The Discovery Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the latter part of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A Listed event open to three-year-old horses, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one and one eighth miles (nine furlongs).

In its 72nd running in 2016, the race honors the great thoroughbred Discovery, the 1935 American Horse of the Year owned and raced by Alfred G. Vanderbilt II. In the list of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century by Blood-Horse magazine, Discovery ranks 37th.

Based at Aqueduct, the Discovery Handicap was inaugurated at Belmont Park where it was run from 1945–1958, and again in 1960–1961, 1968–1970. In one year, 1974, the race was run in two divisions. In 2005 it was contested at a distance of a mile and one sixteenth. The largest winning margin was 9 1/4 lengths.

Records Speed record (at 1 1/8 miles): 1:47 1/5 – Forego (1973) 1:47.30 – Left Bank (2000)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1974 (2×), 1979, 1980, 1988) 5 – John Velazquez (1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007) 5 – Joel Rosario (2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Todd A. Pletcher (1998, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2023)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Harbor View Farm (1964, 1965, 1974)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time2025Rated by MeritManuel FrancoChad C. BrownSt. Elias Stable 1:33.452024Generous TipperKendrick Carmouche Kenneth G. McPeekWalking L Thoroughbreds LLC1:50.052023CrupiKendrick CarmoucheTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable & St. Elias Stable 1:51.602022EloquistPaco LopezRobert E. Reid Jr.Cash Is King LLC & LC Racing 1:53.332021Miles DManuel FrancoChad C. BrownPeter M. Brant, Robert V. LaPenta1:52.442020Forza Di OroJunior AlvaradoWiliam I. MottDon Alberto Stable1:50.032019PerformerJoel RosarioClaude R. McGaughey IIIPhipps Stable1:50.362018PlainsmanJoel RosarioBrad H. CoxShortleaf Stable 1:52.142017Control GroupJoel RosarioRudy R. RodriguezMichael Dubb & David Simon1:52.832016SticksstatelydudeJoel RosarioKiaran P. McLaughlinA. Haynes, J. Ferris, Pack Pride Racing, M. Haynes & B. Ward1:50.582015Tommy MachoJavier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherPaul Pompa Jr. & All American Horses1:51.672014ProtonicoJoe BravoTodd PletcherSumaya U.S. Stable1:51.922013RomanshJosé OrtizThomas AlbertraniGodolphin Racing1:48.282012Called to ServeJoel RosarioNick CananiMarc C. Ferrell1:49.772011RedeemedEdgar PradoRick Dutrow Jr.Jay Em Ess Stable1:49.222010Stormy's MajestyEdgar PradoDomenic GalluscioMajesty Stud1:50.022009HaynesfieldRamon DomínguezSteven M. AsmussenTurtle Bird Stable1:50.102008Wishful TomcatRamon DomínguezGary C. ContessaWinter Park Partners1:53.282007Now a VictorJohn VelazquezMichael TrombettaThree Diamonds Farm1:50.152006Roman DynastyJohn VelazquezTodd A. PletcherAllen E. Paulson Trust1:51.112005Magna GraduateJohn VelazquezTodd A. PletcherElisabeth Alexander1:41.352004ZakocityJavier CastellanoPatrick L. ReynoldsPaul Pompa Jr.1:49.782003DuringJosé A. SantosBob BaffertJames McIngvale1:51.182002Saint MardenJerry D. BaileyMichael R. MatzMartin S. Schwartz & Dennis Drazin1:49.132001Evening AttireShaun BridgmohanPatrick J. KellyMary Grant1:48.622000Left BankJohn VelazquezTodd A. PletcherMichael B. Tabor1:47.301999AdonisJohn VelazquezNick ZitoParaneck Stable1:50.111998Early WarningJorge F. ChavezTodd A. PletcherDogwood Stable1:48.941997Mr. SinatraMike E. SmithGasper MoscheraBarbara J. Davis1:49.551996Gold