The Damon Runyon Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race operated by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) at its Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens. First run in 1979, the annual event is currently contested on dirt over a distance of 7 furlongs. Restricted to horses bred in New York State, it was usually run in the late fall or early winter and open for two-year-olds only until 2020. With no race in 2019, those two-year-olds who turned three in 2020 competed when it was run on March 15.

One of a series of NYRA races for New York-bred horses, it is an important part of maintaining the significant breeding industry in that state.

The race is named for Damon Runyon, a famous sports reporter and short story writer who created a Broadway all his own during the Twenties and Thirties. From these stories came the musical Guys and Dolls. Runyon loved horse racing and campaigned a small string of his own horses.

Historical notes The Damon Runyon Stakes was raced on the turf course in 1990, 1991 and 1993. It was hosted by the NYRA's Belmont Park in 1979 and again in 1983-84.

The Inaugural running of the Damon Runyon took place at Belmont Park on October 15, 1979. The feature race of the day, it was won by the Assunta Louis Farm's colt Restrainor under jockey Ruben Hernandez.

Leo O'Brien won this race three times but his 1990 win would come with the best horse he would ever train, Fourstars Allstar. The following year the horse made history when owner Richard Bomze and his Irish-born trainer took the colt to Ireland where he won the May 18, 1991 Irish 2000 Guineas. Although a number of horses bred in the United States and owned by Americans had won top level races in Europe, no horse trained in the United States had ever won a European classic race.

Records Speed record: 1:22.40 @ 7 furlongs: Notebook (1987) 1:42.78 @ 1 mile, 70 yards: Ibboye (2009)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Mike E. Smith (1990, 1992, 1993, 2006) 4 - Aaron Gryder (1998, 2000, 2002, 2015) 4 - Manuel Franco (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 - Rudy R. Rodriguez (2014, 2018, 2020, 2024)

