The Philip H. Iselin Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Open to horses three years of age and older, the race was first run in 1884. In 1891, New Jersey state legislators began a move to ban parimutuel betting and the race had to be moved to the Jerome Park Racetrack and the Morris Park Racetrack in The Bronx, New York. With a legislated permanent ban, after the 1893 running the Monmouth Park Racetrack was shut down and the property sold. In 1946 Thoroughbred racing returned to a new Monmouth Park facility, spurred on by the burgeoning American economy after the end of World War II.

From inception until 1966 the race was known as the Monmouth Handicap; then from 1967 through 1980 it was run as the Amory L. Haskell Handicap. In 1981 it reverted to the Monmouth Handicap name, then in 1986, it was given its present name to honor Philip H. Iselin, a founding shareholder and director of the Monmouth Park Racetrack who would serve as its president and chairman of the Board of directors.

Created in the 19th century, when most Thoroughbred horse races were run at much longer distances than they are today, the early Monmouth Handicaps were raced over a distance of miles.

The Philip Iselin Stakes was the second leg of the Mid Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships Long Dirt Division or MATCh Races. MATCh is a series of five races in five separate thoroughbred divisions run throughout four Mid-Atlantic States including; Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park Racecourse in Maryland; Delaware Park Racetrack in Delaware; Parx, Philadelphia Park and Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania and Monmouth Park in New Jersey. It held this distinction during the 2018 series.

Starting in 2023, the race has been run as part of the Breeders Cup Dirt Dozen racing series, providing bonuses for the top three finishing horses.

Records Time record (since 1979): miles: 1:46.80 by Spend a Buck (1985), Jolie's Halo (1992) miles: 1:40.20 Formal Gold (1997)

Most wins: 2 – West Coast Scout (1972, 1973)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Eddie Arcaro (1956, 1957, 1958, 1960) 4 – Bill Shoemaker (1959,1979, 1980, 1986)

Most wins by a trainer: 3 – James E. Fitzsimmons (1954, 1956, 1958) 3 – David Jacobson (2014, 2016, 2018) Most wins by an owner:

