The Champagne Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses. The race is run at a distance of one mile on the dirt at Belmont Park in October each year. Although the race is open to both colts and fillies, in practice it is New York's premier race for two-year-old colts and fillies enter the Frizette Stakes instead.

The race is a Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season qualifying race. The winner receives 10 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Derby.

The race is also a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. The winner automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

The race was first run in 1867, and it is the oldest race of its kind in the United States. It was given the same name as the British Champagne Stakes which has been run annually since 1823 at the Doncaster Racecourse in South Yorkshire, England.

There was no Champagne Stakes run from 1910 through 1913, due to a legislated ban by the State of New York on parimutuel wagering, and no race was held in 1956.

Notable past winners who have gone on to success as three-year-olds or older include U.S. Triple Crown champions Seattle Slew, Count Fleet, and Secretariat however; Secretariat was disqualified from the race because of a questionable interference call which is still debatable today. Others such as Ben Brush, Colin, Sarazen, Alsab, Grey Lag, Buckpasser, Riva Ridge, Foolish Pleasure, Alydar, Spectacular Bid, and Easy Goer, all of whom are now in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Easy Goer ran the best Beyer Speed Figure performance (in the 1988 Champagne Stakes) by any 2-year-old since Beyer racing figures were first published.

The 1880 winner was Lady Rosebery, a horse owned by August Belmont, Sr. and named to honor England's Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery whose family was prominent in British racing. Similarly, the 1950 winner was Uncle Miltie, a horse given the nickname of the famous comedian and New York City native, Milton Berle.

The inaugural running of the Champagne Stakes took place in 1867 at Jerome Park Racetrack prior where it remained through 1889. Shifted to the Morris Park Racecourse facility, it was held there through 1904. Moved to its present home at Belmont Park for the 1905 racing season, it was run at the Aqueduct Racetrack in 1959, from 1963 to 1967, and again in 1984.

Over the years, the Champagne Stakes has been raced over a variety of distances: Six furlongs : 1871–1889 Seven furlongs : 1891–1904 165 feet short of seven furlongs (Widener Course) : 1905–1932 Six and one-half furlongs (Widener Course) : 1933–1939 One mile : 1940–1983, 1985–1993; 2005 to present One and one-eighth miles : 1984 One and one-sixteenth miles : 1994–2004

Records Speed record: 1:34.20 – Devil's Bag (1983) 1:34.40 – Seattle Slew (1976)

Most wins by an owner: 5 – Calumet Farm (1933, 1936, 1944, 1949, 1977)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Braulio Baeza (1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1975)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Todd A. Pletcher (2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014)

