The Westchester Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old and older run over a distance of one mile annually in early May at Belmont Park, in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $175,000 added.

History Originally called the Yorktown Handicap, it was first run in 1918 at the old Empire City Race Track and was won by the 1916 Kentucky Derby winner George Smith.

For 1919, it was called the Victory Handicap, but in 1922 reverted to the Yorktown Handicap. There was no race run in 1932 and 1933 during the Great Depression.

In 1940 it was renamed the name Westchester Handicap in honor of Westchester County, New York. The race was hosted by the Jamaica Racetrack from 1943 to 1959 yet idle between 1954 and 1958. After which it was shifted to Aqueduct Racetrack.

From 1959 to 1971, the race was open to horses age four years old and up.

Since 2012 the event has been run at Belmont Park.

Records Speed record: 1:32.24 – 1 mile: Najran (2003)

Most wins: 2 – Thorson (1936, 1937) 2 – R. Thomas (1966, 1968) 2 – Rubiano (1991, 1992) 2 – Gygistar (2004, 2005)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1969, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1990)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 – H. Allen Jerkens (1975, 1982, 1983, 1994, 1998, 2010)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Alfred G. Vanderbilt II (1935, 1973, 1974) 3 – King Ranch (1946, 1947, 1948) 3 – Edward P. Evans (2001, 2004, 2005)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Win$ Gr.2026Antiquarian5John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherCentennial Farms1 m1:35.42$162,750G32025Bishops Bay5Flavien PratBrad H. CoxSpendthrift Farm, Steve Landers, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kuber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, Michael Caruso & WinStar Farm1 m1:34.19$175,000G32024Messier5Jose Antonio GomezRichard E. Dutrow Jr.SF Racing, Madaket Stables, Lansdon B. Robbins III, Tom J. Ryan, Robert E. Masterson, Jay A. Schoenfarbar, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable & Siena Farm1 m1:34.50$175,000G32023Repo Rocks5Ruben SilveraJamie NessDouble B Racing Stables1 m1:34.96$175,000G32022Cody's Wish4Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottGodolphin1 m1:34.68$110,00G32021Dr Post4Manuel FrancoTodd A. PletcherCloyce C. Clark1 m1:35.14$110,000G32020Code of Honor4John VelazquezC. R. McGaughey IIIWilliam S. Farish III1 m1:42.39$55,000G32019Nicodemus4Mike LuzziLinda RiceEverything's Cricket Racing (Avram C. Freedberg) & Lawrence Goichman 1 m1:35.07$110,000G32018Tale of Silence4Dylan Davis Barclay TaggCharles E. Fipke1 m1:36.14$120,000G32017Connect4Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad BrownPaul Pompa Jr.1 m1:36.49$120,000G32016Anchor Down5José OrtizTodd A. PletcherAlto Racing LLC1 m1:35.10$90,000G32015Tonalist4Joe BravoChristophe ClementRobert S. Evans1 m1:34.07$90,000G32014Palace Malice4John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherDogwood Stable/Three Chimneys Farm1 m1:35.53$90,000G32013Flat Out7Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottPreston Stables (Art Preston)1 m1:32.99$90,000G32012To Honor and Serve4Jose LezcanoWilliam I. MottLive Oak Racing (Charlotte Weber)1 m1:34.84$90,000G32011Caixa Eletronica 6Cornelio VelásquezTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable1 m1:34.26$60,000G32010Le Grand Cru 5Cornelio VelásquezH. Allen JerkensJudson L. Streicher1 m1:34.89$60,000G32009Bribon6Alan GarciaRobert RibaudoMarc