The W. L. McKnight Stakes is an American Grade 3 Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Inaugurated in 1973 at Calder Race Course it remained there through 2013 when the track closed. In 2017 a race condition was changed from being open to horses age three and older to those who were four and older. A race on turf at a distance of a mile and one-half, due to safety concerns it was shifted from the turf course to the main dirt track in 1993, 2005, and 2013.

The race was named for William L. McKnight, the founder of Tartan Farms. Prior to 2019, it was run as the W. L. McKnight Handicap.

Historical notes Twilight Eclipse has the distinction of winning the McKnight Handicap back-to-back on two different racing surfaces. At Calder Race Course, the gelding won the race on grass in 2012 and in 2013 on dirt after it was switched from a soggy grass course to the dirt track. It was only the second time in his career that Twilight Eclipse had run on dirt.

In 1995, Flag Down set the race record that still stood when the Calder track closed. Flag Down was bred by Windfields Farm and raced by Allen Paulson who at the time was also racing the great future U. S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Cigar.

Of its fifty-three runnings, no female horse has won the McKnight.

Records Speed record: 2:25.90 @ 1 miles on Gulfstream Park turf course: Taghleeb (2017) 2:24.11 @ 1 miles on Calder turf course: Flag Down (1995)

Most wins: 2 – Flying Pidgeon (1985, 1986) 2 – Twilight Eclipse (2012, 2013) 2 – Presious Passion (2007, 2008)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – José Santos (1985, 1986, 1990, 1995)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 – Michael J. Maker (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Buckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok) (1980, 1982) 2 – Constance Daparma & Marjan Stable, Inc. (1985, 1986) 2 – Patricia A. Generazio (2007, 2008) 2 – West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. (Terry Finley CEO) (2012, 2013) 2 – Ken & Sarah Ramsey (2015, 2018) 2 – Michael M. Hui (2017, 2019)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Win$ Gr.2026Layabout 4David EganPatrick BianconeKevin M. Doyle2:25.27$200,000G32025Dashman4Florent GerouxBrian LynchFrankly Speaking LLC2:24.58$115320G32024Francesco Clemente (IRE)4Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad BrownPeter Brant12:22.64$116,560G32023Red Knight9Irad Ortiz Jr.Michael J. MakerTrinity Farm12:25.11$116,500G32022Abaan5Luis SaezTodd PletcherEclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Alex Daigneault12:29.53$115,320G32021Tide Of The Sea5Tyler GaffalioneMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm12:24.57$87,420G32020Spooky Channel5Julien LeparouxBrian A. LynchTerry Hamilton12:26.16$116,560G32019Zulu Alpha6Irad Ortiz Jr.Michael J. MakerMichael M. Hui12:36.80$114,080G32018Oscar Nominated5José OrtizMichael J. MakerKen & Sarah Ramsey12:30.08$119,040G32017Taghleeb6Tyler GaffalioneMichael J. MakerMichael M. Hui12:25.90$115,320G32016 Race not held2015Charming Kitten5John R. VelazquezTodd PletcherKen & Sarah Ramsey12:27.76$59,520G32014Divine Oath3Javier CastellanoTodd PletcherLet's Go Stable (Kevin Scatuorchio & Bryan Sullivan)12:34.25$57,040G32013Twilight Eclipse4Jose LezcanoThomas AlbertraniWest Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. (Terry Finley CEO)12:23.66$75,175G32012Twilight Eclipse3Manoel CruzThomas AlbertraniWest Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. (Terry Finley CEO)12:26.71$90,210G22011Musketier9Luis SaezRoger L. AttfieldStella Perdomo12:28.25$90,520G22010Prince Will I Am3Javier CastellanoMichelle K. NiheiCasa Farms I (Susan A. Atkins)12:38.40$93,000G22009Cloudy's Knight9Rosemary Homeister Jr.Jonathan E. SheppardS J Stables LLC (Shirley & Jarrold Schwartz)12:27.63$88,350G22008Presious