Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series > Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes
Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes Race Facts
- Location: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Inaugural Race: 1919
- Distance: 1 and 1/4th of a mile (10 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-handed, Dirt
- Age Qualifications: Three Year Olds and up
- 2021 Purse: $1,000,000
- 2021 Race Date: Saturday, September 4th
2021 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes Race Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Max Player | Ricardo Santana, Jr. / Steven M. Asmussen | $9.60 / $4.70 / $2.60 |
| 4 | Happy Saver | Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Todd A. Pletcher | $3.80 / $2.20 |
| 1 | Forza Di Oro | Junior Alvarado / William I. Mott | $2.10 |
| 5 | Night Ops | Manuel Franco / Brad H. Cox | |
| 3 | Chess Chief | Luis Saez / Dallas Stewart | |
| 6 | Forewarned | Sonny Leon / Uriah St. Lewis |
Exotic Payoffs:
- $1.00 Exacta (2-4) Paid: $15.20
- $0.50 Trifecta (2-4-1) Paid: $13.75
- $0.10 Superfecta (2-4-1-5) Paid: $4.87
Watch the 2021 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes
Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes Race History
The Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes is a Grade I horse race run each year at Belmont Park (although it was shifted to the Saratoga Race Course in 2021). Inaugurated in 1919, past race winners include a laundry list of hall of famers and champions, including Sword Dancer, War Admiral, Cigar, Curlin, Slew o’ Gold, Affirmed, Forego, Shuvee, Kelso, Citation, Whirlaway, Man o’ War, and John Henry.
Of note in the races long history is the 1978 edition, which saw hall of fame stallion Exceller edged 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew by a nose in a thrilling battle down the stretch. Affirmed, who would capture the Triple Crown that year, finished fifth after his saddle slipped but would rebound and capture a win the very next year by defeating a field that included the legendary Spectacular Bid.
Jockey Eddie Arcaro dominated the Jockey Gold Cup during his hall of fame career, capturing a record 11 victories. His record has stood since he notched his final win in 1961. Trainer Jim FItzsimmons holds another long standing record with his 7 wins. Of the esteemed winners of the race, ten horses have won the race twice but its Kelso who holds the record with 5 wins, who captured those victories consecutively between 1960 and 1965.
As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” Series, winners are automatically entered into the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Distance / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Max Player | Ricardo Santana, Jr. / Steven M. Asmussen | 1 1/4 M / 2:02.49 |
| 2020 | Happy Saver | Irad Ortiz Jr. / Todd Pletcher | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:01.77 |
| 2019 | Code of Honor | John Velazquez / Shug McGaughey | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:00.30 |
| 2018 | Discreet Lover | Manuel Franco / Uriah St. Lewis | 1 1⁄4 M / 1:59.99 |
| 2017 | Diversify | Irad Ortiz Jr. / Richard Violette Jr. | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:00.96 |
| 2016 | Hoppertunity | John Velazquez / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:00.68 |
| 2015 | Tonalist | John Velazquez / Christophe Clement | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:02.16 |
| 2014 | Tonalist | Joel Rosario / Christophe Clement | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:02.12 |
| 2013 | Ron the Greek | Jose Lezcano / William I. Mott | 1 1⁄4 M / 1:59.70 |
| 2012 | Flat Out | Joel Rosario / William I. Mott | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:01.44 |
| 2011 | Flat Out | Alex Solis / Scooter Dickey | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:03.17 |
| 2010 | Haynesfield | Ramon Domínguez / Steve Asmussen | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:02.48 |
| 2009 | Summer Bird | Kent J. Desormeaux / Tim A. Ice | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:02.51 |
| 2008 | Curlin | Robby Albarado / Steve Asmussen | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:02.33 |