Keller1 m1:35.38$66,000G32008Divine Park4Alan GarciaKiaran McLaughlinJames J. Barry1 m1:32.74$65,460G32007Utopia7Mike LuzziSaeed bin SuroorSheikh Mohammed1 m1:33.23 $64,620G32006Sir Greeley 4Eibar CoaJames A. JerkensTimber Bay Farm (William J. Entenmann) & Denise (Entenmann) Walsh1 m1:33.69$65,280G32005Gygistar 6Javier CastellanoMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans1 m1:33.50$65,700G32004Gygistar 5Joe BravoMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans1 m1:35.89$65,700G32003Najran4Edgar PradoNick ZitoBuckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok)1 m1:32.24$65,820G32002Free of Love4Jerry D. BaileyRichard Violette Jr.Anthony J. Aprilante & Ralph M. Evans1 m1:35.56$67,500G32001Cat's At Home 4Filiberto LeonMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans1 m1:33.60$64,920G32000Yankee Victor 4 Heberto Castillo Jr.Carlos Morales Moreton Binn, et al. 1 m1:34.37 $66,000G31999Mr. Sinatra 5Chuck C. LopezGasper MoscheraBarbara J. Davis1 m1:35.04$64,202G31998Wagon Limit4Jean-Luc SamynH. Allen JerkensJoseph V. Shields Jr.1 m1:34.06$66,420G31997Pacific Fleet 5Frank AlvaradoAlfredo CallejasRobert Perez1 m1:33.88$65,940G31996Valid Wager 4Julio PezuaBruce N. LevineHarry T. Mangurian Jr.1 m1:34.74$66,240G31995Mr. Shawklit 4 Mike LuzziFrank Laboccetta Edward & Judith Anchel1 m1:34.66$65,760G31994Virginia Rapids 4Jean-Luc SamynH. Allen JerkensMiddletown Stables (Joseph & William Stavola)1 m1:34.52$65,640G31993Bill Of Rights 4Jean-Luc SamynThomas D. (Tim) KellyBoketo Stable1 m1:34.69$72,720G31992Rubiano5José A. SantosFlint S. SchulhoferCentennial Farms (Donald Little)1 m1:34.83$68,880G31991Rubiano4Jerry D. BaileyFlint S. SchulhoferCentennial Farms (Donald Little)1 m1:34.94$71,520G31990Once Wild 5Ángel Cordero Jr.John J. Lenzini Jr.Gary Marano1 m1:35.00$67,800G31989Lord of the Night 6Jorge VelásquezDominick GalluscioWinbound Farms (Raymond Wennik)1 m1:35.60$71,040G31988Faster Than Sound 4Julie KroneD. Wayne LukasH. Joseph Allen1 m1:34.40$108,000G31987King's Swan7José A. SantosRichard E. Dutrow Sr.Alvin Akman1 m1:36.20$69,120G31986Garthorn 6Rafael MezaRobert J. FrankelJerome S. Moss1 m1:33.80$75,240G31985Verbarctic 5Gregg McCarronGarner H. VinsonGarner H. Vinson1 m1:36.60$53,460G31984Jacque's Tip 4Ángel Cordero Jr.John ParisellaTheodore M. Sabarese1 m, 70 yds.1:41.80$55,440G31983Singh Tu 4Jean-Luc SamynH. Allen JerkensTop The Marc Stable (Joseph Taub)1 m1:35.20$33,780G31982-1Fabulous Find 4Juan CintronH. Allen JerkensTop The Marc Stable (Joseph Taub)1 m1:38.00$33,330G31982-2John Casey 5Jeffrey FellFloreano FernandezJulie Miron1 m1:38.00$33,090G31981Dunham's Gift 4Michael VeneziaBob G. DunhamCarl Hughes Jr.1 m1:35.00$33,000G31980Nice Catch 6Jeffrey FellFrank WrightOctober House Farm1 m1:36.80$34,020G31979Vencedor 5Ruben HernandezLuis BarreraArmando Cosme m1:44.00$33,060G21978Pumpkin Moonshine 4Dave BordenHoward M. TesherH. Joseph Allen m1:44.40$32,250G21977Cinteelo 4Eddie MapleThomas J. KellyJohn M. Schiff m1:43.40$33,090G21976Double Edge Sword 6Ángel Cordero Jr.Richard E. Dutrow Sr.Aisquith Stable (Elmer W. Aisquith)1 m1:33.40$34,170G21975Step Nicely 5Jorge VelásquezH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm1 m1:34.00$33,900G21974Dundee Marmalade 6Michael HoleRobert P. LakeAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1 m1:36.00$32,940G21973North Sea 4Robyn SmithRobert P. LakeAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1 m1:33.60$33,990G21972Autobiography 4Ángel Cordero Jr.Pancho MartinSigmund Sommer1 m1:34.20$34,5601971Never