $34,200 G2
1979 Czaravich Jean Cruguet William H. Turner Jr. William L. Reynolds 1 M 1:35.60 $33,330 G2
1978 Junction Mickey Solomone Patrick J. Kelly Live Oak Racing (Charlotte Weber) 1 M 1:36.80 $32,520 G2
1977 Iron Constitution Jorge Velásquez Thomas F. Root Jr. Harry T. Mangurian Jr. 1 M 1:37.00 $33,360 G2
1976 Sonkisser Braulio Baeza Stephen A. DiMauro Harold Snyder 1 M 1:35.00 $32,760 G2
1975 Sarsar Bill Shoemaker David A. Whiteley William Haggin Perry 1 M 1:34.60 $36,360 G2
1974 Accipiter Angel Santiago Pancho Martin Sigmund Sommer 1 M 1:36.40 $36,240 G2
1973 Linda's Chief Braulio Baeza Al Scotti Aaron U. Jones 1 M 1:34.60 $33,120 G2
1972 Key to the Mint Braulio Baeza J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stables 1 M 1:34.80 $35,400
1971 Bold Reasoning Jacinto Vásquez Nick Gonzales Kosgrove Stable 1 M 1:35.80 $35,100
1970 Hagley Ron Turcotte Woods Garth Hickory Tree Stable 1 M 1:34.80 $38,805
1969 Ack Ack Manuel Ycaza Woody Stephens Cain Hoy Stable 1 M 1:34.80 $37,765
1968 Call Me Prince William Boland Max Hirsch Adele L. Rand 1 M 1:35.20 $38,220
1967 Dr. Fager Braulio Baeza John A. Nerud Tartan Stable 1 M 1:33.80 $37,895
1966 Indulto John L. Rotz Max Hirsch Jane Greer 1 M 1:35.00 $38,935
1965 Flag Raiser Bobby Ussery Hirsch Jacobs Isidor Bieber 1 M 1:34.20 $39,000
1964 Mr. Brick Bobby Ussery James E. Picou Roy Sturgis 1 M 1:35.60 $40,105
1963 Get Around Braulio Baeza George T. Poole Maine Chance Farm 1 M 1:36.60 $39,650
1962 Jaipur Bill Shoemaker Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 1 M 1:35.60 $38,090
1961 Hitting Away Hedley Woodhouse James Fitzsimmons Ogden Phipps 1 M 1:35.20 $38,935
1960 John William Hedley Woodhouse Bernie Fields Merrick Stable 1 M 1:35.40 $74,950
1959 Intentionally Manuel Ycaza Edward Kelly Sr. Brookfield Farm 1 M 1:35.60 $58,072
1958 Sir Robby Eric Guerin Sidney J. Smith John S. Kroese 1 M 1:36.20 $19,362
1957 Clem Conn McCreary William W. Stephens Adele L. Rand 1 M 1:36.80 $19,100
1956 Oh Johnny Hedley Woodhouse Norman McLeod Mrs. Wallace Gilroy 1116 M 1:45.20 $20,100
1955 Traffic Judge Eddie Arcaro Woody Stephens Clifford Mooers 1 M 1:36.00 $21,850
1954 Jet Action José Contreras Edward A. Neloy Maine Chance Farm 1 M 1:36.00 $26,250
1953 Native Dancer Eric Guerin William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1 M 1:36.20 $23,050
1952 Armageddon Raymond York Moody Jolley Cain Hoy Stable 1 M 1:37.00 $22,000
1951 Battlefield Eddie Arcaro Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 1 M 1:35.80 $20,600
1950 Hill Prince Eddie Arcaro Casey Hayes Christopher Chenery 1 M 1:35.80 $20,700
1949 Olympia Eddie Arcaro Ivan H. Parke Fred W. Hooper 1 M 1:36.80 $21,150
1948 Vulcan's Forge Douglas Dodson Sylvester Veitch C. V. Whitney 1 M 1:37.40 $20,100
1947 Faultless Douglas Dodson Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 1 M 1:38.20 $20,950
1946 Hampden Eddie Arcaro Richard E. Handlen Foxcatcher Farm 1 M 1:36.00 $20,320
1945 Polynesian Wayne D. Wright Morris H. Dixon Gertrude T. Widener 1 M 1:39.80 $19,125
