The Gotham Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run in early March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A Grade III event with a current purse of US$300,000, it is set at a distance of 1 mile on the dirt. It is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
History The race is named for New York City, which has been nicknamed Gotham since an 1807 article by Washington Irving. The event was inaugurated in 1953 at Jamaica Racetrack but following the facility's closure was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack for the 1960 season. In 1958, the race was restricted to horses four years of age and older.
The Gotham Stakes is the final local prep to the Wood Memorial Stakes and an official prep race for the Kentucky Derby. The only Derby winner who competed in the Gotham was American Triple Crown champion Secretariat, who tied the track record when winning the race in 1973. Easy Goer improved on this in 1989, setting a track record of 1:32.40 – one of the fastest times ever run in North America on the dirt.
Since its inception, the Gotham has been competed at various distances: 1 mile: 1960–1976, 1978, 1980–2002, 2004–2005, 2018–present miles (8.5 furlongs): 1953–1959, 1977, 1979, 2006–2017 1 mile, 70 yards: 1984, 2003
The race was run in two divisions in 1953, 1974, 1975, and 1983.
Records Speed record: 1:32.40 – Easy Goer (1989) (Stakes and track record at 1 mile) 1:42.65 – I Want Revenge (2009) (at former distance of miles)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Jorge Velásquez (1969, 1978, 1980) 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1970, 1975, 1991) 3 – Jacinto Vásquez (1976, 1979, 1986) 3 – Richard Migliore (1985, 2003, 2005) 3 – Mike E. Smith (1990, 1992, 1995) 3 – Jose Lezcano (2008, 2022, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1989, 1992, 2005) 3 – Kiaran McLaughlin (2006, 2018, 2019)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney (1954, 1956) 2 – Claiborne Farm (1969, 1992) 2 – Locust Hill Farm (1983, 1988) 2 – Shadwell Stable (2016, 2019) 2 – St. Elias Stable (2024, 2026)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Iron HonorManuel FrancoChad C. BrownSt. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence & Glassman Racing 1:37.942025Flood ZoneReylu Gutierrez Brad H. CoxWathnan Racing1:39.622024Deterministic Joel RosarioChristophe ClementSt. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven C. Duncker & Vicarage Stable1:36.372023Raise CainJose LezcanoBen ColebrookAndrew Warren & Rania Warren1:38.092022MorelloJose LezcanoSteven M. AsmussenBlue Lion Thoroughbreds1:39.282021WeyburnTrevor McCarthyJimmy JerkensChiefswood Stables Limited1:38.702020Mischevious AlexKendrick CarmoucheJohn ServisCash Is King LLC & LC Racing LLC1:38.802019HaikalRajiv MaraghKiaran McLaughlinShadwell Stable1:35.632018EnticedJunior AlvaradoKiaran McLaughlinGodolphin Racing, LLC1:38.242017J Boys EchoRobby AlbaradoDale L. RomansAlbaugh Family Stables LLC 1:46.342016ShagafIrad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownShadwell Stable1:45.902015El KabeirCharles C. LopezJohn P. Terranova IIZayat Stables1:45.562014SamraatJosé OrtizRichard Violette Jr.My Meadowview Farm1:44.442013VyjackJoel RosarioRudy R. RodriguezPick Six Racing1:44.092012HansenRamon DomínguezMike MakerDr. Kendall Hansen1:43.842011Stay ThirstyRamon DomínguezTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable1:44.782010Awesome ActJulien LeparouxJeremy NosedaSusan Roy & Vinery Stables1:43.852009I Want RevengeJoseph TalamoJeff MullinsDavid J. Lanzman1:42.652008VisionaireJose LezcanoMichael MatzTeam Valor International & Vision Racing1:44.602007Cowtown CatRamon DomínguezTodd A. PletcherGulf Coast Farms & WinStar Farm1:44.752006Like NowFernando JaraKiaran McLaughlinJohn J. Dillon1:43.172005SurvivalistRichard MiglioreClaude R. McGaughey IIIPhipps Stable1:35.612004Saratoga CountyJavier