2 – David Jacobson (2016, 2018) 2 – Oxford Stable (1972, 1973) 2 – James Ben Ali Haggin (1886, 1888)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Purse Gr.2026Bishops Bay6Luis R. Rivera Jr.Brad H. CoxKAS Stables1-1/16 m1:41.92$150,000G32025Surface to Air5Samuel MarinPanagiotis SynnefiasPremier Stable1-1/16 m1:44.27$245,000G32024Subsanador5Mike E. SmithRichard E. MandellaWathnan Racing1-1/16 m1:42.63$250,000G32023Whelen Springs4Jose C. FerrerLindsay SchultzShortleaf Stable1-1/16 m1:44.35$250,000G32022Informative5Dexter HaddockUriah St. LewisTrin-Brook Stables, Inc.1-1/16 m1:44.22$250,000G32021Code of Honor5Paco LopezClaude R. McGaugheyWilliam Farish1-1/16 m1:42.38$252,000G32020Warrior's Charge4Paco LopezBrad H. CoxTen Strike Racing & Madaket Stables1-1/16 m1:43.37$200,000G32019Monongahela5Jose LezcanoJason ServisMichael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, Gary Aisquith1-1/16 m1:42.45$150,000G32018Harlan Punch5Joe BravoDavid JacobsonDavid Jacobson1-1/16 m1:44.53$100,000G32017Just Call Kenny6Eddie CastroPatrick B. McBurneyDominic Bossone, Peter D. Donnelly, James Cahill, ABL Stable, & Phantom House Farm 1-1/8 m1:47.73$100,000G32016Baccelo6Nik JuarezDavid JacobsonDavid Jacobson1-1/8 m1:48.55$100,000G32015Valid5Nik JuarezMarcus J. VitaliCrossed Sabres Farm1-1/8 m1:50.14$150,000G32014Balance of Power4Chuck LopezDavid JacobsonDrawing Away Stable & David Jacobson1-1/8 m1:48.78$150,000G32013Last Gunfighter4Joe BravoChad C. BrownJohn D. Gunther1-1/8 m1:52.03$150,000G32012San Pablo4Christopher DeCarloTodd PletcherBurning Sands Stable1-1/8 m1:49.59$150,000G32011Where's Sterling4Paco LopezNick CananiFrank Calabrese1-1/8 m1:48.57$252,500G32010Duke of Mischief4Eibar CoaDavid FawkesAlex & Joann Lieblong, Fawkes Racing, Marilyn McMaster 1-1/8 m1:51.15$300,000G32009Chirac4Elvis TrujilloJane CibelliPia M. Kirkham1-1/8 m1:49.11$300,000G32008Honest Man4Terry J. ThompsonJ. Larry JonesWinStar Farm & Foxhill Farms1-1/8 m1:49.12$300,000G32007Gottcha Gold4Chuck LopezEdward Plesa Jr.Centaur Farms Inc.1-1/8 m1:48.36$300,000G32006Park Avenue Ball4Christopher DeCarloJames T. RyersonChar-Mari Stable1-1/8 m1:49.73$250,000G32005West Virginia4José A. Vélez Jr.Todd PletcherDon & Roberta Zuckerman1-1/8 m1:50.83$250,000G32004 Ghostzapper4Javier CastellanoRobert J. FrankelStronach Stables1-1/8 m1:47.66$200,000G32003 Tenpins5Robby AlbaradoDonald WinfreeJoseph V. Vitelli1-1/8 m1:50.20$200,000G32002 Cat's At Home5José A. Vélez Jr.Mark A. HennigEdward P. Evans1-1/8 m1:49.00$350,000G22001 Broken Vow4Ramon DomínguezH. Graham MotionPin Oak Stable1-1/8 m1:49.40$350,000G22000 Rize4José C. FerrerNorman R. PointerRunnin Horse Farm1-1/8 m1:48.40$350,000G21999 Frisk Me Now5Edwin L. King Jr.Robert J. DursoCarol R. Dender1-1/8 m1:49.20$350,000G21998 Skip Away5Jerry BaileySonny HineCarolyn H. Hine1-1/8 m1:47.20$500,000G21997 Formal Gold 4Kent DesormeauxWilliam W. PerryJohn D. Murphy1-1/16 m1:40.20$250,000G21996 Smart Strike4Craig PerretMark FrostadSam-Son Farm 1-1/16 m1:41.40$300,000G11995 Schossberg5Dave PennaPhil England Steve Stavro1-1/8 m1:49.20$300,000G11994 Taking Risks4Mark T. JohnstonKing T. LeatherburyLakeville Stables 1-1/8 m1:48.20$250,000G11993 Valley Crossing5Chris AntleyRichard W. SmallRobert E. Meyerhoff1-1/8 m1:49.20$500,000G11992 Jolie's Halo5Edgar PradoRobert W. CamacArthur I. Appleton 1-1/8 m1:46.80$500,000G11991 Black Tie Affair5Pat DayErnie T. PoulosJeff Sullivan 1-1/8 m1:47.80$500,000G11990 Beau Genius5Ricardo LopezGerald S. BennettBrian Davidson 1-1/8 m1:48.20$250,000G11989 Proper Reality4Jerry BaileyRobert E. HolthusJuanita Winn1-1/8 m 1:48.00$250,000G11988 Alysheba 4Chris McCarronJack Van BergDorothy & Pamela Scharbauer1-1/8 m1:47.80$500,000G11987 Bordeaux Bob4Chris AntleyD. Wayne LukasMark Barge 1-1/8 m1:48.20$250,000G11986 Roo Art4Bill ShoemakerD. Wayne LukasBarbara Holleran 1-1/8 m1:48.80$250,000G11985 Spend a Buck3Laffit Pincay Jr.Cam GambolatiHunter Farm1-1/8 m1:46.80$250,000G11984Believe The Queen 4Donnie Miller Jr.H. Allen JerkensBohemia Stable1-1/8 m1:48.20$250,000G11983 Bates Motel 4Terry LiphamJohn GosdenJacqueline