Winners of the Champagne Stakes since 1946 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026U.S.S. ValorManuel FrancoClaude R. McGaughey IIITeam Valor International1:34.842025Napoleon SoloJoel RosarioChad SummersGold Square LLC1:34.572024Chancer McPatrickFlavien PratChad C. BrownFlanagan Racing1:36.512023Timberlake Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxWinStar Farm & Siena Farm1:35.902022Blazing SevensFlavien PratChad C. BrownRodeo Creek Racing LLC1:37.072021Jack ChristopherJosé Ortiz Chad C. BrownJim Bakke, Gerry Isbister, Coolmore Stud & White Birch Farm1:37.312020Jackie's WarriorJoel RosarioSteven M. AsmussenKirk And Judy Robison1:35.422019Tiz the LawManny FrancoBarclay TaggSackatoga Stable1:35.412018Complexity José L. OrtizChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables, Inc.1:34.632017Firenze Fire Irad Ortiz Jr.Jason ServisMr. Amore Stable (Ron Lombardi)1:35.912016Practical JokeJoel RosarioChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables, Inc. & William Lawrence1:34.682015GreenpointcrusaderJoe BravoDominick SchettinoSt. Elias Stable, MeB Racing Stables, Brooklyn Boyz Stables1:36.252014DaredevilJavier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherLet's Go Stable (managing partners Kevin Scatuorchio & Bryan Sullivan)1:36.622013HavanaIrad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherMichael Tabor, Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith1:35.812012Shanghai BobbyRosie NapravnikTodd A. PletcherStarlight Racing (Jack & Laurie Wolf)1:35.552011Union RagsJavier CastellanoMichael MatzChadds Ford Stable1:35.552010Uncle MoJohn VelazquezTodd A. PletcherMike Repole1:34.512009HomeboykrisEdgar PradoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.Louis Lazzinnaro, Joseph Bulger, Jack Mandato, et al. 1:35.122008Vineyard HavenEdgar PradoRobert J. FrankelRobert J. Frankel 1:36.062007War PassCornelio VelásquezNicholas P. ZitoRobert V. LaPenta1:36.122006Scat DaddyJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherJames T. Scaturochio & Michael Tabor1:36.972005First SamuraiJerry D. BaileyFrank L. BrothersBruce Lunsford & Lansdon B. Robbins III1:36.292004Proud AccoladeJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherPadua Stables1:42.302003BirdstoneJerry D. BaileyNicholas P. ZitoMarylou Whitney1:44.052002ToccetJorge ChavezJohn F. ScanlanDan Borislow1:44.452001OfficerVictor EspinozaBob BaffertThe Thoroughbred Corp.1:43.392000A P ValentineJorge ChavezNicholas P. ZitoCeltic Pride Stable1:41.451999Greenwood LakeJean-Luc SamynNicholas P. ZitoDee Conway & Fred Dematteis1:43.701998The Groom Is RedCorey NakataniNicholas P. ZitoCeltic Pride Stable1:42.911997Grand SlamGary StevensD. Wayne LukasRobert & Christina Baker, et al.1:40.591996OrdwayJohn R. VelazquezDavid G. DonkPhilip F. DiLeo & William Punk1:42.091995Maria's MonRobbie DavisRichard SchosbergMrs. Morton Rosenthal1:42.391994Timber CountryPat DayD. Wayne LukasGainesway Farm et al.1:44.011993DehereChris McCarronReynaldo H. NoblesDue Process Stable1:35.911992Sea HeroJerry D. BaileyMacKenzie MillerRokeby Stables1:34.801991Tri To WatchÁngel Cordero Jr.Carl DominoFred W. Hooper1:36.601990Fly So FreeJosé A. SantosFlint S. SchulhoferThomas Valando1:35.601989AdjudicatingJacinto VásquezClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps1:37.601988Easy GoerPat DayClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1:34.801987Forty NinerEddie MapleWoody StephensClaiborne Farm1:36.801986Polish NavyRandy RomeroClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1:35.201985MogamboÁngel Cordero Jr.LeRoy JolleyPeter M. Brant1:37.201984For Certain DocMarcel ZunigaThomas DeBonisPhilip C. Chuck1:49.201983Devil's BagEddie MapleWoody StephensHickory Tree Stable1:34.201982CopelanJerry D. BaileyMitchell GriffinFred W. Hooper1:37.801981Timely WriterJeffrey FellDominic ImpresciaPeter Martin1:36.401980Lord AvieJorge VelásquezDaniel PerlsweigDavid Simon1:37.201979Joanie's ChiefRuben HernandezEugene JacobsPeter Barberino1:38.201978Spectacular BidJorge VelásquezGrover G. DelpHawksworth Farm (Harry & Teresa Meyerhoff)1:34.801977AlydarJorge VelásquezJohn M. VeitchCalumet Farm1:36.801976Seattle SlewJean CruguetWilliam H. Turner Jr.Karen L. Taylor1:34.401975Honest PleasureBraulio BaezaLeRoy JolleyBertram R. Firestone1:36.401974Foolish PleasureJacinto VásquezLeRoy JolleyJohn L. Greer1:36.001973ProtagonistAngel SantiagoJohn P. CampoElmendorf Farm1:36.001973Holding PatternMichael MiceliJerome Sarner Sr.John Gerbas Jr.1:36.001972Stop The Music *John L. RotzJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1:35.001971Riva RidgeRon TurcotteLucien LaurinMeadow Stable1:36.401970Limit To Reason *Jorge VelásquezThomas J. KellyBrookmeade Stable1:35.401969Silent ScreenJohn L. RotzJ. Bowes BondElberon Farm1:37.201968Top KnightManuel YcazaRaymond MetcalfSteven B. Wilson1:35.201967VitriolicBraulio BaezaEdward A. NeloyOgden Phipps1:34.601966SuccessorBraulio BaezaEdward A. NeloyWheatley Stable1:35.001965BuckpasserBraulio BaezaWilliam C. WinfreyOgden Phipps1:36.401964Bold LadBraulio BaezaWilliam C. WinfreyWheatley Stable1:36.401963Roman BrotherJohn L. RotzBurley ParkeHarbor View Farm1:38.001962Never BendManuel YcazaWoody StephensCain Hoy Stable1:35.801961Donut QueenManuel YcazaRon McAnallyVerne Winchell1:36.001960Roving MinstrelHenry MorenoBurley ParkeHarbor View Farm1:35.601959WarfareIsmael ValenzuelaHack RossBellehurst Stable (Clifton Jones Jr.)1:35.201958First LandingEddie ArcaroCasey HayesChristopher Chenery1:39.401957Jewel's RewardBill ShoemakerIvan H. ParkeMaine Chance Farm1:37.401955Beau FondEddie ArcaroDaverne EmeryMrs. Henry H. Hecht1:36.401954Flying FuryHenry MorenoLoyd Gentry Jr.Cain Hoy Stable1:37.801953FishermanHedley WoodhouseSylvester VeitchC. V. Whitney1:38.601952LaffangoNick ShukMerritt A. BuxtonTrio Stable (Jack Liberman & Abe Giddins)1:38.001951ArmageddonBill ShoemakerMoody JolleyCain Hoy Stable1:38.201950Uncle MiltieHedley WoodhouseAndrew C. ColandoJoseph J. Colando1:36.601949TheorySteve BrooksHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm1:37.001948CapotTed AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1:37.201947Vulcan's ForgeArnold KirklandSylvester VeitchC. V. Whitney1:36.601946DonorJob Dean JessopPreston M. BurchW. Deering Howe1:37.40

