The Secretariat Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the turf. The event was originally raced at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois as a supporting stakes race on the Arlington Million racing program.

Churchill Downs, whose parent company owns the land of the defunct Arlington Park racetrack, originally planned to run the Secretariat Stakes in 2022, but the race was not run due to issues with the Churchill Downs turf course. The 2023 race was rescheduled to be run at Churchill-owned Colonial Downs in Virginia.

History Precursor — Arlington Invitational In 1973, after Secretariat became the first U.S. Triple Crown winner in twenty five years, many race tracks wanted to have him race at their tracks. Arlington racetrack management offered to run him in the American Derby but it was too soon after his Belmont Stakes victory. Instead, management established an event that would enhance Secretariat's connections. This event was called the Arlington Invitational with $125,000 stakes offered in order to showcase Secretariat to Chicago racing fans and it was held 30 June 1973. A crowd of 41,223 witnessed seeing the three challengers grouped as a single betting entry at 6–1 and Secretariat was 1–20 odds-on which created a minus pool of $17,941. Secretariat won the miles race by nine lengths in 1:47 flat, just off the track record set by Damascus with My Gallant and Our Native running second and third respectively. Both of these horses had lost to the champion in the Triple Crown series. The performance produced a lasting impression on Arlington Park management.

Event One year and one day after Secretariat's performance at Arlington Park, track management scheduled a race to honor him. The inaugural event was held 30 June 1974 over a distance of miles on the turf. The race was won in an upset with the 39-1 longshot Glossary winning. The event was set with Grade II status.

It was run over in 1975/76 and extended to from 1978 to 1984, before settling at miles from 1985 to 2018.

In 1984 the event was upgraded to Grade I status.

In 1985 the event was held at Hawthorne Race Course over a shorter distance of miles.

There was no race run in 1988, 1998 and 1999.

In 2005 it was included in the Grand Slam of Grass, which offered a substantial bonus to the winner of this race, the Colonial Turf Cup, the Virginia Derby and the Breeders' Cup Turf.

In 2019 the race was shortened to one mile.

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Arlington Park did not schedule the event in its abbreviated season.

During the last year of racing at Arlington Park in 2021, the race was renamed the Bruce D. Stakes in honor of the late Bruce Duchossois, the son of track owner Richard L. Duchossois.

In March 2022 Churchill Downs Incorporated (owner of the Arlington Park property) announced that it would move the Secretariat Stakes to Churchill Downs along with several of Arlington's traditional stakes races, including the Arlington Million. A week and a half before the Secretariat was supposed to be run, Churchill announced that the Secretariat would not be contested due to issues with the Churchill Downs turf course, while the other major turf stakes formerly run at Arlington—the Arlington Million and the Beverly D. Stakes—would be run as scheduled.

In December 2022 an agreement was reached between Churchill Downs and the American Graded Stakes Committee to move the 2023 Arlington Million and its supporting races, including the Secretariat Stakes, to Colonial Downs in Virginia.

Records Race record: 1 mile: 1:35.10 – Gigante (2023) miles: 1:59.65 – Kitten's Joy (2004) miles: 2:29.80 – Mac Diarmida (1978)

Margins: lengths – Stately Don (1987)

