River City Stakes

The River City Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of one and one eighth miles on the turf held annually in November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event offers a purse of $100,000.

River City Stakes
Grade III race
LocationChurchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated1978 (as River City Handicap)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
WebsiteChurchill Downs
Race information
Distance1+1⁄8 miles
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds and older
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 125 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
Purse$100,000 (2020)

History

The name of the event is after a nickname for the city of Louisville where river traffic between the upper Ohio River and the Gulf of Mexico provided the early settlement of Louisville as it grew as a portage site.

The event was inaugurated on 30 October 1978, opening day of Churchill Downs Fall meeting as the River City Handicap as a six furlong dirt race and was won by Inca Roca who won his fifth race from fourteen starts in a time of 1:102⁄5.[1]

The event was run over six furlongs until 1981 and then increased to 1 mile.[2] In 1987 the event was scheduled on the turf over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles.[2] The following year the distance of the event increased to 1+1⁄8 miles but it was moved off the turf and onto the main track due to inclement weather.[3]

The American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event as Grade III in 1996[4] and was won by the 2/1 favourite Same Old Wish.[5] Same Old Wish would win the event again the following year as a seven-year-old.[6]

The event was run as a handicap prior to 2019.[7]

The race was not run from 2020 to 2021.

Records

Speed record:

  • 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:47.90 – Dr. Kashnikow (CAN) (2001)
  • 1 mile (dirt): 1:36.20 - Taylor's Special (1986)

Margins:

  • 7 lengths – Go With the Times (1979)

Most wins:

  • 2 – Same Old Wish (1996, 1997)
  • 2 – Dr. Kashnikow (CAN) (2001, 2002)
  • 2 – Mr. Misunderstood (2018, 2019)

Most wins by an owner:

  • 2 – Friendship Stable (1996, 1997)
  • 2 – Erdenheim Farm (2001, 2002)
  • 2 – Flurry Racing Stables (2018, 2019)

Most wins by a jockey:

  • 6 – Pat Day (1982, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1999, 2000)

