The Jockey Club Gold Cup (previously the Jockey Club Stakes) is a thoroughbred flat race held in September at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Inaugurated in 1919, it is open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. Part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Since its inception, the Jockey Club Gold Cup has primarily been run at Belmont Park as the main event of its fall meeting. The exceptions were all but two runnings between 1958 and 1974, when the race was held at Aqueduct Racetrack, and from 2021 to 2025, when it was run at Saratoga Race Course. It was announced that the 2026 running of the race would return to Belmont Park, which was scheduled to reopen for live racing after several years of track and building reconstruction projects.

The past winners of the Gold Cup are a who's who of award-winning Hall of Fame horses, including Easy Goer, Man o' War, Cigar, Skip Away, Curlin, Slew o' Gold, John Henry, Affirmed, Forego, Shuvee, Damascus, Buckpasser, Kelso, Sword Dancer, Nashua, Citation, Whirlaway and War Admiral.

Kelso won the Jockey Club Gold Cup in five consecutive years from 1960 to 1964, when the race was run at Aqueduct. Ten horses have won the race twice, including Curlin, Skip Away, Slew o' Gold, Nashua, and Triple Tiara winner Shuvee.

In 1920, Man o' War won the Jockey Club Stakes against the only horse willing to race him. Damask, owned by Harry Payne Whitney, was entered as a sporting gesture and to keep Man o' War from having to run alone in a "walkover." Damask finished 15 lengths behind, with Man o' War held under strong restraint in order not to humiliate his rival. Even so, Man o' War broke the American record for a mile and a half.

In the 1978 running, Exceller defeated the previous year's Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew, by a nose in a memorable stretch duel, with the 1978 Triple Crown winner, Affirmed, finishing fifth after his saddle slipped. Sportswriter Bill Nack wrote, "Exceller won by the snip of his chocolate nose. ... That battling final furlong remains Seattle Slew's most enduring legacy as a racehorse."

From 1976 to 1989, the Jockey Club Gold Cup was run at miles, but from 1921 through 1975 it was long, second in distance only to the less prestigious, -mile Display Handicap.

Records Time record: (at current miles) 1:58.89 – Skip Away (1997)

Most wins: 5 – Kelso (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)

Most wins by an owner: 5 – Glen Riddle Farm (1919, 1920, 1925, 1926, 1938) 5 – Bohemia Stable (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)