Most wins by an owner: 5 – Michael Tabor (1996, 2000, 2011, 2014, 2015)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Pat Day (1983, 1991, 1995) 3 – Kent Desormeaux (2002, 2009, 2010) 3 – Javier Castellano (2003, 2019, 2023)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Aidan O'Brien (2000, 2011, 2014, 2015)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Colonial Downs – Secretariat Stakes2026SuperchargerManuel FrancoCherie DeVauxC R K Stable miles1:41.24$500,000II2025 Giocoso Ben Curtis J. Keith Desormeaux Rocker O Ranch1 mile1:35.36$500,000II2024 Trikari John R. Velazquez H. Graham Motion Amerman Racing 1 mile1:34.92$500,000II2023 Gigante Javier Castellano Steve Asmussen Iapetus Racing & Diamond T Racing1 mile1:35.10$500,000II2022Race not heldAt Arlington Park – Bruce D. Stakes2021 Point Me By Luis Saez Eddie Kenneally Homewrecker Racing1 mile1.37.70$300,000ISecretariat Stakes2020Race not held2019Valid PointJavier CastellanoChad C. Browne Five Racing Thoroughbreds & Michael J. Ryan1 mile1:35.50$500,000I2018CarrickJohn R. VelazquezThomas MorleyDonegal Racing miles2:01.04$400,000I2017Oscar PerformanceJose L. OrtizBrian A. LynchAmerman Racing (Jerry & Joan Amerman) miles2:01.79$400,000I2016Beach PatrolFlorent GerouxChad C. BrownJames Covello, Sheep Pond & Head of Plains Partners miles2:01.95$450,000I2015Highland Reel (IRE)Seamie HeffernanAidan P. O'BrienDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor miles2:02.26$450,000I2014Adelaide (IRE)Ryan L. MooreAidan P. O'BrienDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, B. Webb, J. Murray & J. Ingham miles2:02.13$500,000I2013Admiral KittenRosie NapravnikMichael J. MakerKenneth and Sarah Ramsey miles2:02.17$500,000I2012Bayrir (FR)Christophe LemaireAlain de Royer-DupréHH Aga Khan IV miles2:02.92$500,000I2011Colm O'DonoghueAidan P. O'BrienDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor miles2:03.91$400,000I2010Paddy O'PradoKent J. DesormeauxDale L. Romans Donegal Racing miles2:04.71$400,000I2009Take the PointsKent J. DesormeauxTodd A. PletcherStarlight Partners miles2:05.41$400,000I2008WinchesterRene R. DouglasDermot K. WeldBertram & Diana Firestone miles2:01.76$400,000I2007Shamdinan (FR)Julien R. LeparouxDoug F. O'NeillTriple B Farms miles2:04.02$424,000I2006Showing UpCornelio VelasquezBarclay Tagg Lael Stables (H. Roy & Gretchen Jackson) miles2:00.09$400,000I2005Gun SaluteCornelio VelasquezWilliam I. MottBrant Laue miles2:03.79$400,000I2004Kitten's JoyJerry D. BaileyDale L. RomansKenneth and Sarah Ramsey miles1:59.65$400,000I2003Kicken KrisJavier CastellanoMichael R. MatzBrushwood Stable miles2:02.53$400,000I2002ChisellingRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles2:04.16$400,000I2001StartacAlex O. SolisSimon BrayAllen Paulson Living Trust miles2:04.91$400,000I2000CiroMichael J. KinaneAidan P. O'BrienJayeff B Stables miles2:01.64$400,000I1998–1999Race not held1997Honor GlideGarrett K. GomezJames E. DayRobert G. Schaedle III miles2:02.74$400,000I1996MarlinShane SellersD. Wayne LukasMichael Tabor miles2:01.09$500,000I1995Hawk AttackPat DayW. Elliott WaldenCavalier Stable miles2:00.17$400,000I1994VaudevilleGary L. StevensFordell Fierce Ron Crockett miles2:01.11$400,000I1993AwadJorge VelasquezDavid G. DonkRyehill Farm Stable (Jim & Eleanor Ryan) miles2:08.74$400,000I1992GhaziRobbie DavisDel W. Carroll IIHassan Shoaib miles2:01.18$300,000I1991Jackie WackiePat DayCarol Rocca & Gus DeMarinis miles2:01.27$300,000I1990§ Super AboundRandy RomeroCarl A. NafzgerGenter Stable miles2:01.60$250,000I1989HawksterPat ValenzuelaRon McAnallyMr. & Mrs. J. Shelton Meredith miles2:04.00$250,000I1988Race not held1987Stately DonJacinto VasquezLeRoy JolleyBradley M. Shannon miles2:04.60$172,650I1986SouthjetJose A. SantosAngel Penna Sr.Dogwood Stable miles2:02.00$170,850IAt Hawthorne Race Course 1985Derby WishRandy RomeroWilliam I. MottJohn A. Franks miles2:01.00$269,800IAt Arlington Park 1984VisionGregg McCarronWoodford C. StephensCherry Valley Farm miles2:38.40$195,400I1983FortnightlyPat DayAnthony BasileBwamazon Farm miles2:32.40$170,600II1982Half IcedDonald MacBethStanley M. HoughBertram R. Firestone miles2:31.00$150,000II1981Sing SingMichael VeneziaVictor J. NickersonSugartown Stable (Fred Papert) miles2:53.20$160,400II1980Spruce NeedlesJulio C. EspinozaWilliam E. AdamsGolden Chance Farm (Robert & Verna Lehmann) miles2:40.80$166,600II1979Golden ActSandy HawleyLoren RetteleWilliam H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps miles2:32.80$151,800II1978Mac DiarmidaJean CruguetFlint S. SchulhoferJerome M. Torsney miles2:29.80$166,000II1977TextMarco CastanedaVincent ClyneElmendorf Farm miles1:42.00$121,900II1976JoachimSam MapleJack Van BergPratt-Van Berg miles1:50.80$128,400II1975Intrepid HeroÁngel Cordero Jr.John W. RussellOgden Mills Phipps miles1:49.80$134,000II1974Glossary Angel L. Santiago Victor J. NickersonElmendorf Farm miles1:42.80$136,400IIArlington Invitational1973Secretariat Ron TurcotteLucien LaurinMeadow Stable miles1:47.00$125,000

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry with stablemate Unbridled

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References