The Walnut Hall Cup was a harness racing event for standardbred trotters. The inaugural race took place at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1897.

History In April 1897, the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders' Association's board of directors established its annual fixed program of events and added the Walnut Hall Farm Cup as a new stakes feature. Lamon V. Harkness, then owner and operator of the Walnut Hall stock farm, presented the owner of the winning trotters an inscribed sterling silver cup trophy worth $500. The original cup, crafted by Tiffanys, stood 10 inches high and 11 inches across the handles, with an inside diameter of more than seven inches. It featured three large handles, a heavy carved base, and a gold-lined interior. One side read "Walnut Hall Farm Cup" in raised letters, and the other side was left for the winner's inscription. A purse of $2,500 was offered by the association. The first Walnut Hall Cup was held at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 12, 1897. The first horse to win was The Monk, driven by Edward Geers, winning three of four closely contested heats.

Early on, eligibility for the Walnut Hall Cup was defined by time classes that progressively evolved over time. The eligibility of the inaugural race was for the 2:17 class of trotters. By 1911, the Walnut Hall Cup was, alongside the Transylvania, considered the most highly prized aged race sponsored by the association. The all-aged event formed part of the Lexington Grand Circuit program and became the secondary feature to the Kentucky Futurity at the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders Association track.

After the death of L. V. Larkness in 1915, the silver trophy continued to be awarded by Walnut Hall Farm, then operated by his estate. Larkness's son-in-law, Dr. Odgen M. Edwards Jr., who became head of Walnut Hall Farm, went on to donate the trophy. The Walnut Hall Farm tradition was later continued by its owners Katherine and H. Willis Nichols Jr.

The first Walnut Hall-bred winner of the race came in 1921, when Alonzo 'Lon' McDonald drove Jeanette Rankin.

The Walnut Hall Cup became one of Lexington's oldest features. The historic race developed into an event for two-year-old trotting colts ahead of the 1970 Grand Circuit program, and by the mid-1980s it was an important stepping stone toward the Breeders Crown.

It was eventually featured as the Walnut Hall Limited Cup alongside the Bluegrass Stakes program for two-year-old colt trotters and filly pacers at the Red Mile.

Distances When introduced in 1897, the Walnut Hall Cup was run over a distance of one mile.

Locations 1897–2000s: The Red Mile, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.

Records Most wins by a driver 6 – Stanley Dancer (1959, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1976)

