The Excelsior Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. A Listed event for three-year-olds and up, it is contested over a distance of one-and-one-eighth miles 9 furlong.

"Excelsior" is Latin for "Upward, ever upward", and is the motto of the state of New York.

In 1928, when Hall of Famer Grey Lag was ten years old, he came in third. He'd won this race as a five-year-old in 1923.

The race was run at the old Jamaica Race Course from 1903 to 1910, and then again from 1915 to 1959. In 1913, it was run at Belmont Park. It wasn't run at all in 1909, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1933, 1967, and 2020.

Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances and as initially a handicap as the race was known as the Excelsior Handicap: miles: 1903–1960 1 mile: 1960 1 mile, 1 furlong: 1961–1978 miles: 1994–2014, 2018-2019, 2021 miles: 1979–1993, 2015–2017

The event was downgraded from Grade III to Listed in 2022.

Records Speed record: (at distance of miles) 1:48.10 – Classic Endeavor (2003) 1:48.10 – Magna Graduate (2007)

Most wins: 2 – King Saxon (1935, 1936) 2 – Find (1954, 1956) 2 – Lac Ouimet (1987, 1988) Most wins by a trainer:

3 –Todd A. Pletcher (2006, 2007, 2019) 3 –William C. Winfrey (1953, 1954, 1956)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Eric Guerin (1953, 1954, 1956) 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1972, 1975, 1976) 3 – Bobby Ussery (1958, 1962, 1966) 3 – Chuck C. Lopez (1997, 2003, 2008)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Rancocas Stable (1923, 1929, 1931) 3 – Alfred G. Vanderbilt II (1953, 1954, 1956) 3 – Sigmund & Viola Sommer (1972, 1977, 1980)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$ Gr.2025Phileas Fogg5Kendrick Carmouche Gustavo RodriguezJupiter Stable LLC1 m2:01.69$82,000Listed2024Laughing Boy6Samy Camacho Jr.David JacobsonLawrence P. Roman & David Jacobson1 m1:49.91$82,500Listed2023Law Professor5Manuel FrancoRob AtrasTwin Creeks Racing Stables1 m1:50.34$82,500Listed2022Forewarned7Dexter HaddockUriah St. LewisUriah St. Lewis1 m1:50.76$82,500Listed2021Modernist4Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottPam Wygod and Martin Wygod1 m1:54.38$82,500G32019Life's a Parlay4John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable & St. Elias Stable1 m1:51.54$82,500G32018Discreet Lover5Manuel FrancoUriah St. LewisUriah St. Lewis1 m1:50.45$90,000G32017Send it in5John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherPaul P. Pompa Jr.1 m2:02.07$90,000G32016Kid Cruz5José OrtizLinda L. RiceViña del Mar TBs & Black Swan Stable1 m2:04.52$120,000G32015Effinex4Angel S. ArroyoJames A. JerkensTri-Bone Stables (Bernice Cohen)1 m2:02.16$120,000G32014Romansh4José OrtizThomas AlbertraniGodolphin Racing1 m1:49.07$90,000G32013Last Gunfighter4Rajiv MaraghChad BrownJohn D. Gunther1 m1:50.78$90,000G32012Marilyn's Guy6Chuck C. LopezTony DutrowMichael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, Gary Aisquith1 m1:52.54$90,000G32011Inherit the Gold5Eddie CastroJames HooperGlas-Tipp Stable (Mary Murray) & Susanne Hooper1 m1:50.34$60,000G32010Goldsville5Ramon A. DominguezMichael E. HushionMarc C. Ferrell1 m1:51.43$120,000G32009Giant Moon4Edgar PradoRichard E. SchosbergAlbert Fried Jr.1 m1:50.90$120,000G32008Temporary Saint5Chuck C. LopezBruce N. LevineMaggi Moss1 m1:51.13$66,720G32007Magna Graduate5John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherElisabeth Alexander1 m1:48.10$125,460G32006West Virginia5Norberto Arroyo Jr.Todd A. PletcherDonald & Roberta Zuckerman1 m1:48.28$67,140G32005Offlee Wild5Rafael BejaranoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.AZ Azalea Stables LLC1 m1:50.41$120,000G32004Funny Cide4José A. SantosBarclay TaggSackatoga Stable1 m1:49.57$120,000G32003Classic Endeavor5Chuck C. LopezScott SchwartzHerbert T. Schwartz & Scott Schwartz1 m1:48.10$90,000G32002John Little4Norberto Arroyo Jr.Deborah BodnerDeborah Bodner1 m1:49.25$120,000G32001Cat's At Home4Filberto LeonMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans1 m1:48.92$120,000G32000Lager6Heberto Castillo Jr.James A. JerkensSusan & John Moore1 m1:49.76$120,000G31999Smart Coupons6René DouglasDeborah BodnerLouis J. Porreco1 m1:49.71$120,000G31998Sir Bear5Enrique JuradoRalph ZiadeBarbara Smollin1 m1:49.24$120,000G31997Ormsby5Chuck C. LopezSue AlpersWoodside Stud1 m1:47.69$120,000G21996May I Inquire5Joe BravoGasper MoscheraBarbara J. Davis1 m1:50.67$120,000G21995Iron Gavel5José Martínez Jr.Gasper MoscheraJoques Farm1 m1:49.28$90,000G21994Colonial Affair4José A. SantosFlint S. SchulhoferCentennial Farm (Donald Little)1 m1:49.82$90,000G21993Devil His Due4Mike E. SmithH. Allen JerkensLion Crest Stable (Edith Libutti)1 m2:03.05$72,120G21992Defensive Play5David FloresRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farm1 m2:01.95$102,780G21991Chief Honcho4Mike E. SmithWilliam I. MottBertram R. Firestone1 m2:02.60$102,060G21990Lay Down6Chris AntleyC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps1 m2:02.20$100,980G21989Forever Silver5Julie KroneStanley R. ShapoffChevalier Stable1 m2:02.60$99,720G21988Lac Ouimet5Jerry BaileyRichard J. LundyVirginia Kraft Payson1 m2:00.20$140,880G21987Lac Ouimet4Eddie MapleRichard J. LundyVirginia Kraft Payson1 m2:02.00$106,380G21986Garthorn6Rafael MezaRobert J. FrankelJerome S. Moss1 m2:02.40$101,340G21985Morning Bob4Jacinto VásquezNick ZitoMike Rich Stable1 m2:04.20$87,750G21984Canadian Factor4Jorge VelásquezMelvin W. GrossFrank Stronach1 m2:03.00$88,650G21983Fast Gold4Jean-Luc SamynSally A. BailieAisco Stable1 m2:04.00$67,200G21982Globe5Michael VeneziaVictor J. NickersonNelson Bunker Hunt1 m2:03.40$66,480G21981Irish Tower4Jeffrey FellStanley M. HoughMalcolm H. Winfield1 m2:00.80$66,680G21980Ring of Light5Cash AsmussenPancho MartinViola Sommer1 m2:01.40$67,560G21979Special Tiger4George MartensWilliam F. SchmittAlbert Fried Jr.1 m2:03.80$63,600G21978Cox's Ridge4Eddie MapleJoseph B. CanteyLoblolly Stable1 m1:50.60$49,005G21977Turn And Count4Steve CauthenPancho MartinSigmund Sommer1 m1:51.00$48,150G21976Double Edge Sword6Ángel Cordero Jr.Richard Dutrow Sr.Aisquith Stable1 m1:48.00$51,120G21975Step Nicely5Ángel Cordero Jr.H. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm1 m1:48.40$33,990G21974Everton II5Marco CastanedaLaz BarreraEnrique Ubarri1 m1:49.00$33,840G21973Key To The Mint4Ron TurcotteJ. Elliott BurchRokeby Stable1 m1:47.80$32,640G21972Autobiography4Ángel Cordero Jr.Pancho MartinSigmund Sommer1 m1:49.00$34,8601971Loud4Jacinto VásquezJames W. MaloneyWilliam Haggin Perry1 m1:50.80$34,2001970Hydrologist4Chuck BaltazarRoger LaurinMeadow Stable1 m1:48.80$37,5701969San Roque4Heliodoro GustinesSherrill W. WardLazy F Ranch1 m1:49.60$37,3101968Peter Piper5Jorge VelásquezPaul HealyJoseph R. Daly1 m1:48.00$35,9451966Choker6Bobby UsseryH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm1 m1:49.20$36,0101965Tenacle5William MayorgaHomer C. PardueJoseph R. Straus1 m1:49.40$35,7501964Uppercut5Johnny SellersWillard C. FreemanWilliam L. Harmonay1 m1:50.00$17,8751963Greek Money4John L. RotzVirgil W. RainesBrandywine Stable1 m1:48.60$18,2651962Hitting Away4Bobby UsseryJames E. FitzsimmonsOgden Phipps1 m1:50.00$18,5581961Mail Order5Larry AdamsLarry ThompsonAlamode Farm1 m1:49.20$19,1101960Talent Show5Ray BroussardClyde TrouttAda L. Rice1 m1:34.80$18,7451959Whitley4Sam Boulmetis Sr.Max HirschW. Arnold Hanger1 m1:43.80$18,4851958Kingmaker5Bobby