The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred Horse Race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers. The race was not run in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1911, and 1912.
The field for the Travers is limited to three-year-olds, colts and geldings carrying 126 pounds (57 kg) and fillies 123 pounds (56 kg), and since 1999 the purse has been $1,000,000. The race has been the highlight of the summer race meeting at Saratoga, just as the Belmont Stakes is the highlight of the spring meeting at Belmont Park.
Location |
Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, NY, USA |
Inaugurated | 1864 |
Race type | Thoroughbred |
Distance | 1-1/4 miles (10 furlongs) |
Track | Dirt, left-handed |
Qualification | 3-year-old American-bred |
Weight |
Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57 kg) Filly: 123 lbs (56 kg) |
Purse | $1 million |
The Travers has been run at four different distances:
- 1-3/4 miles (2.8 km): 1864 - 1889
- 1-1/2 miles (2.4 km): 1890 - 1892
- 1-1/4 miles (2.0 km): 1893, 1894, 1897, and 1904 to present
- 1-1/8 miles (1.8 km): 1895, 1901 - 1903
Notable moments[]
In 1941, Whirlaway became the only horse ever to win the "superfecta" of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and the Travers.
In 1962, arguably the greatest Travers in history took place. Jaipur won by a nose-bob in track record time over the arguably more talented Ridan after a long, head-to-head battle over the entire mile and a quarter. Still written and talked about today, the race is listed in the 2006 book of Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments written by the staff of the Blood-Horse Publications. The race result determined which colt would be named the 1962 U.S. Champion 3-Year-Old Horse.
In 1982, Runaway Groom, the Champion Canadian Three-Year-Old, trained by John DiMario, arrived at the Saratoga backstretch after a grueling season competing in the Canadian Triple Crown, winning the Prince of Wales Stakes, the Breeders' Stakes, and finishing second in the Queen's Plate. At the Travers that year, Runaway Groom became the only horse in racing history to beat the Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol, the Preakness Stakes winner Aloma's Ruler, and the Belmont Stakes winner Conquistador Cielo in the same race.
The 1997 Travers was another of the memorable races in its history, as it saw U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockeys Jerry Bailey and Chris McCarron (aboard Behrens and Deputy Commander respectively) in a home-stretch duel in which Deputy Commander prevailed. Adding to the drama was a thunderstorm which produced hail 24 hours before the race, and the uncertainty around whether or not McCarron would be present after the recent death of his mother.
On the day that Point Given won the Travers Stakes (August 25, 2001), it was a record Travers Stakes day attendance of 60,486. The race, dubbed "Midsummer Derby", achieved a total betting handle of $34,529,273. This was also a Saratoga record.
On August 25, 2012, two horses, Alpha and Golden Ticket, tied for first place making the race a dead heat. Following the race, two jockey statues were painted and two canoes were put in the pond.
Records[]
Speed record: (at current distance of 1-1/4 miles)
- 2:00.00 General Assembly (1979)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 - Jim McLaughlin (1881, 1883, 1886, 1888)
- 4 - Eddie Arcaro (1938, 1942, 1944, 1951)
- 4 - Braulio Beaeza (1966, 1969, 1972, 1975)
- 4 - Pat Day (1983, 1987, 1989, 2003)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 5 - Bert Mulholland (1939, 1950, 1951, 1962, 1963)
Most wins by an owner:
- 5 - Dwyer Brothers Stable (1881, 1883, 1886, 1888, 1890)
- 5 - George D. Widener, Jr. (1939, 1950, 1951, 1962, 1963)
- 5 - Rokeby Stable (1964, 1969, 1972, 1987, 1993)
Winners[]
Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance (miles) | Time | Grade |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Will Take Charge | Luis Saez | D. Wayne Lukas | Willis D. Horton | 1-1/4 | 2:02.68 | I |
2012 |
Alpha
Golden Ticket |
Ramon Dominguez
David Chen |
Kiaran McLaughlin
Ken McPeek |
Godolphin Stables, LLC
Magic City Thoroughbreds, LLC |
1-1/4 | 2:02.74 | I |
2011 | Stay Thirsty | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | Repole Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:03.03 | I |
2010 | Afleet Express | Javier Castellano | James A. Jerkens | Gainesway Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:03.28 | I |
2009 | Summer Bird | Kent Desormeaux | Tim Ice | Kalarikkal & Vilasini Jayaraman | 1-1/4 | 2:02.83 | I |
2008 | Colonel John | Garrett K. Gomez | Eoin G. Harty | WinStar Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:03.20 | I |
2007 | Street Sense | Calvin Borel | Carl Nafzger | James B. Tafel | 1-1/4 | 2:02.69 | I |
2006 | Bernardini | Javier Castellano | Thomas Albertrani | Darley Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:01.60 | I |
2005 | Flower Alley | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Melynk Racing Stables | 1-1/4 | 2:02.76 | I |
2004 | Birdstone | Edgar Prado | Nick Zito | Marylou Whitney Stables | 1-1/4 | 2:02.45 | I |
2003 | Ten Most Wanted | Pat Day | Wallace Dollase | J. Paul Reddam | 1-1/4 | 2:02.14 | I |
2002 | Medaglia d'Oro | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 1-1/4 | 2:02.53 | I |
2001 | Point Given | Gary Stevens | Bob Baffert | The Thoroughbred Corp. | 1-1/4 | 2:01.40 | I |
2000 | Unshaded | Shane Sellers | Carl Nafzger | James B. Tafel | 1-1/4 | 2:02.59 | I |
1999 | Lemon Drop Kid | Jose Santos | Flint S. Schulhofer | Jeanne G. Vance | 1-1/4 | 2:02.00 | I |
1998 | Coronado's Quest | Mike E. Smith | C. R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III | 1-1/4 | 2:03.40 | I |
1997 | Deputy Commander | Chris McCarron | Wallace Dollase | Horizon Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:04.00 | I |
1996 | Will's Way | Jorge F. Chavez | H. James Bond | William Clifton, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:02.40 | I |
1995 | Thunder Gulch | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 1-1/4 | 2:03.40 | I |
1994 | Holy Bull | Mike E. Smith | Warren A. Croll, Jr. | Warren A. Croll, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:02.00 | I |
1993 | Sea Hero | Jerry Bailey | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:01.80 | I |
1992 | Thunder Rumble | Herb McCauley | Richard O'Connell | Braeburn Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:00.99 | I |
1991 | Corporate Report | Chris McCarron | D. Wayne Lukas | William T. Young | 1-1/4 | 2:01.20 | I |
1990 | Rhythm | Craig Perret | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1-1/4 | 2:02.60 | I |
1989 | Easy Goer | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1-1/4 | 2:00.80 | I |
1988 | Forty Niner | Chris McCarron | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:01.40 | I |
1987 | Java Gold | Pat Day | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:02.00 | I |
1986 | Wise Times | Jerry Bailey | Phil Gleaves | Russel L. Reineman Stables | 1-1/4 | 2:03.40 | I |
1985 | Chief's Crown | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Roger Laurin | Star Crown Stables | 1-1/4 | 2:01.20 | I |
1984 | Carr de Naskra | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Richard J. Lundy | Virginia Kraft Payson | 1-1/4 | 2:02.60 | I |
1983 | Play Fellow | Pat Day | Harvey L. Vanier | Carl Lauer | 1-1/4 | 2:01.00 | I |
1982 | Runaway Groom | Jeffrey Fell | John DiMario | Albert J. Coppola | 1-1/4 | 2:02.60 | I |
1981 | Willow Hour | Eddie Maple | James E. Picou | Marcia W. Schott | 1-1/4 | 2:03.60 | I |