Walnut Hall Cup winners Year Winner Driver Trainer Owner Time Notes 1897 The Monk Edward Geers — — 2:11 1/2 — 1898 Nico Henry Titer — J. Malcolm Forbes 2:11 1/4 — 1899 Ellert B. VanBokkelen — — 2:15 — 1900 Chain Shot George West Charles Laabs Arthur Caton 2:15 1/2 — 1901 Captor Charles Marvin — — 2:09 3/4 Stakes record 1902 Nutbearer W. O. Foote — Joe E. Hubinger 2:09 3/4 — 1903 Billy Buck Edward Geers — — 2:07 3/4 Stakes record 1904 Redwood Jimmie Burns Jimmie Burns W. J. Bennet 2:09 3/4 — 1905 Turley Edward Geers Edward Geers M. N. McFarland 2:07 1/4 Stakes record 1906 Nutboy M. E. McHenry — J. A. Crabtree & Lotta Crabtree 2:11 3/4 — 1907 Jack Leyburn Edward Geers — Edward & Joseph Medden 2:08 1/2 — 1908 Uhlan Robert "Bob" Proctor — Charles Sanders 2:07 1/2 — 1909 Penisa Maid M. D. Shutt M. D. Shutt M. D. Shutt 2:13 3/4 — 1910 Joan Michael McDevitt — Capt. David Shaw 2:04 3/4 Stakes record 1911 R.T.C. Thomas W. Murphy — Edward Thompson 2:08 3/4 — 1912 Dorsch Medium Edward Geers — — 2:07 1/2 — 1913 Fan Patch W. L. Snow — S. J. Housel 2:08 — 1914 Rythmell Bert Shank Bert Shank Henry H. Stambaugh 2:04 1/2 Stakes record 1915 Peter Scott Thomas W. Murphy Thomas W. Murphy — 2:05 3/4 — 1916 Mabel Trask Walter R. Cox — — 2:07 1/2 — 1917 Early Dreams Alonzo 'Lon' McDonald — — 2:04 1/4 Stakes record 1918 Ante Guy Thomas W. Murphy — Ottinger Brothers 2:03 1/2 Stakes record 1919 Baron Cegantle Alonzo 'Lon' McDonald — — 2:05 1/2 — 1920 Bonnie Del Thomas Hinds Thomas Hinds Thomas Hinds 2:04 3/4 — 1921 Jeanette Rankin Alonzo 'Lon' McDonald — Walnut Hall Farm 2:04 1/2 — 1922 The Great Volo Walter R. Cox — Sanford Small 2:03 1/2 — 1923 Favonian Ben White Fred Edman Fred Edman 2:03 1/4 — 1924 Tilly Brooke Thomas W. Murphy — — 2:01 3/4 Stakes record 1925 Crawford Thomas W. Murphy — — 2:04 1/4 — 1926 Guy Ozark William K. Dickerson William K. Dickerson E. Roland Harriman 2:05 — 1927 Hazelton Walter R. Cox — — 2:03 3/4 — 1928 Dewey McKinney Walter R. Cox — Claude Luddington 2:02 1/2 — 1929 Gaylworthy H. H. Stokes — W. N. Reynolds 2:05 1/2 — 1930 Hollyrood Chief Will Leese — Frank E. Piper 2:01 Stakes record 1931 Allie Pluto Charles Mabrey — H. E. Mabrey 2:01 1/2 —1932 No races 1933 Vansandt Earl Pitman — Irwin W. Gleason 2:02 1/2 — 1934 Taffy Volo Ben White — R. J. Reynolds 2:01 1/2 — 1935 Calumet Durham Sep Palin — — 2:01 1/2 — 1936 Lee Hanover Charley Lacey Homer D. Biery Biery Farm 2:01 — 1937 Guy Scotland William C. Moore William C. Moore William C. Moore 2:01 3/4 — 1938 Havoline Will F. Caton — Gibson D. White 2:02 1/4 — 1939 Senator V Robert Vallery — L. E. Greer 2:01 3/4 — 1940 Spud Hanover Harry Pownall — E. Roland Harriman 2:03 — 1941 Speed King Harry Craig — A. F. Williams 2:02 1/2 — 1942 Volarion J. F. Cartnal — L. E. Greer 2:03 1/2 — 1943 Morate Fred Egan — Charles W. Phellis 2:04 — 1944 Love Song Thomas S. Berry — Vic Holdaway 2:00 — 1945 Spartan Hanover Franklin Safford — T. J. Sullivan 2:04 3/4 — 1946 Walter Spencer Harry Pownall — Arden Homestead Stable 2:02 3/4 — 1947 Don Scott Delvin Miller — W. N. Reynolds 2:02 2/5 — 1948 Chris Spencer Harry