Most wins by a jockey: 11 – Eddie Arcaro (1935, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1961)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Jim Fitzsimmons (1929, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1955, 1956)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$ Gr.2026Forever Young5Ryusei SakaiYoshito YahagiSusumu Fujita1 m2:01.23$630,000G12025Antiquarian4John R. VelazquezTodd PletcherCentennial Farms1 m2:02.16$550,000G12024Highland Falls 4Flavien PratBrad H. CoxGodolphin1 m2:03.00$550,000G12023Bright Future 4Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable & St. Elias Stable 1 m2:03.25$600,000G12022Olympiad4Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottGrandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables & LNJ Foxwoods1 m2:02.11$600,000G12021Max Player4Ricardo Santana Jr.Steve AsmussenGeorge E. Hall & SportBLX Thoroughbreds Crop.1 m2:02.49$600,000G12020Happy Saver3Irad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherWertheimer et Frere1 m2:01.77$250,000G12019Code of Honor13John VelazquezShug McGaugheyWilliam S. Farish III1 m2:00.30$433,125G12018Discreet Lover5Manuel FrancoUriah St. LewisUriah St. Lewis1 m1:59.99$433,125 G12017Diversify4Irad Ortiz Jr.Richard Violette Jr. Lauren & Ralph Evans1 m2:00.96$450,000G12016Hoppertunity5John VelazquezBob BaffertKarl Watson, Mile Pegram, Paul Weitman1 m2:00.68$600,000 G12015Tonalist4John VelazquezChristophe Clement Robert S. Evans1 m2:02.16$600,000 G12014Tonalist3Joel RosarioChristophe Clement Robert S. Evans1 m2:02.12$600,000 G12013Ron the Greek6Jose LezcanoWilliam I. Mott Brous Stable/Wachtel Stable et al.1 m1:59.70$600,000 G12012Flat Out6Joel RosarioWilliam I. MottPreston Stables LLC (Art Preston)1 m2:01.44$600,000 G12011Flat Out5Alex SolisScooter DickeyPreston Stables LLC (Art Preston)1 m2:03.17$450,000G12010Haynesfield4Ramon DomínguezSteve AsmussenTurtle Bird Stable (Harvey & Bernice Weinstein)1 m2:02.48$450,000G1 2009Summer Bird3Kent J. DesormeauxTim A. IceKalarikkal K. & Vilasini D. Jayaraman1 m2:02.51$450,000G12008Curlin4Robby AlbaradoSteve AsmussenStonestreet Stables et al.1 m2:01:93$450,000G1 2007Curlin3Robby AlbaradoSteve AsmussenStonestreet Stables et al.1 m2:01.20$450,000G12006Bernardini3Javier Castellano Thomas Albertrani Darley Stable1 m2:01.02$450,000G12005Borrego4Garrett Gomez C. Beau Greely Jon S. Kelly, Ralls & Foster LLC, Brad Scott, et al.1 m2:02.86$600,000 G12004Funny Cide4José A. SantosBarclay TaggSackatoga Stable (Tony Everard)1 m2:02.44$600,000 G12003Mineshaft4Robby AlbaradoNeil J. HowardFarish, Elkins, Webber1 m2:00.25$600,000 G12002Evening Attire4Shaun BridgmohanPatrick J. KellyJoseph & Mary Grant, Thomas J. Kelly1 m1:59.58$600,000 G12001Aptitude4Jerry BaileyRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farm1 m2:01.49$600,000 G12000Albert the Great 3Jorge Chavez Nick Zito Tracy Farmer 1 m1:59.24$600,000G11999River Keen7Chris Antley Bob Baffert Hugo Reynolds1 m2:01.40$600,000G11998Wagon Limit4Robbie Davis H. Allen Jerkens Joseph V. Shields Jr.1 m2:00.62$600,000 G11997Skip Away4Jerry Bailey Hubert Hine Carolyn Hine1 m1:58.89$600,000 G11996Skip Away3Shane Sellers Hubert Hine Carolyn Hine1 m2:00.70$600,000G11995Cigar5Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Allen Paulson1 m2:01.29$450,000G11994Colonial Affair4José A. Santos Flint S. Schulhofer Centennial Farms (Don Little Sr. racing partnership)1 m2:02.19$450,000 G11993Miner's Mark3Chris McCarron C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps1 m2:02.79$510,000 G11992Pleasant Tap5Gary Stevens Christopher SpeckertBuckland Farm1 m1:58.95$510,000 G11991Festin5Ed Delahoussaye Ron McAnally Kinerk Burton1 m2:00.69$510,000 G11990Flying Continental4Corey Black Jay M. Robbins Jack Kent Cooke1 m2:00.60$503,100 G11989Easy Goer3Pat Day C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps1 m2:29.20$659,400G11988Waquoit5José A. SantosGuido Federico Joseph Federico1 m2:27.60$637,800 G11987Creme Fraiche5Laffit Pincay Jr. Woody Stephens Brushwood Stable1 m2:30.80$650,400 G11986Creme Fraiche4Randy Romero Woody Stephens Brushwood Stable1 m2:28.00$510,300 G11985Vanlandingham4Pat Day C. R. McGaughey III Loblolly Stable1 m2:27.00$516,600 G11984Slew o' Gold4Ángel Cordero Jr. John O. Hertler Equusequitey Stable (Jim & Sally Hill / Mickey & Karen Taylor)1 m2:28.80$1,350,400 G11983Slew o' Gold3Ángel Cordero Jr.Sidney Watters Jr.Equusequitey Stable (Jim & Sally Hill / Mickey & Karen Taylor)1 m2:26.20$342,000 G11982Lemhi Gold4Chris McCarronLaz BarreraAaron U. Jones1 m2:31.20$337,800 G11981John Henry6Bill ShoemakerVictor J. NickersonDotsam Stable1 m2:28.40$340,800G1 1980Temperence Hill3Eddie MapleJoseph B. CanteyLoblolly Stable1 m2:30.20$329,400 G11979Affirmed4Laffit Pincay Jr.Laz BarreraHarbor View Farm1 m2:27.40$225,000G11978Exceller5Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamNelson Bunker Hunt1 m2:27.20$193,080 G11977On The Sly4Gregg McCarronMel W. GrossBalmak Stable (Mary Streit)1 