1944 Who Goes There Johnny Longden Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 1 M 1:38.00 $16,150
1943 Count Fleet Johnny Longden Don Cameron Fannie Hertz 1 M 1:36.00 $12,700
1942 Alsab Basil James Sarge Swenke Albert Sabath 1 M 1:36.20 $15,500
1941 King Cole John Gilbert James Fitzsimmons Ogden Phipps 1 M 1:38.20 $20,300
1940 Corydon Eddie Arcaro John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1 M 1:37.20 $16,650
1939 Johnstown James Stout James Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 1 M 1:35.80 $15,750
1938 Menow Charles Kurtsinger Duval A. Headley Hal Price Headley 1 M 1:37.40 $15,000
1937 Flying Scot John Gilbert James W. Healy John Hay Whitney 1 M 1:37.40 $15,050
1936 White Cockade Eddie Litzenberger James Fitzsimmons Ogden Phipps 1 M 1:37.20 $18,200
1935 Rosemont Wayne D. Wright Richard E. Handlen Foxcatcher Farms 1 M 1:36.60 $11,250
1934 Singing Wood Robert Jones James W. Healy Liz Whitney 1 M 1:37.80 $16,000
1933 The Darb Alfred Robertson Thomas J. Healey Cornelius V. Whitney 1 M 1:39.00 $20,550
1932 Boatswain Alfred Robertson Preston M. Burch Walter M. Jeffords 1 M 1:39.80 $21,600
1931 Jamestown Linus McAtee A. Jack Joyner George D. Widener Jr. 1 M 1:36.60 $27,300
1930 Whichone Raymond Workman Thomas J. Healey Harry Payne Whitney 1 M 1:38.20 $26,150
1929 Blue Larkspur Mack Garner Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley 1 M 1:36.00 $28,250
1928 Victorian Raymond Workman James G. Rowe Jr. Harry Payne Whitney 1 M 1:39.00 $22,300
1927 Chance Shot Earl Sande Pete Coyne Joseph E. Widener 1 M 1:39.80 $23,250
1926 Haste Earl Sande G. Hamilton Keene Joseph E. Widener 1 M 1:37.60 $22,800
1925 American Flag Albert Johnson Gwyn R. Tompkins Glen Riddle Farm 1 M 1:38.20 $19,600
1924 Bracadale Earl Sande Sam Hildreth Rancocas Stable 1 M 1:39.00 $19,000
1923 Zev Earl Sande David J. Leary Rancocas Stable 1 M 1:37.40 $18,300
1922 Snob II Clarence Kummer William Garth Joshua S. Cosden 1 M 1:35.80 $17,050
1921 Leonardo II Andy Schuttinger Kimball Patterson Xalapa Farm 1 M 1:37.40 $5,475
1920 Man o' War Clarence Kummer Louis Feustel Glen Riddle Farm 1 M 1:35.80 $4,825
1919 Sir Barton Johnny Loftus H. Guy Bedwell J. K. L. Ross 1 M 1:38.80 $8,075
1918 Motor Cop Edward Taplin Walter B. Jennings A. Kingsley Macomber 1 M 1:39.60 $7,100
1917 Hourless Jimmy Butwell Sam Hildreth August Belmont Jr. 1 M 1:39.00 $5,475
1916 Spur Johnny Loftus James H. McCormick James Butler 1 M 1:38.40 $2,900
1915 The Finn George Byrne Edward W. Heffner Harry C. Hallenbeck 1 M 1:39.40 $1,425
1914 Charlestonian Charles Burlingame George W. Langdon John W. Messervy 1 M 1:39.80 $2,900
1913 Rock View James H. Butwell Sam Hildreth August Belmont Jr. 1 M 1:39.40 $2,325
1912 No races held due to the Hart–Agnew Law
1911
1910 The Turk Matt McGee Richard O. Miller William S. Fanshawe 1 M 1:40.00 $3,000
1909 Hilarious James H. Butwell James G. Rowe Sr. James R. Keene 1 M 1:41.20 $11,000
1908 Colin Joe Notter James G. Rowe Sr. James R. Keene 1 M 1:41.00 $12,090
1907 Frank Gill Joe Notter John I. Smith Jack L. McGinnis 1 M 1:40.00 $7,775