Whitney — Dunbar W. Bostwick 2:00 2/5 — 1949 Moses Dee Stover — Glenn Barker 2:03 — 1950 Pronto Don Sep Palin — — 2:00 1/5 1951 Miss Excellency John F. Simpson Sr. John F. Simpson Sr. C. N. Myers & Lawrence B. Sheppard 2:04 — 1952 Yankee Hanover Frank Ervin — Mrs. John L. Wehle 2:01 — 1953 Scotch Victor Joe O'Brien — S. A. Camp Farms 2:02 — 1954 Jamie Bob Parkinson — A. D. Knapp 1:59 2/5 — 1955 Deckwin Wilbur Long — Austin Bros. 2:02 4/5 — 1956 Lady's First Charlie King — — — — 1957 Empress Rodney William McMillen — J. B. Carnes 2:04 4/5 — 1958 Fisherman Richard Buxton — William M. Johnson 2:00 3/5 — 1959 Morgan Calhoun Stanley Dancer — Donald E. Williams 2:00 4/5 — 1960 Demon Damsel Delvin Miller — Robert & Henry Critchfield — — 1961 Hoot Frost Joe O'Brien — — — — 1962 Behave Ralph N. Baldwin — — — — 1963 Pack Hanover Jimmy Hackett — Samuel Hutenbauer 2:00 — 1964 Dashing Rodney Harold Dancer Sr. — Armour Stable — — 1965 Short Stop Ralph N. Baldwin Ned Bower P. Huber Hanes Jr., John W. Hanes, & John Haskell 2:01 — 1966 Speedy Play Stanley Dancer — Rose Hill Breeding Farm — — 1967 Garma Alert Allan Walker — Gary Grisenthwaite — — 1968 Eric B. Stanley Dancer Stanley Dancer Ernest B. Morris 2:03.1 — 1969 Noccalula Sanders Russell — John Jackson 2:04 2/5 — 1970 Hoot Speed Glen Garnsey — — — — 1971 Super Bowl Stanley Dancer — Stanley Dancer & Rose Hild Farm 1:59 4/5 — 1972 Travelogue Terry Holton — — — — 1973 My Super Pride Del Cameron — — 2:07 3/5 — 1974 Bonefish Stanley Dancer Stanley Dancer Mac Cuddy — — 1975 Tropical Storm Ralph N. Baldwin — — 2:04.1 — 1976 Profit Sharing Stanley Dancer — — — — 1977 Dark Eagle Dick Richardson Jr. — Dunny Stable 2:00.1 — 1978 Legend Hanover Joe O'Brien — — 1:59 3/5 — 1979 Rodney's Best Hakan Wallner — Woodstock Stud 2:00 — 1980 Homesick Billy Herman — — 2:01 1.5 — 1981 Sugar Move Farrington — — — — 1982 T.V. Yankee Tommy Haughton — — 1:56 World record 1983 Gentle Stroke George Sholty — — — — 1984 Affable Crown — — Em-Ar-El Stable — — 1985 Anniecrombie Glen Garnsey — — — — 1986 — — — — — — 1987 Grundys Cohnection Jan Nordin Joseph Kroll Clifford Grundy, Seymour Grundy & Sidney Cohn — — 1988 — — — — — — 1989 I'm Impeccable Dave Rankin Dave Rankin Dave Rankin — — 1990 Grundy's Mint Jan Nordin — — 1:57 1/5 — 1991 Royal Strength R. Oldfield — — 1:58 — 1992 Dash Drive Ron Waples Doug Miller Doug Miller, Dale Kistler, Doug Kistler, & Margaret Kistler — — 1993 Incredible Abe John Campbell — — — — 1994 King Pine Michel Lachance — — 2:00 1/5 — 1995 Kramer Boy John Campbell — AB Dica Vinn & Alan Ritchie 1:57 2/5 — 1996 Meadowbranch Lucky — — Hans Enggren — — 1997 Buzzin Brian — — — 1:57 4/5 — 1998 CR Commando — — — 1:56.1 — 1999 Fast Photo — — — 1:58 — 2000 Chasing Tail John Campbell — — 1:57 1/5 — 2001 Charlie Kronos Chris Christoforou — — — — 2002 Broadway Hall John Campbell — — 1:59 — 2003 Cantab Hall Michel Lachance — — — Tom Ridge disqualified 2004 Ken Warkentin David Miller — Christina Takter, John Fielding, Tie Domi, and Windsor Stable 1:55 3/5 — 2005 Make You Mine Michel Lachance Ron Gurfein — 1:57 2/5 —

References