| Location | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, USA |
| Inaugurated | 1982 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Distance | 1-1/8 miles (9 furlongs) |
| Track | Dirt, left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
|
Weight |
Handicap |
| Purse | $500,000 added |
The Stephen Foster Handicap is an American thoroughbred horse race run in mid-June near the end of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet in Lousiville, Kentucky. The race is named in honor of famed composer Foster Stephen Foster, who wrote numerous melodies including "My Old Kentucky Home" which is the song that is played annually as the Kentucky Derby field parades onto the track.
The Stephen Foster Handicap was created in 1982, for three-year-olds and up and is run on dirt at a distance of 1-1/8 miles. It has progressed from Grade III status in 1988, to Grade II in 1995, and has now been a Grade I event since 2002. The race now serves as the only Grade I stakes held at Churchill Downs during the Spring Meet outside the Derby's week of the Kentucky Oaks, Woodford Reserve Classic, and the Kentucky Derby. The race had been restricted to horses four years of age and older in 1983 and 1985-1987. Currently offering a purse of $600,000 added, the race draws some of the top older horses from various parts of the United States.
The 2006 edition of the race produced its biggest upset ever when jockey Calvin Borel aboard 91-1 longshot Seek Gold defeated the 2003 winner, Perfect Drift.
Three horses used victories in the Stephen Foster Handicap as part of their resumes in Horse of the Year campaigns. The three are Black Tie Affair (1991), Saint Liam (2005), and Curlin (2008). Three horses have won the Stephen Foster and Breeders' Cup Classic in the same year. Black Tie Affair and Awesome Again (1998) won both races at Churchill Downs. Saint Liam won his running of the Classic at Belmont Park. Curlin carried the highest impost of any Stephen Foster winner: 128 lbs. Colonial Colony (2004) carried the lightest winning impost at 111 lbs.
Records[]
Speed record:
- 1:47.25 - Victory Gallop (1999)
Most wins:
- Vodika Collins (1982, 1983)
- Recoup the Cash (1994, 1995)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 - Robby Albarado (2007, 2008, 2009)
- 3 - Pat Day (1985, 998, 2003)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 2 - Forrest Kaelin (1982, 1983)
- 2 - Jere Smith, Jr. (1994, 1995)
- 2 - Patrick B. Byrne (1997, 1998)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 - M.B. Collins (1982, 1983)
- 2 - Richard E. Trebat (1994, 1995)
- 2 - Stronach Stables (1998, 2000)
- 2 - West Point Thoroughbreds (2007, 2009)
Winners[]
| Year |
Winner |
Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | Purse | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Fort Larned | 5 | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | Ian R. Wilkes | Janis R. Whitham | 1:47.45 | $500,000 | I |
| 2012 | Ron the Greek | 5 | Jose Lezcano | Bill Mott |
Brous Stable/Wachtel Stable/Hammer |
1:50.51 | $437,200 | I |
| 2011 | Pool Play | 6 | Miguel Mena | Mark E. Casse |
William S. Farish, Jr. |
1:50.52 | $561,300 | I |
| 2010 | Blame | 4 | Garrett Gomez | Albert M. Stall, Jr. | Claiborne Farm/Dilschneider | 1:49.37 | $671,700 | I |
| 2009 | Macho Again | 4 | Robby Albarado | Dallas Stewart | West Point Thoroughbreds | 1:49.75 | $660,000 | I |
| 2008 | Curlin | 4 | Robby Albarado | Steve Asmussen | Stonestreet Stables et al. | 1:49.68 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2007 | Flashy Bull | 4 | Robby Albarado | Kiaran McLaughlin | West Point Thoroughbreds | 1:48.63 | $829,500 | I |
| 2006 | Seek Gold | 6 | Calvin Borel | Ronald Moquett | Bowman Couch Racing, LLC | 1:49.24 | $844,500 | I |
| 2005 | Saint Liam | 5 | Edgar Prado | Robert J. Frankel | M/M William Warren, Jr. | 1:47.52 | $828,000 | I |
| 2004 | Colonial Colony | 6 | Rafael Bejarano | Walter Binder, Jr. | Lakeside Farms, LLC (Chris Nolan) | 1:50.40 | $893,725 | I |
| 2003 | Perfect Drift | 4 | Pat Day | Murray Johnson | Stonecrest Farm | 1:47.55 | $856,500 | I |
| 2002 | Street Cry | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 1:50.44 | $833,250 | I |
| 2001 | Guided Tour | 5 | Larry Melancon | Niall O'Callaghan | Morton Fink | 1:47.74 | $831,000 | II |
| 2000 | Golden Missile | 5 | Kent Desormeaux | Joe Orseno | Stronach Stables | 1:49.56 | $810,000 | II |
| 1999 | Victory Gallop | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Elliott Walden | Prestonwood Farm | 1:47.28 | $827,250 | II |
| 1998 | Awesome Again | 4 | Pat Day | Patrick B. Byrne | Stronach Stable | 1:48.61 | $799,500 | II |
| 1997 | City by Night | 4 | Shane Sellers | Patrick B. Byrne | Richard & Nancy Kaster | 1:50.52 | $163,950 | II |
| 1996 | Tenants Harbor | 4 | Francisco Torres | Robert Desensi | Michael Sheehan | 1:49.94 | $166,050 | II |
| 1995 | Recoup the Cash | 5 | Aaron Gryder | Jere Smith, Jr. | Richard E. Trebat | 1:49.39 | $168,149 | II |
| 1994 | Recoup the Cash | 4 | Jose Diaz | Jere Smith, Jr. | Richard E. Trebat | 1:49.46 | $163,500 | III |
| 1993 | Root Boy | 5 | Tommy Turner | Louis Bernier | Richard F. Blue, Jr. | 1:50.80 | $114,000 | III |
| 1992 | Discover | 4 | Brent Bartram | Stephen C. Penrod | Claiborne Farm | 1:50.14 | $115,900 | III |
| 1991 | Black Tie Affair | 5 | Jose Diaz | Ernie T. Paulos | Jeffrey Sullivan | 1:49.80 | $109,100 | III |
| 1990 | No Marker | 6 | Aaron Gryder | Patricia Johnson | Billy Ray Gowdy | 1:49.80 | $112,200 | III |
| 1989 | Air Worthy | 4 | Daniel Soto | William Huffman | John Carlesimo | 1:49.60 | $112,700 | III |
| 1988 | Honor Medal | 7 | Luis Ortega | Neil D. Drysdale | Lettuce Farm | 1:50.60 | $129,700 | III |
| 1987 | Red Attack | 5 | Jack Kaenel | D. Wayne Lukas | Pillar Stud, Inc | 1:51.20 | $103,775 | |
| 1986 | Hopeful Word | 5 | Keith Allen | Carl Bowman | Morris, Clifton, & Doll | 1:49.40 | $102,050 | |
| 1985 | Vanlandingham | 4 | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey | Loblolly Stable | 1:48.80 | $79,250 | |
| 1984 | Mythical Ruler | 6 | James McKnight | Fred Wirth | Albert Risen | 1:49.60 | $73,550 | |
| 1983 | Vodika Collins | 5 | Leroy Moyers | Forrest Kaelin | M. B. Collins | 1:49.20 | $54,750 | |
| 1982 | Vodika Collins | 4 | Tommy Barrow | Forrest Kaelin | M. B. Collins | 1:51.80 | $57,900 |