| 2007 | Curlin | Robby Albarado / Steve Asmussen | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:01.20 |
| 2006 | Bernardini | Javier Castellano / Thomas Albertrani | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:01.02 |
| 2005 | Borrego | Garrett Gomez / C. Beau Greely | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:02.86 |
| 2004 | Funny Cide | José A. Santos / Barclay Tagg | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:02.44 |
| 2003 | Mineshaft | Robby Albarado / Neil J. Howard | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:00.25 |
| 2002 | Evening Attire | Shaun Bridgmohan / Patrick J. Kelly | 1 1⁄4 M / 1:59.58 |
| 2001 | Aptitude | Jerry Bailey / Robert J. Frankel | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:01.49 |
| 2000 | Albert the Great | Jorge Chavez / Nick Zito | 1 1⁄4 M / 1:59.24 |
| 1999 | River Keen | Chris Antley / Bob Baffert | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:01.40 |
| 1998 | Wagon Limit | Robbie Davis / H. Allen Jerkens | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:00.62 |
| 1997 | Skip Away | Jerry Bailey / Hubert Hine | 1 1⁄4 M / 1:58.89 |
| 1996 | Skip Away | Shane Sellers / Hubert Hine | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:00.70 |
| 1995 | Cigar | Jerry Bailey / William I. Mott | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:01.29 |
| 1994 | Colonial Affair | José A. Santos / Flint S. Schulhofer | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:02.19 |
| 1993 | Miner's Mark | Chris McCarron / C. R. McGaughey III | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:02.79 |
| 1992 | Pleasant Tap | Gary Stevens / Christopher Speckert | 1 1⁄4 M / 1:58.95 |
| 1991 | Festin | Ed Delahoussaye / Ron McAnally | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:00.69 |
| 1990 | Flying Continental | Corey Black / Jay M. Robbins | 1 1⁄4 M / 2:00.60 |
| 1989 | Easy Goer | Pat Day / C. R. McGaughey III | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:29.20 |
| 1988 | Waquoit | José A. Santos / Guido Federico | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:27.60 |
| 1987 | Creme Fraiche | Laffit Pincay Jr. / Woody Stephens | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:30.80 |
| 1986 | Creme Fraiche | Randy Romero / Woody Stephens | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.00 |
| 1985 | Vanlandingham | Pat Day / C. R. McGaughey III | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:27.00 |
| 1984 | Slew o' Gold | Ángel Cordero Jr. / John O. Hertler | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.80 |
| 1983 | Slew o' Gold | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Sidney Watters Jr. | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:26.20 |
| 1982 | Lemhi Gold | Chris McCarron / Laz Barrera | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:31.20 |
| 1981 | John Henry | Bill Shoemaker / Victor J. Nickerson | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.40 |
| 1980 | Temperence Hill | Eddie Maple / Joseph B. Cantey | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:30.20 |
| 1979 | Affirmed | Laffit Pincay Jr. / Laz Barrera | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:27.40 |
| 1978 | Exceller | Bill Shoemaker / Charles Whittingham | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:27.20 |
| 1977 | On The Sly | Gregg McCarron / Mel W. Gross | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.20 |
| 1976 | Great Contractor | Pat Day / Roger Laurin | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.80 |
| 1975 | Group Plan | Jorge Velásquez / H. Allen Jerkens | 2 M / 3:23.20 |
| 1974 | Forego | Heliodoro Gustines / Sherrill W. Ward | 2 M / 3:21.20 |
| 1973 | Prove Out | Jorge Velásquez / H. Allen Jerkens | 2 M / 3:20.00 |
| 1972 | Autobiography | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Pancho Martin | 2 M / 3:21.40 |
| 1971 | Shuvee | Jorge Velásquez / Willard C. Freeman | 2 M / 3:20.40 |
| 1970 | Shuvee | Ron Turcotte / Willard C. Freeman | 2 M / 3:21.60 |
| 1969 | Arts and Letters | Braulio Baeza / J. Elliott Burch | 2 M / 3:22.40 |
| 1968 | Quicken Tree | William Hartack / Clyde Turk | 2 M / 3:22.80 |
| 1967 | Damascus | Bill Shoemaker / