The Round Table Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run on dirt and on turf forty-four times between 1961 and 2007. First run at Washington Park Race Track in Homewood, Illinois as the Round Table Handicap, in 1963 it was moved to Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights. In 1985 a fire destroyed the track's grandstand and clubhouse and its races were hosted that year by Chicago's Hawthorne Race Course. A stakes race open to three-year-old horses, it was last contested on Polytrack synthetic dirt over a distance of one and one-eighth miles. From inception through 1968, it was a handicap race for horses age three and older.
The race was named for Round Table, the 1958 American Horse of the Year and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee. Round Table retired with earnings of $1,749,869, the most for any horse in world Thoroughbred racing history. Kerr Stable's win with Rambler II in the 1964 edition of the Round Table Handicap was particularly special for stable owner Travis Kerr who was the owner of Round Table.
The Round Table was run in two divisions in 1974, 1975 and 1983. It was not run in 1988, 1998 and 1999.
Notable past winners include John Henry who won his first graded stakes in impressive style with a twelve-length margin of victory in the September 16, 1978 Round Table Handicap.
In its last running in 2007, the colt Pavarotti set a track record in winning the 2007 edition of the Round Table Stakes. The race was slated to be run in 2008 but was placed on hiatus and dropped from the 2009 schedule.
Track Surface Turf (31) : 1961–1972, 1974–1987, 1989–1993 (31) Dirt (13) : 1973, 1994–1997, 2000–2006 (12) Polytrack (1) : 2007 (1)
Distances 1 mile (2) : 1973, 1974 1 1/16 miles (14) : 1961–1962, 1964–1966, 1968–1972, 1975–1978 1 1/8 miles (24) : 1963, 1967, 1979–1984, 1986–1987, 1992–1997, 2000–2007 1 3/16 miles (4) : 1985, 1989–1991
Records Speed record: 1:42 flat @ 1 1/16 miles on turf: Rambler II (1964) 1:47.40 @ 1 1/8 miles on turf: World Class Splash (1992) 1:47.73 @1 1/8 miles on dirt: Devilment 1:47.73 (2005)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 – Herberto Hinojosa (1963, 1964) 2 – Earlie Fires (1966, 1984) 2 – Pat Day (1980, 1982) 2 – Don Brumfield (1983, 1985) 2 – Don Pettinger (1996, 2004)
Most wins by a trainer: 2 – Harry Trotsek (1962, 1974) 2 – MacKenzie Miller (1967, 1969) 2 – Robin Frank (1981, 1983) 2 – Steven Penrod (1982, 1990) 2 – Richard J. Lundy (1989, 1991) 2 – Donnie K. Von Hemel (1996, 2004)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Hasty House Farm (1962, 1974) 2 – Cragwood Stables (1967, 1969) 2 – Ogden Phipps (1970, 1976) 2 – Pin Oak Stable (2004, 2005)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Gr.2007Pavarotti3René DouglasTodd PletcherSue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith m1:49.752006Casino Evil3Francisco TorresMichael A. TomlinsonHaps Stable (Paul Hanifl & Vince Foglia) m1:50.122005Devilment3Carlos H. Marquez Jr.Michael StidhamPin Oak Stable m1:47.732004Cryptograph3Don PettingerDonnie K. Von HemelPin Oak Stable m1:51.532003Wiggins3Eusebio Razo Jr.Anthony GranitzWilliam Pacella, Joseph Rizza, Ronald Schwed m1:50.472002Cowboy Stuff3Pat ValenzuelaDon Von Hemel Sr.Shelley Bates & Don Von Hemel Sr. m1:48.982001Discreet Hero3Shane LavioletteAlbert Stall Jr.B. Wayne Hughes m1:49.72G32000Fan The Flame3Eddie Martin Jr.Randy L. MorseMichael Langford m1:50.08G31998 – 1999 Race not held1997Rojo Dinero3Mark GuidryKelly Von HemelSteven D. Caldwell m1:51.90G31996Slew O' Mink3Don PettingerDonnie K. Von HemelBad Boy Racing Ltd. m1:51.51G31995Kingdom City3Craig PerretW. Elliott WaldenJeffrey S. Sullivan & John L. Wieczorek m1:50.38G31994Danville3Larry MelanconWilliam G. HuffmanTop of the Key Stable (Gary Lavin & partners) m1:51.07G31993Snake Eyes 3Wigberto RamosSteven L. MorguelanMelvin Isenstein m1:49.80G31992World Class Splash3Garrett GomezP. Noel HickeyRichard E. Trebat m1:47.40G31991Fraise3Robbie DavisRichard J. LundyMadeleine Paulson m1:56.25G31990Super Fan3Shane SellersSteven PenrodHermitage Farm (Warner L. Jones Jr.) m2:02.40G31989Ebros3Jorge VelásquezRichard J. LundyAllen E. Paulson m1:58.40G21988 Race not held1987Blue Finn3Dave PennaJames E. DaySam-Son Farm m1:56.40G21986Marvin's Policy 3Sandy HawleyDarrell ViennaDavid Milch m1:49.20G21985Montagnet3Don BrumfieldDennis W. EbertJim H. Plemmons m1:56.40G21984Tall Grass Walker 3Earlie FiresHenry M. "Pete" WylieKenneth C. Plattner m1:53.40G21983-1Jack Slade3Don BrumfieldDavid C. KassenAndrew Adams m1:49.60G21983-2Susie's Table3Gerland Gallitano Robin Frank Oriental Stable (Vernal Lee & Eric Frank) m1:49.80G21982Lucence3Pat DaySteven PenrodClaiborne Farm m1:52.80G21981Waterway Drive3Jerry BaileyRobin Frank Eric Frank m1:56.80G21980The Messanger3Pat Day Oscar Dishman Jr.Archie Donaldson m1:58.00G31979Rossi Gold3Ron Hirdes Raymond S. Lawrence Jr.Frank McMahon m1:53.60G31978John Henry3Jose Amy Robert A. DonatoDotsam Stable m1:45.80G31977True Colors3Ed DelahoussayeWillard C. Freeman Robert C. Billips m1:44.80G31976Effervescing3Rudy Turcotte John W. Russell Ogden Phipps m1:44.60G31975-1Brents Prince3Ben Feliciano James MorganMary Classen m1:43.80G31975-2Crafty Drone3John Powell Richard P. Hazelton Harham Farm m1:45.80G31974-1Emperor Rex3Hector Viera Howard M. TesherHarold Snowden1 m1:36.60G31974-2Hasty Flyer3Mike Miceli Harry TrotsekHasty House Farm1 m1:37.20G31973King's Reel3Robert BreenWilliam J. Resseguet Jr.Gerald Robins1 m1:37.20G31972King's Bishop3Jacinto VásquezThomas J. Kelly Craig F. Cullinan Jr. m1:43.401971Mr. Pow Wow3Ray BroussardJoseph M. BolleroGreenbrier Stable m1:43.401970Pass The Drink3Mike VeneziaEdward A. Neloy Ogden Phipps m1:43.801969Larceny Kid3David WhitedMacKenzie MillerCragwood Stables m1:43.401968Come On II7Walter BlumJose d'Agostino Alberto d'Agostino m1:47.801967Assagai4Larry Adams MacKenzie Miller Cragwood Stables m1:51.401966Maris4Earlie Fires Willard L. ProctorJosephine Potrykus m1:42.801965Lord Date4Mickey SolomoneFrank H. Merrill Jr.North Star Ranch m1:43.201964Rambler II5 Herberto Hinojosa Warren Stute Kerr Stable m1:42.001963Bronze Babu5Herberto HinojosaJose de Murguiondo Hill 'n' Dale Farms m1:55.801962Porvenir II8Avelino GomezHarry Trotsek Hasty House Farm m1:43.201961Oink4Johnny SellersSteve Ippolito Jacnot Stable (O. T. & Jack R. Hogan) m1:43.00
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