Travers Stakes
American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is nicknamed the "Midsummer Derby"[2] and is the third-ranked race for American three-year-olds according to international classifications, behind only the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.[3] First held in 1864, it is the oldest stakes race in the United States specifically for 3-year-olds,[4] and was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers. The race was not run in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1911, and 1912.
Grade 1 race | |
Location | Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1864 |
Race type | Thoroughbred |
Website | NYRA / Travers |
Race information | |
Distance | 1+1ā4 miles (10 Furlongs) |
Surface | Dirt |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | 3-year-olds |
Weight | Colt/Gelding: 126 lb (57 kg) Filly: 121 lb (55 kg) |
Purse | US$1,250,000[1] |
The race is the highlight of the summer race meeting at Saratoga, just as the Belmont Stakes is the highlight of the spring meeting at Belmont Park. The purse was increased to $1,000,000 in 1999 and then to $1,250,000 in 2014. The purse for the 2015 renewal was increased to $1,600,000 due to the presence of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.[1]
From 2018 until 2022 the Travers Stakes was sponsored by Jim McIngvale under the name of retired stallion Runhappy.[5] The 154th Travers Stakes will be run on Saturday, August 26, 2023.[6]