Passion5Elvis TrujilloMary E. HartmannPatricia A. Generazio12:25.64$86,490G22007Presious Passion4Elvis TrujilloMary E. HartmannPatricia A. Generazio12:26.13$115,320G22006Devil's Preacher3Rafael BejaranoGeorge R. WeaverR. A. Hill Stable (Randy Hill)12:38.28$120,000G22005Meteor Storm6Javier CastellanoWallace A. DollaseThe Horizon Stable (M. Jarvis, G. Margolis, K. Smole, J. Conway)12:25.91$120,000G22004Dreadnaught4Jean-Luc SamynThomas H. VossTrillium Stable (Douglas Joyce)12:26.60$120,000G22003Balto Star5John R. VelazquezTodd PletcherAnstu Stables, Inc.12:24.87$120,000G22002Man From Wicklow5Jerry D. BaileyRichard A. Violette Jr.Richard A. Violette Jr.12:28.05$120,000G22001Profit Option6Mark GuidryKenneth E. HoffmanMark Conway, K. E. Hoffman, Team Canonie, Inc.12:27.95$90,000G22000A Little Luck6Mike E. SmithBarclay TaggKathleen Crompton12:29.01$90,000G21999Wicapi7Cornelio VelásquezJoseph G. CalascibettaAcclaimed Racing Stable (Michael R. Berry)12:26.28$90,000G21998Wild Event5Shane SellersLouis M. GoldfineArthur I. Appleton12:26.93$90,000G21997Panama City3Pat DayPatrick B. ByrneRobert Sangster & Joseph Lacombe12:27.00$90,000G21996Diplomatic Jet4Jorge F. ChavezJames E. PicouFred W. Hooper12:24.20$90,000G21995Flag Down5José SantosChristophe ClementAllen E. Paulson12:24.00$90,000G21994-1Star of Manila3Craig PerretBurk Kessenger Jr.New Phoenix Stable (Gary Drake)12:28.40$90,000G21994-2Cobblestone Road5José FerrerOliver E. EdwardsBruce Watkins & Stanley Stahl12:27.80$90,000G21993Antartic Wings5Rene DouglasMichael LermanSandy Price12:32.40$60,000G21992Bye Union Avenue6Rene DouglasReynaldo H. NoblesDue Process Stable12:27.20$90,000G21991Stolen Rolls5Pedro A. RodriguezLawrence W. JenningsEsquire Farms12:27.00$60,000G21990Drum Taps5José SantosNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III12:29.80$60,000G21989Mataji4Douglas ValienteHappy AlterAlters Racing Stable12:25.60$90,000G21988All Sincerity4Constantino HernandezAngel M. MedinaAlmost Heaven Stable, Inc.12:25.40$120,000G21987Creme Fraiche 6Eddie MapleWoody StephensBrushwood Stable (Elizabeth Moran)12:27.00$120,000G21986Flying Pidgeon5José SantosLuis Olivares Constance Daparma & Marjan Stable, Inc.12:39.60$120,000G21985-1Jack Slade4Gerland GalitanoDavid C. KassenAndrew Adams12:26.20$69,900G21985-2Flying Pidgeon5José SantosLuis OlivaresConstance Daparma & Marjan Stable, Inc.12:25.80$70,800G21984-1Open Call6Jorge VelásquezRobert J. Reinacher Jr.Greentree Stable12:30.20$63,755G21984-2Nijinsky's Secret5José Vélez Jr.Kent H. StirlingHedley McDougald12:31.20$63,675G21983Current Blade6Jerry D. BaileyJohn P. CampoBuckland Farm1 ±2:29.20$70,020G21982-1Ghazwan6Constantino HernandezLeonard ImperioBuckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok)12:28.80$61,920G21982-2Russian George5Miguel A. RiveraJean CruguetSea Salt Farm, Inc.12:29.80$61,320G21981-1El Barril5Jacinto VásquezAngel A. Penna Jr.Walnut Hill Farm 12:28.40$51,630G31981-2Buckpoint5Jerry D. BaileyJ. Bert SonnierOwen Helman12:28.00$52,230G31980-1Old Crony5Don BrumfieldEdward I. Kelly Sr.Bwamazon Farm (Millard A. Waldheim)1 ±1:48.40$35,565G31980-2Drum's Captain5Jeffrey FellLeonard ImperioBuckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok)1 ±1:48.00$34,875G31979Bob's Dusty5Richard DePassWilliam E. AdamsRobert N. Lehmann1 ±1:48.00$55,800G31978Practitioner5Jesus S. RodriguezLeo SierraDogwood Stable1 ±1:48.00$56,520G31977Hall of Reason5Mickey SolomoneDukas "Duke" DavisMalcolm Woldenberg1 ±1:47.20$52,200G31976Toonerville3Gene St. LeonNorman St. LeonFrank & Mike Ryan & Norman St. Leon1 ±1:44.60$55,800G31975Snurb5Gene St. LeonReed M. CombestB.L.T. Stable (Art Bruns, et al.)1 ±1:46.00$37,800LR1974Shane's Prince5Eddie MapleFrank J. McManusRed Hand Stable1 ±1:46.00$35,7001973Getajetholme4Joseph E. ImparatoJ. Bert SonnierRalph Sessa1 ±1:47.20$38,700

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