UsseryFrank I. WrightHappy Hill Farm1 m1:43.60$18,6151957Midafternoon5Eddie ArcaroThomas M. WallerMrs. Edward E. Robbins1 m1:43.60$19,7501956Find6Eric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1 m1:43.20$19,8001955Fisherman4Hedley WoodhouseSylvester VeitchCornelius V. Whitney1 m1:45.00$20,4501954Find4Eric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1 m1:44.00$21,2501953First Glance6Eric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1 m1:44.00$20,5001952Spartan Valor4James StoutFrank CatroneWilliam G. Helis Jr.1 m1:44.60$18,9501951Lotowhite4Eddie ArcaroLydell T. RuffThomas G. Benson1 m1:44.20$20,7501950Arise4Douglas DodsonJames C. BentleyAddison Stable1 m1:43.80$17,2001949My Request4Claude EricksonJames P. ConwayFlorence Whitaker1 m1:44.80$16,7001948Knockdown5Ferril ZufeltJames W. SmithMaine Chance Farm1 m1:46.00$20,7501947Coincidence5Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 m1:44.00$15,9001946Fighting Step4Johnny AdamsCharles C. NormanMurlogg Farm (Helen W. Kellogg)1 m1:45.00$12,7501945Saguaro4Mike CaffarellaWoody StephensJule Fink1 m1:44.60$7,0701944Alex Barth4Nick JemasJames R. HastieMilbrook Stable1 m1:46.40$7,3751943Riverland5Steve BrooksMoody JolleyLouisiana Farm1 m1:44.40$9,3001942Waller4Charles WahlerA. G. RobertsonJohn C. Clark1 m1:46.80$8,7751941Robert Morris3Nick WallThomas H. McCreeryJ. Frederic Byers1 m1:43.60$8,2751940The Chief5Irving AndersonEarl SandeMaxwell Howard1 m1:44.20$6,2001939Thanksgiving4Raymond WorkmanMary HirschAnne C. Corning1 m1:44.20$6,9501938Caballero II6Wayne D. WrightHirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs1 m1:45.40$6,6501937Thorson5William RayThomas H. McCreeryBuckley M. Byers1 m1:43.80$6,9501936King Saxon5Charles LandoltCharles H. KnebelkampCharles H. Knebelkamp1 m1:45.20$5,4001935King Saxon4Cal RaineyCharles H. KnebelkampCharles H. Knebelkamp1 m1:43.60$5,4301934Watch Him5Earl SteffenWillie KnappFannie Hertz1 m1:46.00$2,4501932Pompeius3Joe KnappJ. P. "Sammy" SmithWilliam R. Coe1 m1:45.20$4,8501931Mokatam4Willie KelsayFrank M. TaylorRancocas Stable1 m1:46.00$5,7001930Minotaur4Charles KurtsingerCharles GraffagniniJohn R. Thompson Jr.1 m1:45.80$5,9501929Mowlee4Laverne FatorSam HildrethRancocas Stable1 m1:45.20$7,2001928Brown Flash4Virgil PetersonJack S. MiddletonFrederick Johnson1 m1:46.40$6,2001927Amberjack4James McCoyJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 m1:44.00$6,2001926Turf Idol4Sidney HebertJimmy JohnsonJames Butler1 m1:45.60$6,4001925Sting4Benjamin BreuningJimmy JohnsonJames Butler1 m1:42.60$5,8501924Rialto4Johnny CorcoranJames G. Rowe Sr.Greentree Stable1 m1:46.00$5,8501923Grey Lag5Laverne FatorSam HildrethRancocas Stable1 m1:45.00$5,8501922Sennings Park6Charles FairbrotherA. Jack JoynerWestmont Stable1 m1:44.80$5,8501921Blazes4Ted RiceWilliam M. GarthJoshua S. Cosden1 m1:47.20$8,5501920Boniface5Earl SandeH. Guy BedwellJ. K. L. Ross1 m1:45.20$4,8501919Naturalist5Charles FairbrotherThomas WelshJoseph E. Widener1 m1:45.40$3,8501918George Smith5Willie KelsayHollie HughesJohn Sanford1 m1:45.40$3,8501917Roamer6Andy SchuttingerA. J. GoldsboroughAndrew Miller1 m1:45.40$2,8251916Sand Marsh4James ButwellRichard O. MillerFred E. Rose1 m1:46.00$2,4251915Addie M.4Joe McCaheyGeorge W. LangdonJohn W. Messervy1 m1:45.80$1,9251913Meridian5Buddy GlassAlbert EwingRichard F. Carman1 m1:44.601906Merry Lark4Walter MillerThomas WelshNewcastle Stable1 m1:47.20$7,3501905Santa Catalina †3Walter MillerR. Wyndham WaldenAlbermale Stable1 m1:46.40$6,4501904Rostand4Herman PhillipsGeorge CornellF. R. Docter1 m1:45.60$6,6001903Blackstock4Grover FullerJohn W. RogersWilliam C. Whitney1 m1:46.60$6,730

† In 1905 Preen finished first but was disqualified.

References