Bow 5Victor TejadaPancho MartinSigmund Sommer1 m1:36.40$35,5801970Dewan 5Eddie BelmonteJames W. MaloneyWilliam Haggin Perry1 m1:34.20$37,4401969Iron Ruler 4Ángel Cordero Jr.Edward J. YowellOctober House Farm1 m1:34.00$36,3351968R. Thomas7Jimmy NicholsDavid ErbRoger W. Wilson1 m1:35.40$36,3351967Advocator 4Manuel YcazaClyde TrouttAda L. Rice1 m1:35.40$35,8151966R. Thomas 5Larry AdamsDavid ErbRoger W. Wilson1 m1:36.20$37,3751965Tibaldo 5Braulio BaezaThomas J. KellyEsther D. du Pont1 m1:36.60$39,1301964Rocky Link 4Donald PierceStephen A. DiMauroGolden Triangle Stables (Thomas A. Eazor)1 m1:35.20$18,9471963Sunrise County 4John L. RotzThomas J. KellyTownsend B. Martin1 m1:34.20$18,0051962Globemaster 4John L. RotzThomas J. KellyLeonard P. Sasso1 m1:34.60$18,6871961Mail Order 5Larry AdamsLarry H. ThompsonAlamode Farm1 m1:34.00$18,6551960Vendetta 4Jack LeonardWalter F. Wickes Jr.Mrs. Walter F. Wickes Jr.1 m1:35.20$19,0051959Mystic II 5Mike SorrentinoMorris DixonC. Mahlon Kline m1:43.60$18,4521954 – 1958 Race not held1953Cold Command 4Hedley WoodhouseSylvester VeitchC. V. Whitney m1:49.60$33,1501952Battlefield4Albert SchmidlWinbert F. MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr. m1:50.20$38,3501951Bryan G.4Ovie ScurlockCasey HayesChristopher Chenery m1:49.20$21,1001950Palestinian4Sam Boulmetis Sr.Hirsch JacobsIsidor Bieber m1:57.20$25,1001949Three Rings4Hedley WoodhouseWillie KnappEvelyn L. Hopkins m1:56.80$20,2001948Better Self 3Dave GormanMax HirschKing Ranch m1:57.80$39,6001947Bridal Flower4Warren MehrtensJames W. SmithKing Ranch m1:59.20$39,7001946Assault3Eddie ArcaroMax HirschKing Ranch m1:56.40$38,6001945Stymie 4Robert PermaneHirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs m1:56.80$38,7651944Seven Hearts 4Paul KeiperW. Graves SparksJ. Graham Brown m1:58.00$23,5151943Slide Rule3Jack WestropeCecil WilhelmWilliam E. Boeing m1:57.60$22,7001942Riverland 4Alfred RobertsonMoody JolleyLouisiana Farm (Harold A. Clark) m1:56.40$19,8501941Gramps 4Herb LindbergJohn M. Gaver Sr.John Hay Whitney m1:59.80$19,6501940Mioland3Leon HaasR. Thomas SmithCharles S. Howard m2:00.20$15,9501939Third Degree 3Eddie ArcaroJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable m1:51.40$7,2501938Great Union 3Sam RenickLouis FeustelElizabeth Graham Lewis m1:52.00$6,5501937Thorson 5E. RobertsThomas H. McCreery Buckley M. Byers m1:52.00$7,5501936Thorson 4Eddie ArcaroThomas H. McCreery Buckley M. Byers m1:52.00$4,7901935Good Harvest 3Sam RenickJoseph H. StotlerAlfred G. Vanderbilt II m1:51.80$4,5501934King Saxon3Thomas MalleyC. H. "Pat" KnebelkampC. H. "Pat" Knebelkamp m1:54.40$1,9851932 – 1933 Race not held1931Dr. Freeland5Johnny BethalThomas J. HealeyWalter J. Salmon Sr. m1:53.60$2,8801930Questionnaire 3Charles KurtsingerAndy SchuttingerJames Butler m1:53.60$4,6501929Genie 4Willie KelsayHenry McDanielGifford A. Cochran m1:52.00$4,9301928Arcturus 3George SchreinerA. Jack JoynerGeorge D. Widener Jr. m1:53.00$4,9701927Light Carbine 4Charles ZoellerMichael J. DunleavyIra B. Humphreys m1:53.60$5,3901926Cloudland 4Laverne FatorFrank E. BrownFrank E. Brown m1:53.80$4,9701922 – 1926 Race not held1921Yellow Hand 4C. H. MillerA. J. GoldsboroughCharles A. Stoneham m2:05.60$4,8501920Mad Hatter4Earl SandeSam HildrethRancocas Stable m2:07.40$4,5501919Star Master 5Clarence KummerWalter B. JenningsA. Kingsley Macomber m2:09.20$2,2751918George Smith5Frank RobinsonPreston M. BurchJohn Sanford m1:51.60$2,150

References

External links Video of Najran's record setting 2003 Westchester Handicap