1980 | Temperence Hill | Eddie Maple | Joseph B. Cantey | Loblolly Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:02.80 | I |
1979 | General Assembly | Jacinto Vasquez | Leroy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone | 1-1/4 | 2:00.00 | I |
1978 | Alydar | Jorge Velasquez | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:02.00 | I |
1977 | Jatski | Sam Maple | William Cole | William Murray | 1-1/4 | 2:01.60 | I |
1976 | Honest Pleasure | Craig Perret | Leroy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone | 1-1/4 | 2:00.20 | I |
1975 | Wajima | Braulio Baeza | Stephen A. DiMauro | East-West Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:02.00 | I |
1974 | Holding Pattern | Michael Miceli | James J. Sarner, Jr. | John Gerbas, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:01.00 | I |
1973 | Annihilate 'Em | Ron Turcotte | Douglas Davis, Jr. | Patricia B. Blass | 1-1/4 | 2:02.40 | I |
1972 | Key To The Mint | Braulio Baeza | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:01.20 | |
1971 | Bold Reason | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Angel Penna, Sr. | William A. Levin | 1-1/4 | 2:02.40 | |
1970 | Loud | Jacinto Vasquez | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 1-1/4 | 2:01.00 | |
1969 | Arts and Letters | Braulio Baeza | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:01.60 | |
1968 | Chompion | Jean Cruguet | Ivor G. Balding | C. V. Whitney | 1-1/4 | 2:04.80 | |
1967 | Damascus | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr. | Edith W. Bancroft | 1-1/4 | 2:01.60 | |
1966 | Buckpasser | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Noley | Ogden Phipps | 1-1/4 | 2:01.60 | |
1965 | Hail To All | Johnny Sellers | Eddie Yowell | Zelda Cohen | 1-1/4 | 2:02.20 | |
1964 | Quadrangle | Manuel Ycaza | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:04.40 | |
1963 | Crewman | Eric Guerin | Bert Mulholland | George G. Widener, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:20.40 | |
1962 | Jaipur | Bill Shoemaker | Bert Mulholland | George G. Widener, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:01.60 | |
1961 | Beau Prince | Steve Brooks | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:03.00 | |
1960 | Tompion | Bill Hartack | John J. Greely, Jr. | C. V. Whitney | 1-1/4 | 2:03.40 | |
1959 | Sword Dancer | Manuel Ycaza | J. Elliott Burch | Brookemeade Stables | 1-1/4 | 2:04.20 | |
1958 | Piano Jim | Bobby Ussery | Oscar White | Sarah F. Jeffords | 1-1/4 | 2:05.80 | |
1957 | Gallant Man | Bill Shoemaker | John A. Nerud | Ralph Lowe | 1-1/4 | 2:04.00 | |
1956 | Oh Johnny | Hedley Woodhouse | Normon R. McLeod | Mrs. Wallace Gilroy | 1-1/4 | 2:06.20 | |
1955 | Thinking Cap | Paul J. Bailey | Henry S. Clark | Christiana Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:06.40 | |
1954 | Fisherman | Hedley Woodhouse | Slyvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 1-1/4 | 2:06.00 | |
1953 | Native Dancer | Eric Guerin | William C. Whinfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1-1/4 | 2:05.60 | |
1952 | One Count | Eric Guerin | Oscar White | Sarah F. Jeffords | 1-1/4 | 2:07.40 | |
1951 | Battlefield | Eddie Arcaro | Bert Mulholland | George G. Widener, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:06.20 | |
1950 | Lights Up | George Hettinger | Bert Mulholland | George G. Widener, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:03.00 | |
1949 | Arise | Con Errico | James C. Bentley | Addison Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:06.20 | |
1948 | Ace Admiral | Ted Atkinson | James W. Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:05.00 | |
1947 | Young Peter | Thomas May | George M. Odom | Cornelia Gerry | 1-1/4 | 2:06.20 | |
1946 | Natchez | Ted Atkinson | Oscar White | Sarah F. Jeffords | 1-1/4 | 2:08.00 | |
1945 | Adonis | Conn McCreary | Willie Booth | William G. Helis | 1-1/4 | 2:02.80 | |
