The Stepping Stone Purse was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the latter part of April at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Open to three-year-old horses, it was, along with the Derby Trial Stakes, one of two final prep races hosted by Churchill Downs running up to the Kentucky Derby.
In 1959, Sword Dancer won the Stepping Stone Purse,New York Times - April 26, 1959 then ran second in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Belmont Stakes. The following year, Bally Ache won this raceSunday Herald - May 1, 1960 then ran second in the Derby but won the Preakness Stakes. In 1969, future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Majestic Prince won this race by six lengths while setting a new stakes record and then won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. In 1974, Cannonade too won the Stepping Stone Purse and the Kentucky DerbySarasota Herald-Tribune - May 7, 1983Los Angeles Times – April 27, 1969 and 1965 winner Tom Rolfe went on to finish third in the Derby but then won the Preakness Stakes.Toledo Blade (Ohio) – April 25, 1965
Records Speed record 1:21.60 – Majestic Prince (1969) (at 7 furlongs) 1:37.40 – Nostalgia (1977) (at 8 furlongs)
Most wins by a jockey 2 – Bill Shoemaker (1959, 1966) 2 – Ismael Valenzuela (1962, 1964) 2 – Manuel Ycaza (1963, 1968)
Most wins by a trainer 2 – Woody Stephens (1963, 1974)
Most wins by an owner 2 – Cain Hoy Stable (1963, 1968)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time1981Mythical RulerKevin WirthFred WirthAl Risen Jr. & Paxton Price1:37.801980Jaklin KlugmanDarrel McHargueRiley S. CoferJack Klugman & John Dominguez1:38.601979King CelebrityDon BrumfieldRobert J. TaylorChe-Bar Stable1:37.801978BatonnierRonald HardesHarry TrotsekEdward Seltzer1:37.601977NostalgiaLarry SnyderDel W. CarrollWilliam S. Farish III1:37.401976AmanoLarry MelanconJames A. PadgettJames C. Irvin1:24.801975Greek AnswerMickey SolomoneFrank H. Merrill Jr.W. Preston Gilbride1:25.001974CannonadeÁngel Cordero Jr.Woody StephensJohn M. Olin1:23.801973Shecky GreeneWalter BlumLou M. GoldfineJoseph Kellman1:23.001972Hold Your PeaceCarlos MarquezArnold N. WinickMaribel Blum1:24.001971Bold And AbleHoward GrantReggie CornellCalumet Farm1:22.601970My Dad GeorgeRay BroussardFrank J. McManusRaymond M. Curtis1:23.601969Majestic PrinceBill HartackJohnny LongdenFrank M. McMahon1:21.601968Captain's GigManuel YcazaWilliam W. StephensCain Hoy Stable1:22.601967RukenFernando AlvarezClyde TurkLouis R. Rowan1:23.201966Old BagBill ShoemakerStanley M. ReiserP. & R. Schleicher & S. M. Reiser1:25.201965Tom RolfeRon TurcotteFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Powhatan Stable1:22.801964Mr. BrickIsmael ValenzuelaJames E. PicouRoy Sturgis1:22.801963Never BendManuel YcazaWoody StephensCain Hoy Stable1:22.401962Sir GaylordIsmael ValenzuelaCasey HayesChristopher Chenery1:22.401961Light TalkRobert NonoSteve IppolitoJacnot Stable1:23.401960Bally AcheBobby UsseryJimmy PittEdgehill Farm1:22.601959Sword DancerBill ShoemakerJ. Elliott BurchBrookmeade Stable1:22.201958Belleau ChiefJohnny HeckmannE. B. CarpenterLora Birr1:22.80
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