The John B. Connally Turf Cup is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race, for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-half miles (12 furlongs) on the turf track, held annually in late January or early February at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

History One of Sam Houston Race Park's most prestigious races is named in honor of former Texas governor John B. Connally (1917–1993) who was long time supporter and lobbied for the horse racing industry in Texas.

The inaugural running of the event was on 21 October 1995 as the John B. Connally Jr. Turf Cup Handicap for horses three-years-old or older over a distance of miles and was won by Temple Webber Junior's Marastani by lengths in a time of 1:51.25.

The following year 1990 and until 2008, the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event. In 1997 the event was moved from October to early April.

The event was upgraded in 2006 by the American Graded Stakes Committee to a Grade III race. In 2009 the event was not held.

In 2011 the event was moved to a January schedule and the conditions were changed to allow only four-year-olds and older. The following year the event's conditions were changed from a handicap to a stakes with allowances with the name of the event modified to the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes.

In 2016 the distance of the event was increased to miles.

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

Along with the Ladies Classic, Pulse Power Turf Sprint and Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile, the John B. Connally Turf Cup is one of the main events of the Houston Racing Festival.

Records

Speed record: miles: 1:47.65 – Chorwon (1999) miles: 2:28.16 – Da Big Hoss (2016)

Margins: lengths – Da Big Hoss (2016)

Most wins: 3 – Candid Glen (2001, 2002, 2003) 3 – Bigger Picture (2017, 2018, 2019)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Robby Albarado (2000, 2006, 2010) 3 – Elvis J. Perrodin (2001, 2002, 2003) 3 – José Ortiz (2017, 2018, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer: 10 – Michael J. Maker (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024, 2025, 2026)

Most wins by an owner: 5 – Three Diamonds Farm (2017, 2018, 2019, 2024, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefJohn B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes2026Anegada 4Rafael HernandezMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles2:34.10$200,000Listed2025Sugoi 8Stewart ElliottMichael J. MakerParadise Farms & David Staudacher miles2:33.05$200,000Listed2024Dynadrive 7Reylu GutierrezMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles2:34.00$200,000III2023Scarlet Fusion 6Adam BeschizzaJoe SharpCarl R. Moore Management & Brad Grady miles2:33.50$200,000III2022Another Mystery 6Jareth Loveberry Chris BlockTeam Block miles2:31.28$200,000IIIFantasioso (ARG)7James GrahamIgnacio Correas IVBloom Racing Stable & Ignacio Correas IV2021Spooky Channel6Julien R. LeparouxBrian A. LynchTerry Hamilton miles2:30.94$200,000III2020Dot Matrix7Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxTen Strike Racing miles2:33.46$200,000III2019Bigger Picture8Jose L. OrtizMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles2:32.62$200,000III2018Bigger Picture7Jose L. OrtizMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles2:31.13$200,000III2017Bigger Picture6Jose L. OrtizMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles2:32.24$248,500III2016Da Big Hoss5Florent GerouxMichael J. MakerSkychai Racing miles2:28.16$200,000III2015Coalport6Miguel MenaMichael J. MakerKenneth & Sarah Ramsey miles1:49.00$200,000III2014Admiral Kitten4Julien R. LeparouxMichael J. MakerKenneth & Sarah Ramsey miles1:49.80$200,000III2013Swift Warrior5Jose L. EspinozaJohn P. Terranova IIJames Covello & James Dolan miles1:49.21$200,000III2012Papaw Bodie5Rosie NapravnikMichael J. MakerConnie M. Apostelos miles1:49.84$200,000IIIJohn B. Connally Turf Cup Handicap2011Schramsberg5Chris LanderosChris A. HartmanBobby Joe Hammer miles1:50.22$200,000IIIJohn B. Connally Turf Handicap2010Acting Zippy5Robby AlbaradoWilliam Don BennettWilliam Don Bennett & Carl Bowling miles1:52.31$197,000III2009Race not held2008Scrappy Roo5Paul M. NolanJohn G. LockeTawana Cantrell miles1:51.65$168,500III2007Mending Fences5Quincy HamiltonMartin D. WolfsonFarnworth Stables miles1:52.34$201,000III2006Fort Prado5Robby AlbaradoJeff TrosclairTeam Block miles1:49.41$193,000 III2005Rapid Proof5Brian Hernandez Jr.Hal R. WigginsDolphus C. Morrison miles1:51.31$216,000Listed 2004Warleigh4Jeremy BeasleyRosendo G. Parra miles1:53.01$222,000Listed 2003Candid Glen6Elvis J. PerrodinAndrew Leggio Jr.Glen C. Warren miles1:53.21$223,000 Listed 2002Candid Glen5Elvis J. PerrodinAndrew Leggio Jr.Glen C. Warren miles1:50.38$222,000Listed 2001Candid Glen4Elvis J. PerrodinAndrew Leggio Jr.Glen C. Warren miles1:50.51$212,000Listed 2000Rod and Staff7Robby AlbaradoBobby C. BarnettJim H. Plemmons miles1:51.68$162,250Listed 1999Chorwon6Calvin H. BorelHal R. WigginsThomas C. Mueller miles1:47.65$165,750Listed 1998Chorwon5Gerard MelanconHal R. WigginsThomas C. Mueller miles1:51.86$137,850 Listed 1997Scott's Scoundrel5Ronald D. ArdoinPaul J. PellerinVirgil L. Huskey miles1:53.63$125,000 Listed 1996Western Trader5Carlos GonzalezBobby C. BarnettJohn A. Franks miles1:52.30$122,250Listed John B. Connally Jr. Turf Cup Handicap1995Marastani5Curt C. BourqueThomas M. AmossTemple Webber Jr. miles1:51.25$75,000Listed

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2022 Sam Houston Stakes Schedule

References