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
River City Stakes
2022 Hozier 4 Julien R. Leparoux Rodolphe Brisset Storyteller Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.67 $175,000 III
2019 Mr. Misunderstood 5 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Flurry Racing Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:53.31 $175,000 III [8]
River City Handicap
2018 Mr. Misunderstood 4 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Flurry Racing Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:55.94 $100,000 III [9]
2017 Shining Copper 7 Corey J. Lanerie Michael J. Maker Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 1+1⁄8 miles 1:52.78 $100,000 III [10]
2016 Thatcher Street 5 Brian Hernandez Jr Ian R. Wilkes Randall L. Bloch, Phil Milner, John Seiler & Amtietan 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.45 $100,000 III [11]
2015 Heart to Heart (CAN) 4 Julien R. Leparoux Brian A. Lynch Terry Hamilton 1+1⁄8 miles 1:52.16 $100,000 III [12]
2014 Villandry 5 Julien R. Leparoux Charles LoPresti Gainesway Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.54 $114,000 III [13]
2013 Potomac River 4 Juan P. Vargas Sergio Baez Maribel Ruelas 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.20 $116,300 III [14]
2012 Keep Up 5 Miguel Mena Alex Clarkson Mill Ridge Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.05 $115,700 III [15]
2011 Blues Street 7 Robby Albarado Eddie Kenneally Anstu Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.72 $111,000 III [16]
2010 Battle of Hastings (GB) 4 Joel Rosario Gregory Fox Mike House 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.90 $111,200 III [17]
2009 Rahystrada 5 Leandro D. Goncalves Byron G. Hughes Robert E. Courtney 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.18 $112,700 III [18]
2008 Karelian 6 William D. Troilo George R. Arnold II Green Lantern Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.06 $114,400 III Dead heat[19]
Demarcation 4 Jesus Lopez Castanon Paul J. McGee Amerman Racing Stables
2007 Thorn Song 4 Kent J. Desormeaux Dale L. Romans Zayat Stables 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.37 $227,400 III [20]
2006 Bayeux 5 John R. Velazquez Gerard A. Butler Michael Tabor 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.77 $168,900 III [21]
2005 America Alive 4 Robby Albarado Neil J. Howard Mill House 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.78 $167,700 III [22]
2004 G P Fleet 4 Jose R. Martinez Jr. Steven B. Flint Richard Bertram & Elaine Klein 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.26 $174,300 III [23]
2003 Hard Buck (BRZ) 4 Brice Blanc Kenneth G. McPeek Team Victory II 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.60 $172,800 III [24]
2002 Dr. Kashnikow (CAN) 5 Robby Albarado John R. S. Fisher Erdenheim Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.44 $175,650 III [25]
2001 Dr. Kashnikow (CAN) 4 Robby Albarado John R. S. Fisher Erdenheim Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.90 $177,300 III [26]
2000 Brahms 3 Pat Day W. Elliott Walden Tom Van Meter 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.09 $180,450 III [27]
1999 Comic Strip 4 Pat Day Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III, G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & James Elkins 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.71 $171,150 III [28]
1998 Wild Event 5 Shane Sellers Louis M. Goldfine Arthur I. Appleton 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.18 $187,800 III [29]
1997 Same Old Wish 7 Shane Sellers Robert Barbara Friendship Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.90 $171,900 III [6]
1996 Same Old Wish 6 Shane Sellers Robert Barbara Friendship Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.21 $113,100 III [5]
1995 Homing Pigeon 5 Randy Romero Harvey L. Vanier Nancy A. Vanier 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.00 $112,800 Listed [30]
1994 Lindon Lime 4 Shane Sellers W. Elliott Walden Frank Mansell 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.30 $116,400 Listed [31]
1993 Secreto's Hideaway 4 Willie Martinez Akiko M. Gothard Mickey Liber 1+1⁄8 miles 1:53.83 $111,800 Listed Off turf[32]
1992 Cozzene's Prince (CAN) 5 Dave Penna Tino Attard Kirby Canada Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.31 $112,400 Listed [33]
1991 Spending Record 4 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Moyglare Stud Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.34 $115,500 Listed [34]
1990 Silver Medallion 4 Craig Perret Philip M. Hauswald Brereton C. Jones 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.80 $87,000 [35]
1989 Spark O'Dan 4 Joe M. Johnson Gary G. Hartlage William S. Greene 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.80 $85,275 [36]
1988 Ile de Jinsky 4 Eugene J. Sipus Jr. William C. Thomas Finish Line Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:53.20 $68,310 Off turf[3]
1987 Kings River II (IRE) 5 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Bertram Firestone 1+1⁄16 miles 1:45.40 $57,150 [37]
River City Stakes
1986 Taylor's Special 5 Pat Day William I. Mott William Lucas 1 mile 1:36.20 $46,165 [38]
1985 Banner Bob 6 K. Keith Allen Jerome J. Sarner Jr. William J. & Sharon Walsh 1 mile 1:36.60 $44,800 [39]
1984 Eminency 4 Pat Day Claude R. McGaughey III Happy Valley Farm 1 mile 1:38.40 $28,350 [40]
1983 Northern Majesty 3 Sam Maple Raymond S. Lawrence Jr. Leslie Combs II & C. C. Green 1 mile 1:37.00 $28,450 [41]
River City Handicap
1982 Pleasing Times 3 Pat Day Joseph M. Bollero Tom Gentry 1 mile 1:38.20 $31,250 [42]
1981 Suliman 4 Larry Snyder Robert E. Holthus Joyce Starr & Dixie Holthus 6 furlongs 1:10.60 $30,950 [43]
1980 Tinsley's Hope 6 Julio C. Espinoza William C. Thomas Henry Pace 6 furlongs 1:11.00 $29,300 [44]
1979 Go With the Times 3 Gerland Gallitano Joseph M. Bollero Russell Reineman 6 furlongs 1:10.20 $25,000 [45]
1978 Inca Roca 5 Julio C. Espinoza Earl J. Puckett Charles Jarrell 6 furlongs 1:10.40 $27,475 [1]