CastellanoGeorge WeaverEvelyn M. Pollard1:35.532003AlysweepRichard MigliorePatrick L. ReynoldsMichael Dubb & Mark Doneson1:40.602002MayakovskyEdgar PradoPatrick BianconeMichael Tabor1:34.902001Richly BlendedRick WilsonBen Perkins Jr.Raymond Dweck1:35.142000Red BulletAlex SolisJoseph OrsenoStronach Stables 1:34.271999BadgeShaun BridgmohanJoseph AquillinoSouthbelle Stable1:34.721998WasatchJerry D. BaileyMartin D. WolfsonFrank Calabrese1:36.561997Smokin MelJohn VelazquezJohn DeStefano Jr.Sidney L. Port 1:34.381996Romano GucciJulie KroneRichard E. DutrowHerbert Kushner1:34.401995Talkin ManMike E. SmithRoger AttfieldHelen G. Stollery & Kinghaven Farms1:36.821994IrgunJerry D. BaileySteven W. YoungMarianne Chase1:36.271993As IndicatedCaesar BisonoRichard SchosbergHeatherwood Farm1:36.241992Lure †Mike E. SmithClaude R. McGaughey IIIClaiborne Farm1:35.63Devil His Due †Herb McCauleyH. Allen JerkensLion Crest Stable1991Kyle's Our ManÁngel Cordero Jr.John M. VeitchDarby Dan Farm1:34.691990Thirty Six RedMike E. SmithNick ZitoB. Giles Brophy1:33.801989Easy GoerPat DayClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1:32.401988Private TermsChris AntleyCharles HadryLocust Hill Farm1:34.801987Gone WestRobbie DavisWoody StephensHickory Tree Stable1:34.601986MogamboJacinto VásquezLeRoy JolleyPeter M. Brant1:34.601985Eternal PrinceRichard MiglioreJohn J. Lenzini Jr.Brian J. Hurst Jr.1:35.801984Bear HuntDon MacBethRoger LaurinTaylor Purchase Farm1:40.401983Assault LandingVince Bracciale Jr.Charles HadryLocust Hill Farm1:35.801983Chas ConerlyJeffrey FellMervin MarksDaniel Lavezzo Jr.1:36.601982Air Forbes WonMichael VeneziaFrank LaBoccettaEdward Anchel1:35.601981Proud AppealJeffrey FellStanley M. HoughMalcolm H. Winfield1:33.601980Colonel MoranJorge VelásquezThomas J. KellyTownsend B. Martin1:37.001979General AssemblyJacinto VásquezLeRoy JolleyBertram R. Firestone1:43.601978Slap JackJorge VelásquezLou M. GoldfineJerry Frankel1:38.601977CormorantDanny WrightJames P. SimpsonCharles Berry Jr.1:43.601976ZenJacinto VásquezDavid A. WhiteleyPen-Y-Bryn Farm1:35.601975Laramie TrailMike VeneziaJose A. MartinJoseph M. Roebling1:38.001975SinghÁngel Cordero Jr.John W. RussellCynthia Phipps1:37.001974StonewalkMiguel A. RiveraDaniel LopezTimberland Stable1:36.001974Rube The GreatMiguel A. RiveraFrank MartinSigmund Sommer1:35.201973SecretariatRon TurcotteLucien LaurinMeadow Stable1:33.401972FreetexChuck BaltazarWilliam T. RaymondMiddletown Stable1:36.401971Good BehavingRon TurcotteJohn P. CampoNeil Hellman1:36.001970Native RoyaltyÁngel Cordero Jr.John T. DavisHappy Valley Farm1:36.201969DikeJorge VelásquezLucien LaurinClaiborne Farm1:34.801968VerbatimJohn L. RotzJames P. ConwayElmendorf Farm1:34.001967Dr. FagerManuel YcazaJohn A. NerudTartan Stable1:35.201966StupendousPete AndersonEdward A. NeloyWheatley Stable1:34.601965Flag RaiserBobby UsseryHirsch JacobsIsidor Bieber1:36.601964Mr. MoonlightJimmy CombestNick CombestEdith Baily Dent1:37.201963DebbysmanLarry AdamsRobert DotterGustave Ring1:34.601962JaipurBill ShoemakerBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:37.001961AmbiopoiseBobby UsseryThomas M. WallerRobert Lehman1:35.801960John WilliamSam BoulmetisG. AuerbachMerrick Stable1:36.401959AtollEddie ArcaroRay MetcalfElkcam Stable1:43.001958Oh JohnnyWilliam BolandNorman R. McLeodMrs. Wallace Gilroy1:43.601957Mister JiveHedley WoodhouseGeorge M. CarterJ. L. Appelbaum1:45.601956Career BoyEric GuerinSylvester VeitchCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1:45.601955Go LightlyJoe CulmoneJames McGeeRoslyn Farm1:46.601954FishermanHedley WoodhouseSylvester VeitchCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1:46.201953 Div 2Native DancerEric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1:44.201953 Div 1LaffangoNick ShukMerritt A. BuxtonTrio Stable1:44.00 † In 1992 there was a dead heat for first.
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