Most wins by an owner: 2 - Assunta Louis Farm (1979, 1980) 2 - Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. (1992, 1998) 2 - Michael Dubb (2014, 2021) 2 - Chester Broman, Sr. (2016, 2025)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles)(Furlongs) Time Win$2025Sand Devil3Jose LezcanoLinda RiceChester Broman, Sr.7 f1:24.66$100,0002024Antonio of Venice3Manuel FrancoRudy R. RodriguezMichael Imperio, Robert Cotrone, Hibiscus Stables LLC & Rudy R. Rodriguez 6 f1:10.35$100,0002023Looms Boldly3Manuel FrancoBrad H. CoxTen Strike Racing6 f1:13.75$100,0002022Rotknee3Manuel FrancoMichael J. MakerWilliam J. Butler7 f1:27.06$100,0002021Excellent Timing3Manuel FrancoChad C. BrownMichael Dubb, Wonder Stables, & Madaket Stables7 f1:28.02$55,0002020Dream Bigger3Junior Alvarado Rudy R. RodriguezRepole Stable7 f1:25.89$55,0002019 Race not held2018Not That Brady2Reylu GutierrezRudy R. RodriguezMichael Imperio, Rudy R. Rodriguez, Lianna Stables, Inc.1 m1:40.68 $55,0002017Empire Line2Eric CancelGeorge WeaverWest Point Thoroughbreds & RAP Racing1 m1:38.75$60,0002016Haul Anchor2Cornelio VelásquezKiaran P. McLaughlinChester Broman Sr. & Mary Broman 1 m1:45.69$60,0002015Extinct Charm2Aaron GryderGary ContessaJohn L. Moirano, William Achenbaum, Monty Foss, Steven Wecker1 m, 70 yds.1:44.73$60,0002014Good Luck Gus2Ruben SilveraRudy R. RodriguezMichael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables & The Elkstone Group1 m, 70 yds.1:45.80$60,0002013Samraat2José SantosRichard Violette Jr.My Meadowview Farm1 m, 70 yds.1:44.09$60,0002012Smooth Bert2Mike LuzziLeah GyarmatiBona Venture Stables 1 m1:39.70$48,0002011Swag Daddy2Junior AlvaradoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.Eric Fein1 m, 70 yds.1:43.90$39,0002010Beau de Beaupre2Alan GarciaJames A. JerkensNassau CC Stables 1 m, 70 yds.1:45.33$39,0002009Ibboyee2Ramon DominguezTodd A. PletcherAnstu Stables, Inc.1 m, 70 yds.1:42.78$41,9102008Haynesfield2Ramon DominguezSteven M. AsmussenTurtle Bird Stable1 m, 70 yds.1:42.95$50,2652007Giant Moon2Ramon DominguezRichard SchosbergAlbert Fried Jr.1 m, 70 yds.1:46.07$48,2702006Lawrence the Roman2Mike E. SmithRichard E. Dutrow Jr.Lawrence P. Roman1 m, 70 yds.1:44.48$43,2362005Platinum Couple2Jose EspinozaJoseph A. LostrittoTeam TriStar Stable 1 m, 70 yds.1:46.60$51,1502004Naughty New Yorker2Jean-Luc SamynPatrick J. KellyFox Ridge Farm, Inc.1 m, 70 yds.1:44.40$51,4352003West Virginia2Richard MiglioreTodd A. PletcherDonald Zuckerman & Roberta Mary Zuckerman1 m, 70 yds.1:47.80$50,2052002Grey Comet2Aaron GryderGary C. ContessaStar Track Farms1 m, 70 yds.1:44.20$49,5752001Eye Of The Comet2Robert MessinaSal Iorio Jr.Cecil H. Fiske1 m, 70 yds.1:46.40$48,9452000Bluesbreaker2Aaron GryderH. Allen JerkensSouthbelle Stable1 m, 70 yds.1:44.20$49,5601999Kirtons2Mike LuzziMichael HushionEugene Melnyk1 m, 70 yds.1:44.80$31,9501998Ewer All Wet2Aaron GryderMary E. EpplerAlfred G. Vanderbilt Jr.1 m, 70 yds.1:46.40$32,3101997Undaunted Mettle2Jorge ChavezGary C. ContessaMonty Foss & John Moirano1 m, 70 yds.1:46.00$33,9001996Regal Chant2Clovis CraneRichard J. LugovichRichard J. Lugovich1 m, 70 yds.1:45.80$32,2201995Shoppers Gold2José SantosKenneth A. NeskyNew River Stable1 m, 70 yds.1:45.40$33,0301994Ave's Flag2John VelazquezLeo O'BrienDavid McNulty, Josef Omland1 m, 70 yds.1:46.80$33,3301993Seminole Spirt2Mike E. SmithLeo O'BrienDiane K. Bomze1 m (t)1:41.80$44,4001992Over the Brink2Mike E. SmithMary E. EpplerAlfred G. Vanderbilt Jr.1 m1:36.60$57,3301991Montreal Marty2Julie KroneFlint S. SchulhoferVendome Stable 1 m ( t)1:37.60$56,3401990Fourstars Allstar2Mike E. SmithLeo O'BrienRichard Bomze1 m ( t)1:37.20$56,7001989Champagneforashley 2Jacinto VasquezHoward M. TesherLion's Head Farm1 m1:35.00$54,0001988Scarlet Ibis2Jacinto VasquezRichard T. DeStasioMichael T. Martin7 f1:24.00$54,0001987Notebook2José SantosD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein7 f 1:22.40$42,4801986Sweet Envoy2Jacinto VasquezRichard Violette Jr.Camgi Stable1 m1:36.20$41,8801985Bullet Blade2Robbie DavisMurray M. GarrenMurray M. Garren1 m1:37.20$39,9601984Hot Debate2Don MacBethDel W. Carroll IIWilliam S. Farish III1 m1:38.40$42,1801983Donna's World2Angel Cordero Jr.Bruce N. LevineBetty G. Marcus1 m1:39.40$34,3801982Aloha Hawaii2Gregg McCarronPaulino OrtizSeven Zee Stable7 f1:25.80$33,8401981Guilford Lad2Eddie MapleWilliam H. Turner Jr.Welcome Farm 7 f1:24.60$49,3201980Adirondack Holme2Ruben HernandezRamon M. HernandezAssunta Louis Farm 7 f1:23.60$49,7701979Restrainor2Ruben HernandezRamon M. HernandezAssunta Louis Farm 7 f1:27.60$47,970

References