Legend:
  Dirt   Turf

See also

References
  1. Koerner, Dave (31 October 1978). "Inca Roca's luck turns sweet in River City Handicap (1978 River City Handicap – race 8: held 30 October 1978)". The Courier-Journal. pp. 29, 34. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  2. "River City Handicap (Gr. 3)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  3. Berry, Jack (7 November 1988). "Ile de Jinsky takes River City 'Cap at Downs (1988 River City Handicap – race 8: held 6 November 1988)". The Courier-Journal. p. 36. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. "RIVER CITY HANDICAP - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  5. "1996 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 17 November 1996. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  6. "1997 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 November 1997. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  7. Churchill Downs (2019). "$175,000 River City (Grade III)" (PDF). KentuckyDerby.com. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  8. "2019 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  9. "2018 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  10. "2017 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  11. "2016 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  12. "2015 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  13. "2014 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  14. "2013 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  15. "2012 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  16. "2011 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  17. "2010 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  18. "2009 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  19. "2008 (Nov) River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  20. "2007 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  21. "2006 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 3 November 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  22. "2005 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 20 November 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  23. "2004 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 November 2004. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  24. "2003 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 16 November 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  25. "2002 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 17 November 2002. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  26. "2001 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 11 November 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  27. "2000 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 5 November 2000. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  28. "1999 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 November 1999. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  29. "1998 River City Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 November 1998. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  30. "1995 River City Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 November 1995. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  31. "1994 River City Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 November 1994. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  32. "1993 River City Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 31 October 1993. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  33. "1992 River City Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 15 November 1992. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  34. "1991 River City Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 November 1991. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  35. Rees, Jennie (12 November 1990). "Still-learning Silver Medallion Triumphs in Downs' River City (1990 River City Handicap – race 8: held 11 November 1990)". The Courier-Journal. p. 30. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  36. Rees, Jennie (13 November 1989). "Johnson, Spark O'Dan post surprise in Churchill Downs River City Handicap (1989 River City Handicap – race 8: held 12 November 1989)". The Courier-Journal. p. 36. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  37. Rees, Jennie (8 November 1987). "Kings River II fools his own rider (1987 River City Handicap – race 8: held 7 November 1987)". The Courier-Journal. p. 24. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  38. Rees, Jennie (17 November 1986). "Taylor's Special behaves like a favorite (1986 River City Stakes – race 8: held 16 November 1986)". The Courier-Journal. p. 39. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  39. Rees, Jennie (17 November 1985). "Taylor's Special behaves like a favorite (1985 River City Stakes – race 8: held 16 November 1985)". The Courier-Journal. pp. 45, 62. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  40. Cushing, Rick (12 November 1984). "High-spirited Eminency displays his class in River City Stakes (1984 River City Stakes – race 8: held 11 November 1984)". The Courier-Journal. p. 28. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  41. Rees, Jennie (6 November 1983). "Northern Majesty uses his head in River City (1983 River City Stakes – race 8: held 5 November 1983)". The Courier-Journal. p. 14. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  42. Sowers, Richard (14 November 1982). "Pleasing Times caps 5-win day for jockey Day (1982 River City Handicap – race 8: held 13 November 1982)". The Courier-Journal. pp. 35, 46. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  43. "Suliman holds off Tiger Lure - Long shot wins River City 'Cap (1981 River City Handicap – race 8: held 2 November 1981)". The Courier-Journal. 3 November 1981. p. 14. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  44. Koerner, Dave (2 November 1980). "Tinsley's Hope scores in River City (1980 River City Handicap – race 8: held 1 November 1980)". The Courier-Journal. p. 16. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  45. Koerner, Dave (30 October 1979). "Rider has mixed emotions as Go With the Times zips (1979 River City Handicap – race 8: held 29 October 1979)". The Courier-Journal. p. 6. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.