m2:28.20$208,080G1 1976Great Contractor3Pat DayRoger LaurinHoward P. Wilson1 m2:28.80$201,360G11975Group Plan5Jorge VelásquezH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm2 m3:23.20$95,850G11974Forego4Heliodoro GustinesSherrill W. WardLazy F Ranch2 m3:21.20$67,140 G11973Prove Out4Jorge VelásquezH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm2 m3:20.00$66,060 G11972Autobiography4Ángel Cordero Jr. Pancho MartinSigmund Sommer2 m3:21.40$68,220 1971Shuvee5Jorge VelásquezWillard C. FreemanAnne Minor Stone2 m3:20.40$66,900 1970Shuvee4Ron TurcotteWillard C. FreemanAnne Minor Stone2 m3:21.60$70,785 1969Arts and Letters3Braulio BaezaJ. Elliott BurchRokeby Stables2 m3:22.40$69,030 1968Quicken Tree5William HartackClyde TurkLouis R. Rowan & Wheelock Whitney Jr.2 m3:22.80$71,370 1967Damascus3Bill ShoemakerFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Edith W. Bancroft2 m3:20.20$69,290 1966Buckpasser3Braulio BaezaEdward A. NeloyOgden Phipps2 m3:26.20$71,825 1965Roman Brother4Braulio BaezaBurley ParkeHarbor View Farm2 m3:22.60$71,500 1964Kelso7Ismael ValenzuelaCarl HanfordBohemia Stable2 m3:19.20$70,785 1963Kelso6Ismael ValenzuelaCarl HanfordBohemia Stable2 m3:22.00$70,785 1962Kelso5Ismael ValenzuelaCarl HanfordBohemia Stable2 m3:19.80$70,785 1961Kelso4Eddie ArcaroCarl HanfordBohemia Stable2 m3:25.80$68,770 1960Kelso3Eddie ArcaroCarl HanfordBohemia Stable2 m3:19.40$70,205 1959Sword Dancer3Eddie ArcaroJ. Elliott BurchBrookmeade Stable2 m3:22.20$70,790 1958Inside Tract4Conn McCrearyJohn J. Weipert Jr.D & M Stable (Raymond da Brino & Joseph Martino) 2 m3:23.40$52,417 1957Gallant Man3Bill ShoemakerJohn A. NerudRalph Lowe2 m3:23.00$53,850 1956Nashua4Eddie ArcaroJim FitzsimmonsLeslie Combs II2 m3:20.40$36,600 1955Nashua3Eddie ArcaroJim FitzsimmonsBelair Stud2 m3:24.80$52,850 1954High Gun3Eddie ArcaroMax HirschKing Ranch2 m3:25.80$55,150 1953Level Lea3William BolandMax HirschJohn Shaffer Phipps2 m3:27.00$55,100 1952One Count3Dave GormanOscar WhiteMrs. Walter M. Jeffords2 m3:24.20$52,100 1951Counterpoint3Dave GormanSylvester VeitchC. V. Whitney2 m3:21.60$35,600 1950Hill Prince3Eddie ArcaroCasey HayesChristopher Chenery2 m3:22.40$36,006 1949Ponder3Eddie ArcaroBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2 m3:22.80$36,300 1948Citation3Eddie ArcaroBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2 m3:21.60$72,700 1947Phalanx3Ruperto DonosoSylvester VeitchC. V. Whitney2 m3:21.60$17,850 1946Pavot4Eddie ArcaroOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords Sr.2 m3:22.60$18,2501945Pot o'Luck3Douglas DodsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2 m3:27.40$18,335 1944Bolingbroke7Robert PermaneWalter BurrowsTownsend B. Martin2 m3:27.20$17,645 1943Princequillo3Conn McCrearyHoratio LuroBoone Hall Stable2 m3:23.80$18,350 1942Whirlaway4George WoolfBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2 m3:21.60$18,350 1941Market Wise3Basil JamesGeorge W. CarrollLouis Tufano2 m3:20.80$7,325 1940Fenelon3James StoutJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud2 m3:24.40$6,700 1939Cravat4Basil JamesWalter BurrowsTownsend B. Martin2 m3:23.00$5,550 1938War Admiral4Wayne D. WrightGeorge ConwayGlen Riddle Farm2 m3:24.80$5,500 1937Firethorn5Harry RichardsPreston M. BurchWalter M. Jeffords Sr.2 m3:26.00$6,050 1936Count Arthur4James StoutLon JohnsonFannie Hertz2 m3:24.40$6,750 1935Firethorn3Eddie ArcaroPreston M. BurchWalter M. Jeffords Sr.2 m3:24.20$6,550 1934Dark Secret5Charles KurtsingerJim FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable2 m3:24.60$6,200 1933Dark Secret4Hank MillsJim FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable2 m3:25.20$6,400 1932Gusto3Buddy HanfordMax HirschMorton L. Schwartz2 m3:25.20$9,9501931Twenty Grand3Charles KurtsingerJames G. Rowe Jr. Greentree Stable2 m3:23.40$10,400 1930Gallant Fox3Earl SandeJim FitzsimmonsBelair Stud2 m3:24.40$10,300 1929Diavolo4John MaibenJim FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable2 m3:24.00$10,900 1928Reigh Count3Chick LangBert S. MichellFannie Hertz2 m3:23.00$10,8501927Chance Play24Earl SandeJohn I. SmithLog Cabin Stable2 m3:23.00$12,000 1926Crusader3Albert JohnsonGeorge ConwayGlen Riddle Farm2 m3:26.00$13,3001925Altawood4John MaibenG. Hamilton KeeneJoseph E. Widener2 m3:26.00$13,050 1924My Play5Andy SchuttingerRoy WaldronLexington Stable (Edward F. Simms & Henry W. Oliver)2 m3:25.60$14,150 1923Homestretch3Chick LangErnest SletasHerman Alterman2 m3:24.20$11,300 1922Mad Hatter6Earl SandeSam HildrethRancocas Stable2 m3:22.60$12,700 1921Mad Hatter5Earl SandeSam HildrethRancocas Stable2 m3:22.40$12,1001920Man o' War33Clarence KummerLouis FeustelGlen Riddle Farm1 m2:28.80$5,850 1919Purchase3Clarence KummerSam HildrethGlen Riddle Farm1 m2:28.80$5,350

1In 2019, Vino Rosso finished first but was disqualified and placed second.

2In 1927, Brown Bud finished first but was disqualified.

3Only two horses started in 1920.

Notes

References The Jockey Club Gold Cup at Pedigree Query