FeverMike E. SmithClaude R. McGaughey IIICynthia Phipps1:49.011995Michael's StarJulie KroneGuadalupe PreciadoWilliam Wheeler1:50.341994Serious SpenderJorge F. ChavezDominick A. SchettinoJohn Caputo1:51.241993Prospector's FlagJorge F. ChavezNick ZitoAkindale Farm1:52.301992New DealRobbie DavisWilliam Badgett, JrGreentree Stable1:48.081991Upon My SoulJean-Luc SamynRichard Violette Jr.Alfred G. Vanderbilt II1:49.601990Sports ViewJosé A. SantosD. Wayne LukasEdward A. Cox Jr.1:48.601989Tricky CreekCraig PerretGeorge R. Arnold IIIAshbrook Farm1:50.001988DynaformerÁngel Cordero Jr.D. Wayne LukasH. Joseph Allen1:50.001987ParochialJulie KroneRobert KlesarisGlenn E. Lane1:51.201986Moment of HopeMike VeneziaBob DunhamFour Fifths Stable1:49.601985Proud TruthJorge VelásquezJohn M. VeitchDarby Dan Farms1:49.201984Key to the MoonDan BeckonGil RowntreeBahnam K. Yousif1:50.001983Country PineJerry D. BaileyThomas L. RondinelloDaniel M. Galbreath1:49.601982TrenchantJean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonMeadowhill1:50.801981PrinceletEddie MapleJohn P. CampoJohn P. Campo1:51.001980FappianoÁngel Cordero Jr.Jan H. NerudJohn A. Nerud1:50.001979Belle's GoldÁngel Cordero Jr.Walter A. KelleyJohn R. Murrell1:48.001978Sorry LookinRoger VelezPete D. AndersonPete D. Anderson1:49.601977Cox's RidgeEddie MapleJoseph B. CanteyLoblolly Stable1:48.601976Wise PhilipDaryl MontoyaWilliam BolandRuth E. Streit1:48.601975Dr. EmilBraulio BaezaWilliam F. SchmittHerbert Kaufman1:48.601974Rube the GreatÁngel Cordero Jr.Pancho MartinSigmund Sommer1:48.201974Green GambadosÁngel Cordero Jr.Laz BarreraHarbor View Farm1:48.201973ForegoHeliodoro GustinesEddie HaywardLazy F Ranch1:47.201972ForageEddie MapleJames W. MaloneyWilliam Haggin Perry1:48.601971AutobiographyLaffit Pincay Jr.Pancho MartinSigmund Sommer1:50.401970Burd AlaneJorge VelásquezVictor J. NickersonWatermill Farm1:47.401969HydrologistDoug ThomasRoger LaurinMeadow Stable1:47.601968ArdoiseEddie BelmonteAngel Penna Sr.Gustave Ring1:49.201967Bold HourBill ShoemakerBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:48.601966Deck Hand † Bill ShoemakerScotty SchulhoferJohn M. Schiff1:49.601965SammyrenHeliodoro GustinesBurley ParkeHarbor View Farm1:49.001964Roman BrotherFernando AlvarezBurley ParkeHarbor View Farm1:49.001963Quest LinkBill ShoemakerRobert D. WingfieldWilliam Radkovich1:49.801962ComicLarry AdamsJames E. FitzsimmonsOgden Phipps1:48.601961AmbiopoiseBill ShoemakerThomas M. WallerRobert Lehman1:48.801960KelsoEddie ArcaroCarl HanfordBohemia Stable1:48.401959Middle BrotherEddie ArcaroE. Barry RyanMrs. E. Barry Ryan1:50.601958WarheadEddie ArcaroKay Erik JensenMrs. Mabel C. Scholtz1:51.201957Ben LomandEddie ArcaroJames E. RyanEsther du Pont Thouron1:49.201956RenegedIsmael ValenzuelaHomer C. PardueWoodley Lane Farm1:48.201955Westward HoConn McCrearynot foundBreckinridge Long1:52.801954ChevationEric GuerinRichard E. HandlenFoxcatcher Farm1:50.001953Level LeaBennie GreenJames E. FitzsimmonsJohn S. Phipps1:52.001952AncestorTed AtkinsonJames E. FitzsimmonsOgden Phipps1:50.801951AlertedOvie ScurlockJimmy PenrodHampton Stable1:50.401950SunglowDouglas DodsonPreston M. BurchBrookmeade Stable1:49.001949Prophets ThumbDave GormanMax HirschKing Ranch1:52.201948Better SelfDave GormanMax HirschKing Ranch1:53.801947Cosmic BombOvie ScurlockWillie BoothWilliam G. Helis Sr.1:51.201946Mighty StoryBasil JamesBurley ParkeJohn Marsch1:51.801945War JeepArnold KirklandTom SmithMaine Chance Farm1:51.40 * † In 1966, Ring Twice finished first, but was disqualified.

References

History of the Discovery Handicap at the NYRA