In 1970, Hoist The Flag won the race but was disqualified and set back to last. In 1972, Secretariat won the race but was disqualified and set back to second. Due to a large field, in 1973 the race was run in two divisions.

Earlier winners

1945 – Marine Victory 1944 – Pot O'Luck 1943 – Pukka Gin 1942 – Count Fleet 1941 – Alsab 1940 – Monday Lunch 1939 – Andy K. 1938 – Porter's Mite 1937 – Menow 1936 – Privileged 1935 – Brevity 1934 – Balladier 1933 – Hadagal 1932 – Dynastic 1931 – Sweeping Light 1930 – Mate 1929 – Whichone 1928 – Healy 1927 – Oh Say 1926 – Valorous 1925 – Bubbling Over 1924 – Beatrice 1923 – Sarazen 1922 – Nassau 1921 – Surf Rider 1920 – Grey Lag 1919 – Cleopatra 1918 – War Pennant 1917 – Lanius 1916 – Vivid 1915 – Chicle 1914 – Paris 1913 – Race Not Run 1912 – Race Not Run 1911 – Race Not Run 1910 – Race Not Run 1909 – Fauntleroy 1908 – Helmet 1907 – Colin 1906 – Kentucky Beau 1905 – Perverse 1904 – Oiseau 1903 – Stalwart 1902 – Meltonian 1901 – Endurance by Right 1900 – Garry Herrmann 1899 – Kilmarnock 1898 – Lothario 1897 – Plaudit 1896 – The Friar 1895 – Ben Brush 1894 – Salvation 1893 – Sir Excess 1892 – Ramapo 1891 – Azra 1890 – Hoodlum 1889 – June Day 1888 – Radiant 1887 – Cascade 1886 – Connemarra 1885 – Dew Drop 1884 – Eachus 1883 – Leo 1882 – Breeze 1881 – Macduff 1880 – Lady Rosebery 1879 – Carita 1878 – Belinda 1877 – Albert 1876 – Bombast 1875 – Virginius 1874 – Hyder Ali 1873 – Grinstead 1872 – Minnie W. 1871 – Grey Planet 1870 – Madam Dudley 1869 – Finesse 1868 – Cottrill 1867 – Sarah B.

See also Road to the Kentucky Derby

References