1944 | By Jimminy | James W. Smith | Alfred P. Parker | 1-1/4 | 2:03.40 | ||
1943 | Eurasian | Steve Brooks | Sol Rutchik | Mill River Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:03.80 | |
1942 | Shut Out | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:04.40 | ||
1941 | Whirlaway | Alfred Robertson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:05.80 | |
1940 | Fenelon | James Stout | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1-1/4 | 2:04.40 | |
1939 | Eight Thirty | Harry Richards | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:06.60 | |
1938 | Thanksgiving | Eddie Arcaro | Max Hirsch | Mrs. Parker Corning | 1-1/4 | 2:03.60 | |
1937 | Burning Star | Wayne D. Wright | John J. Greely | Shandon Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:04.80 | |
1936 | Granville | James Stout | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1-1/4 | 2:05.80 | |
1935 | Gold Foam | Silvio Coucci | J. M. Milburn | Starmount Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:04.60 | |
1934 | Observant | Lee Humphries | Max Hirsch | Morton L. Schwartz | 1-1/4 | 2:05.60 | |
1933 | Inlander | Robert Jones | Robert A. Smith | Brookemeade Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:08.00 | |
1932 | War Hero | John Gilbert | George Conway | Glen Riddle Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:05.80 | |
1931 | Twenty Grand | Linus McAtee | James G. Rowe, Jr. | Greentree Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:04.60 | |
1930 | Jim Dandy | Frank Baker | James B. McKee | Chaffee Earl | 1-1/4 | 2:08.00 | |
1929 | Beacon Hill | Alfred Robertson | James G. Rowe, Jr. | Harry P. Whitney | 1-1/4 | 2:04.20 | |
1928 | Petee-Wrack | Steve O'Donnell | Willie Booth | John R. Macomber | 1-1/4 | 2:08.00 | |
1927 | Brown Bud | Laverne Fator | A. Gunter | Frederick Johnson | 1-1/4 | 2:05.60 | |
1926 | Mars | Frank Coltiletti | Scott P. Harlan | Sarah F. Jeffords | 1-1/4 | 2:04.60 | |
1925 | Dangerous | Clarence Kummer | William B. Duke | Gifford A. Cochran | 1-1/4 | 2:10.80 | |
1924 | Sun Flag | Frank Keogh | Carroll H. Shilling | Gifford A. Chochran | 1-1/4 | 2:04.40 | |
1923 | Wilderness | Benny Marinelli | Thomas J Healey | Richard T. Wilson, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:04.00 | |
1922 | Little Chief | Laverne Fator | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:13.40 | |
1921 | Sporting Blood | Lucien Lyke | Willie Booth | Redstone Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:05.80 | |
1920 | Man o'War | Andy Schuttinger | Louis Feustel | Glen Riddle Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:01.80 | |
1919 | Hannibal | Lavelle Ensor | Thomas J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:02.80 | |
1918 | Sun Briar | William Knapp | Henry McDaniel | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | 1-1/4 | 2:03.20 | |
1917 | Omar Khayyam | James Butwell | Richard F. Carmen | Wilfred Viau | 1-1/4 | 2:08.80 | |
1916 | Spur | Johnny Loftus | James H. McCormick | James Butler | 1-1/4 | 2:05.00 | |
1915 | Lady Rotha | Mack Garner | A. J. Goldsborough | Andrew Miller | 1-1/4 | 2:11.40 | |
1914 | Roamer | James H. Butwell | A. J. Goldsborough | Andrew Miller | 1-1/4 | 2:04.00 | |
1913 | Rock View | Thomas McTaggart | Louis Feustel | August Belmont, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:06.60 | |
1912 |
No race |
--- | --- | --- | no race | 0.00.00 | |
1911 | No race | --- | --- | --- | no race | 0.00.00 | |
1910 | Dalmation | Carroll H. Shilling | Sam Hildreth | Sam Hildreth | 1-1/4 | 2:10.00 | |
1909 | Hilarious | Richard Scoville | James G. Rowe, Sr. | James R. Keene | 1-1/4 | 2:06.00 | |
1908 | Dorante | J. Lee | Rollie Colston, Jr. | F. A. Forsythe | 1-1/4 | 2:09.60 | |
1907 | Frank Gill | Joe Notter | J. I. Smith | J. L. McGinnis | 1-14 | 2:07.00 | |
1906 | Gallavant | Walter Miller | Thomas J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:08.20 | |
