The Chick Lang Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of six furlongs during the third week of May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

History

The race is named in honor of the former Pimlico General Manager who was known to Marylanders as "Mr. Preakness." Charles John (Chick) Lang died March 18, 2010, of natural causes at the age of 83. The Maryland Jockey Club made the name change shortly after his death.

The race was formerly named in honor of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Hirsch Jacobs (1904–1970). Jacobs was a leading trainer, owner and breeder at many eastern tracks from the 1930s through the 1960s. One of horse racing's premier trainers, Jacobs saddled 3,569 winners in his lifetime, more than anyone else in the history of thoroughbred racing at the time of his retirement. Horses that he trained earned more than $12,000,000 in purses. Jacobs led the United States in total number of yearly winners 11 times from 1933 to 1944, except 1940, when he finished second.

The Hirsch Jacobs Stakes was inaugurated in 1975. It became an American graded stakes race in 2005. The fastest time for the race is held by Songster, who won in 2006 in a time of 1:09.72.2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 32 on March 3, 2007.

In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association from Grade III to Listed status.

Records

Speed record: 6 furlongs – 1:09.10 – Lantana Mob (2008)

Most wins by a horse: No horse has won this race more than once.

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Hal C.B. Clagett (1991, 1994) 2 – Israel Cohen (1992, 1993) 2 – Zayat Stables (2013, 2016) 2 – William & Corinne Heiligbrodt (2020, 2021)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Rick Wilson (1984, 1998, 1999, 2000) 3 – Ramon Domínguez (2002, 2003, 2004)

Most wins by a trainer: 7 – Steven M. Asmussen (2008, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2026)