Getty1-1/8 m1:47.20$250,000G11982 Mehmet4Eddie DelahoussayeRobert J. FrankelA.J. Chlad, Sam Mevorach, Elizabeth Vallone1-1/8 m1:48.20$250,000G11981 Amber Pass4Cash AsmussenSonny HineEntremont Stable1-1/8 m1:47.40$250,000G11980 Spectacular Bid4Bill ShoemakerGrover G. DelpHawksworth Farm 1-1/8 m1:48.00$250,000G11979 Text5Bill ShoemakerVincent ClyneElmendorf Farm 1-1/8 m1:47.40$100,000G11978 Life's Hope5Craig PerretLaz BarreraHarbor View Farm1-1/4 m2:03.20$100,000G11977 Majestic Light 4Sandy HawleyJohn W. RussellOgden Mills Phipps1-1/4 m2:00.40$100,000G11976 Hatchet Man5Vincent Bracciale Jr.John M. Gaver Jr.Greentree Stable 1-1/4 m2:00.60$100,000G11975 Royal Glint5Craig PerretGordon R. PotterDan Lasater1-1/4 m2:00.60$109,1501974 True Knight5Miguel A. RiveraLou RondinelloDarby Dan Farm 1-1/4 m2:02.00$111,1001973 West Coast Scout 5Larry AdamsMervin MarksOxford Stable1-1/4 m2:01.20$114,3001972 West Coast Scout 4John L. RotzMervin MarksOxford Stable1-1/4 m2:02.20$113,5001971 Jontilla4John GiovanniAlfred CleffWilliam R. Kelly1-1/4 m2:01.00$115,6001970 Gladwin4Heliodoro GustinesEvan S. JacksonHastings Harcourt1-1/4 m2:02.60$116,4001969 Verbatim 4Pete AndersonJames P. ConwayElmendorf Farm (Maxwell Gluck)1-1/4 m2:02.20$113,8001968 Bold Hour 4William BolandSylvester VeitchGeorge D. Widener Jr.1-1/4 m2:03.00$111,0001967 Handsome Boy4Jacinto VásquezH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm 1-1/4 m2:02.00$112,4001966 Bold Bidder4Pete D. AndersonWoody StephensJohn R. Gaines 1-1/4 m2:03.60$114,4501965 Repeating4Hedley WoodhouseLucien LaurinMrs. Lucien Laurin 1-1/4 m2:04.20$108,3001964 Mongo5Wayne ChambersFrank A. BonsalMontpelier1-1/4 m2:01.80$107,5001963 Decidedly4Manuel YcazaHoratio LuroEl Peco Ranch1-1/4 m2:02.00$111,3001962 Carry Back 4John L. RotzJack A. PriceKatherine Price1-1/4 m2:00.40$109,1501961 Don Poggio5Sam Boulmetis Sr.Pancho MartinGustave Ring1-1/4 m2:02.40$122,3001960 First Landing4Eddie ArcaroCasey HayesMeadow Stable1-1/4 m2:02.80$112,0001959 Sword Dancer3Bill ShoemakerJ. Elliott BurchBrookmeade Stable 1-1/4 m2:05.00$113,7501958 Bold Ruler 4Eddie ArcaroJames E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable 1-1/4 m2:01.60$110,6501957 Dedicate 5Eddie ArcaroG. Carey WinfreyJan Burke1-1/4 m2:01.80$113,5001956Nashua4Eddie ArcaroJames E. FitzsimmonsLeslie Combs II1-1/4 m2:02.80$114,4001955 Helioscope 4Sam Boulmetis Sr.Howard HausnerWilliam G. Helis Jr.1-1/4 m2:02.20$83,5501954 Bassanio4Sidney ColeJames E. FitzsimmonsOgden Phipps1-1/4 m2:02.20$58,8001953 My Celeste7Logan BatchellerWilliam S. CottonConstance Morabito1-1/4 m2:05.20$34,3501952 One Hitter 6Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1-1/4 m2:04.20$28,0501951 Arise 5Sam Boulmetis Sr.James C. BentleyAddison Stable (Harry Addison Sr.)1-1/4 m2:04.80$28,5001950 Greek Ship 3Joe CulmonePreston M. BurchBrookmeade Stable 1-1/4 m2:02.40$30,5001949 Three Rings 4Hedley WoodhouseWillie KnappEvelyn L. Hopkins 1-1/4 m2:03.60$29,5001948 Tide Rips4Porter RobertsWilliam L. PassmoreBayard Sharp1-1/4 m2:03.20$29,1501947 Round View4Louis F. HildebrandtHollie HughesSanford Stud Farms1-1/4 m2:01.20$29,0001946Lucky Draw5Conn McCrearyBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1-1/4 m2:01.80$22,9701894 - 1945 Race not held1893Gloaming6Alonzo ClaytonHarry M. MasonJohn G. Follansbee1-1/2 m2:33.00$3,9551892Reckon4William Penn R. Wyndham WaldenJohn A. & Alfred H. Morris1-1/2 m2:33.50$3,7701891Banquet4John LamleyHardy Campbell Jr.Michael F. Dwyer1-1/2 m2:40.00$5,0551890Tea Tray5James J. MooreWilliam LakelandWilliam Lakeland1-1/2 m2:34.00$5,3351889Eurus6William HaywardJohn HugginsAlexander Cassatt1-1/2 m2:50.00$4,7151888 Firenze4Edward GarrisonMatthew ByrnesJames Ben Ali Haggin1-1/2 m2:36.00$5,3851887Kaloolah4George ChurchJames MurphyJ. D. Morrissey1-1/2 m2:42.25$3,5701886 Hidalgo4John SpellmanMatthew ByrnesJames Ben Ali Haggin1-1/2 m2:39.50$3,5701885 Richmond3Jim McLaughlin Frank McCabeDwyer Brothers Stable1-1/2 m2:38.50$4,0251884 Drake Carter4William Hayward Sr.Green B. MorrisGreen B. Morris & James D. Patton1-1/2 m2:37.75$3,460

References