1905 | Dandelion | Willie Shaw | John E. Madden | Frank R. Hitchock | 1-1/4 | 2:08.00 | |
1904 | Broomstick | Thomas H. Burns | Robert Tucker | Samuel S. Brown | 1-1/4 | 2:06.80 | |
1903 | Ada Nay | Frank O'Neil | A. Jack Joyner | James B. A. Haggin | 1-1/8 | 1:57.00 | |
1902 |
Hermis |
Ted Rice | John H. McCormack | H. M. Zeigler | 1-1/8 | 1:54.80 | |
1901 | Blues | Willie Shaw | Thomas Welch | C. Fleischmann Sons | 1-1/8 | 1:56.60 | |
1900 | No race | --- | --- | --- | no race | 0.00.00 | |
1899 | No race | --- | --- | --- | no race | 0.00.00 | |
1898 | No race | --- | --- | --- | no race | 0.00.00 | |
1897 | Rensselaer | Fred Taral | Henry Harris | John E. McDonald | 1-1/8 | 1:56.60 | |
1896 | No race | --- | --- | --- | no race | 0.00.00 | |
1895 | Liza | Henry Griffin | John Huggins | Pierre Lorillard IV | 1-1/8 | 1:55.50 | |
1894 | Henry of Navarre | Fred Taral | Byron McClelland | Byron McClelland | 1-1/4 | 2:10.25 | |
1893 | Stowaway | Lawrence McDermott | H. H. Brandt | Woodland Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:10.75 | |
1892 | Azra | Alonzo Clayton | John H. Morris | Bashford Manor Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:43.75 | |
1891 | Vallera | R. Williams | Enoch Wishard | Scoggan Bros. | 1-1/2 | 2:49.00 | |
1890 | Sir John | Marty Bergan | Frank McCabe | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:39.00 | |
1889 | Long Dance | Shelby "Pike" Barnes | G. M. Rye | G. M. Rye | 1-3/4 | 3:08.75 | |
1888 | Sir Dixon | Jim McLaughlin | Frank McCabe | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 1-3/4 | 3:07.75 | |
1887 | Carey | Harry Blaylock | Edward Corrigan | Edward Corrigan | 1-3/4 | 3:17.75 | |
1886 | Inspector B. | Jim McLaughlin | Frank McCabe | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 1-3/4 | 3:10.25 | |
1885 | Bersan | John Spellman | Green B. Morris | Green B. Morris | 1-3/4 | 3:08.25 | |
1884 | Rataplan | William Fitzpatrick | F. Midgely | Norman W. Kittson | 1-3/4 | 3:07.50 | |
1883 | Barnes | Jim McLaughlin | James G. Rowe, Sr. | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 1-3/4 | 3:18.00 | |
1882 | Carley | George Quantrell | H. Welch | A. Burnham | 1-3/4 | 3:28.75 | |
1881 | Hindoo | Jim McLaughlin | James G. Rowe, Sr. | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 1-3/4 | 3:07.50 | |
1880 | Grenada | Lloyd Hughes | R. Wyndham Walden | George L. Lorillard | 1-3/4 | 3:12.50 | |
1879 | Falsetto | Isaac Burnes Murphy | Eli Jordan | J. W. Hunt Reynolds | 1-3/4 | 3:09.25 | |
1878 | Duke of Magenta | Lloyd Hughes | R. Wyndham Walden | George L. Lorillard | 1-3/4 | 3:08.00 | |
1877 | Baden-Baden | Tom Sayres | James Williams | William Astor, Jr. | 1-3/4 | 3:15.50 | |
1876 | Sultana | William Hayward | J. McClelland | August Belmont | 1/3-4 |
3:15:50 |
|
1875 | D'Artagnan | George Barbee | J. B. Pryor | J. A. Grinstead | 1-3/4 | 3:06.50 | |
1874 | Attila | George Barbee | William Pryor | Pierre Lorillard IV | 1-3/4 | 3:09.50 | |
1873 | Tom Bowling | Robert Swim | Ansel Williamson | Hal Price McGrath | 1-3/4 | 3:09.75 | |
1872 | Joe Daniels | James G. Rowe, Sr. | David McDaniel | David McDaniel | 1-3/4 | 3:08.25 | |
1871 | Harry Bassett | W. Miller | David McDaniel | David McDaniel | 1-3/4 | 3:21.60 | |
1870 | Kingfisher | Charles Miller | Rollie Colston | Daniel Swigert | 1-3/4 | 3:15.25 | |
1869 | Glenelg | Charles Miller | Jacob Pincus | August Belmont | 1-3/4 | 3:14.00 | |
1868 | The Banshee | Smith | J. H. Davis | John M. Clay | 1-3/4 | 3:10.75 | |
1867 | Ruthless | Gilbert W. Patrick | A. Jack Minor | Francis Morris | 1-3/4 | 3:18.25 | |
1866 | Merrill | Abe Hawkins | Ansel Williamson | Robert A. Alexander | 1-3/4 | 3:29.00 | |
1865 1864 |
Maiden Kentucky |
W. Sewell Gilbert W. Patrick |
T. G. Moore A. Jack Minor |
T. G. Moore John Hunter & W. R. Travers |
1-3/4 1-3/4 |
3:18.50 3:18.75 |