Winners of the Chick Lang Stakes since 1975 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Dist.Time PurseGrade2026ObliterationJosé OrtizSteven M. AsmussenLeland Ackerley Racing, LLC, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe & John Cilia6 fur.1:09.77$150,000Listed2025Retribution Irad Ortiz Jr.Cherie DeVauxBelladonna Racing, Twin Brook Stables, Woodford Racing, B.C.W.T. Ltd., Savvy Stables, GRC Racing & Taylor Creek6 fur.1:11.27$150,000Listed2024Frost FreeIrad Ortiz Jr.Brett CreightonKeene Thoroughbreds LLC6 fur.1:11.39$200,000III2023Ryvit Tyler GaffalioneSteve AsmussenWilliam L. Heiligbrodt & Corinne Heiligbrodt 6 fur.1:09.33$200,000III2022Lightening LarryChantal SutherlandJorge DelgadoLea Farms6 fur.1:09.86$200,000III2021 Mighty Mischief Ricardo Santana Steve Asmussen William & Corinne Heiligbrodt6 fur.1:09.74$200,000III2020 Yaupon John R. Velazquez Steve Asmussen William & Corinne Heiligbrodt6 fur.1:09.10$200,000III2019 Lexitonian José Ortiz Jack Sisteron Calumet Farm6 fur.1:09.74$200,000III2018 Mitole Ricardo Santana Jr. Steve Asmussen Heiligbrodt Racing Stable6 fur.1:09.29$200,000III2017 Recruiting Ready Horacio Karamanos Horacio DePaz Sagamore Farm6 fur.1:10.35$200,000III2016 Justin Squared Martin A. Pedroza Bob Baffert Zayat Stables6 fur.1:11.41$200,0002015 Holy Boss Ricardo Santana Steve Asmussen Jerry Durant6 fur.1:09.61$100,0002014 Meadowood Javier Castellano Derek Ryan Stonestreet Stables6 fur.1:10.11$100,0002013 Zee Bros Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Zayat Stables6 fur.1:10.72$100,0002012 Il Villano Jose Flores Susan Crowell Chuck Russo6 fur.1:10.40$100,0002011 Vengeful Wildcat Carlos Marquez Ben W. Perkins New Farm (Everett Novak) 6 fur.1:10.54$100,000III2010ComederoRobby AlbaradoMichael StidhamPeter Redekop B. C. 6 fur.1:10.16$100,000III2009Everyday HeroesJose CaraballoTimothy F. RitcheyCash Counter Stables6 fur.1:09.51$100,000III2008Lantana Mob Robby AlbaradoSteve AsmussenVinery Stables/T.Ludt6 fur.1:09.10$100,000III2007Street MagicianRafael BejaranoMichael TrombettaR. Larry Johnson6 fur.1:10.97 $100,000III2006SongsterEdgar PradoThomas AlbertraniDarley Racing6 fur.1:09.72$100,000III2005Race not heldIII2004Abbondanza Ramon DomínguezTimothy TullockGermania Farms6 fur.1:10.72$100,0002003Mt CarsonRamon DomínguezRodney JenkinsDavid P. Reynolds6 fur.1:10.85$100,0002002True DirectionRamon DomínguezCarlos MoralesMorton & Marisol Binn6 fur.1:10.90$75,0002001City ZipJorge ChavezLinda L. RiceCharles R. Thompson6 fur.1:10.20$75,0002000Max's Pal Rick WilsonBen W. PerkinsLambholm South, LLC6 fur.1:10.20$75,0001999EarltonRick WilsonBen W. PerkinsNew Farm (Everett Novak)6 fur.1:10.60$75,0001998Klabin's Gold Rick WilsonAllen IwinskiAcclaimed Racing 6 fur.1:11.40$55,0001997Original GrayCarlos H. MarquezJohn J. TammaroThornmar Farm6 fur.1:10.80$55,0001996VivMark JohnstonGrover G. DelpRebecca Anglin6 fur.1:12.00$55,0001995Ft. StocktonJerry BaileyBen W. PerkinsNew Farm6 fur.1:10.20$55,0001994Foxie G.Edgar PradoDale CapuanoHal C.B. Clagett6 fur.1:11.40$55,0001993MontbrookMike LuzziDean GaudetIsrael Cohen6 fur.1:12.00$55,0001992SpeakerphoneClarence LadnerDean GaudetIsrael Cohen6 fur.1:10.40$43,5001991Ameri RunGreg W. HuttonJerry RobbHal C.B. Clagett6 fur.1:10.80$43,5001990CollegianHarry VegaJohn RigattieriMichael Jackson6 fur.1:10.20$43,5001989PulverizingAllen T. StacyJerry RobbArnold & Sylvia Heft6 fur.1:11.20$55,0001988Finder's ChoiceJosé A. SantosCharles HadryStuart S. Janney III6 fur.1:12.20$46,5001987Green BookGreg W. HuttonRon AlfanoH. Joseph Allen6 fur.1:11.80$47,0001986Super Delight John "Jake" NiedDennis HeimerTartan Farms6 fur.1:11.80$35,0001985Beat Me Daddy Vincent BraccialeRobert E. WheelerNapton Hill Farm6 fur.1:11.80$35,0001984Mickey Mall Rick WilsonSal CampoStanley Joselson6 fur.1:10.80$35,0001983Imperial Age John "Jake" NiedJ. William BonifaceBonita Farm 6 fur.1:10.80$35,0001982Mortgage Man Anthony S. BlackRichard DutrowDr. Rifat Hussain6 fur.1:10.60$35,0001981Century Prince Vincent BraccialeRonald A. AlfanoDick Woolley6 fur.1:10.60$32,3501980Amber Pass Don MacBethSonny HineEntremont Stable 6 fur.1:10.80$35,0001979Breezing On William PassmoreLaz BarreraHarbor View Farm6 fur.1:11.80$35,0001978Shelter Half Gunnar LindbergDouglas R. PetersonFour Brothers Stable 6 fur.1:11.00$36,0751977Iron Derby Danny R. WrightH. Steward MitchellMario Stable6 fur.1:11.20$29,8001976Zen Jorge VasquezDavid A. Whiteley Pen Y Bryn Farm6 fur.1:11.40$29,2001975Bombay Duck Menotti AristoneBen W. PerkinsShelly Meredith 6 fur.1:11.20$31,000

See also Chick Lang Stakes "top three finishers" and starters

References