1906 Accountant Jack Martin Robert Tucker W. Harry Brown 1 M 1:38.80 $6,850
1905 Blandy Willie Davis A. Jack Joyner August Belmont Jr. 1 M 1:44.60 $6,220
1904 Delhi George Odom James G. Rowe Sr. James R. Keene 1 M 1:40.00 $5,750
1903 Shorthose William Haack W. Fred Presgrave Goughacres Stable 1 M 1:41.00 $6,395
1902 Compute Willie Shaw R. W. Walden Alfred Hennen Morris & Dave Hennen Morris 1 M 1:42.00 $4,815
1901 The Parader Frank Landry Thomas J. Healey Richard T. Wilson Jr. 1 M 1:42.50 $5,020
1900 Kilmarnock Nash Turner John W. Rogers William C. Whitney 1 M 1:41.25 $5,470
1899 Jean Bereaud Richard Clawson Sam Hildreth Sydney Paget 1 M 1:42.25 $4,450
1898 The Huguenot Henry Spencer Lewis S. Thompson William P. & Lewis S. Thompson 1 M 1:43.00 $3,815
1897 Octagon Willie Simms John J. Hyland August Belmont Jr. 1 M 1:43.00 $2,550
1896 Handspring Willie Simms Frank McCabe Philip J. Dwyer 1 M 1:41.00 $2,550
1895 Lucania Lester Reiff John W. Rogers John W. Rogers 1 M 1:41.75 $2,700
1894 Domino Fred Taral William Lakeland James R. & Foxhall P. Keene 1 M 1:40.00 $7,100
1893 Dr. Rice Fred Taral Fred Foster Fred Foster 1 M 1:42.00 $9,470
1892 Tammany Edward Garrison Matthew Byrnes Marcus Daly 1 M 1:40.00 $7,460
1891 Picknicker Fred Littlefield Louis Stuart Louis Stuart & Co. 1 M 1:40.75 $4,190
1890 King Eric Edward Garrison Barney Riley David D. Withers 1 M 1:41.00 $8,140
1889 Diabolo P. Godfrey James Dumas Castle Stable 1 M 1:45.00 $5,380
1888 Sir Dixon W. Fitzgerald Frank McCabe Dwyer Brothers Stable 1 M 1:47.75 $3,620
1887 Hanover Jim McLaughlin Frank McCabe Dwyer Brothers Stable 1 M 1:46.50 $3,490
1886 Biggonet Robert M. Maynard William P. Burch William P. Burch 1 M 1:48.00 $3,260
1885 Tyrant Patsy Duffy William R. Claypool James Ben Ali Haggin 1 M 1:45.25 $3,070
1884 Panique William J. Fitzpatrick James G. Rowe Sr. Dwyer Brothers Stable 1 M 1:45.25 $3,240
1883 George Kinney Jim McLaughlin James G. Rowe Sr. Dwyer Brothers Stable 1 M 1:45.00 $2,990
1882 Forester Jim McLaughlin Lewis Stewart Appleby & Johnson 1 M 1:46.50 $4,600
1881 Crickmore Lloyd Hughes Bill Bird Ogden Bowie 1 M 1:48.00 $4,275
1880 Ferncliffe William Barrett William R. Babcock William R. Babcock & Co. 1 M 1:49.00 $3,800
1879 Dan Sparling Mr. Kelly Thomas Puryear James R. Keene 1 M 1:48.00 $5,395
1878 Duke of Magenta Lloyd Hughes R. Wyndham Walden George L. Lorillard 1 M 1:48.00 $3,500
1877 Bombast William Barrett William Prior Pierre Lorillard IV 1 M 1:46.00 $4,200
1876 Fiddlesticks Edward Feakes Jacob Pincus August Belmont 1 M 1:46.50 $3,500
1875 Aristides Robert Swim Ansel Williamson H. Price McGrath 1 M 1:45.75 $4,150
1874 Dublin R. Ponton not yet found Joseph Donohue 1 M 1:50.00 $3,200
* † In 1969, Gleaming Light finished first, but was disqualified and set back to fifth.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Withers Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  2. ^ "WITHERS STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
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  NODES
Note 1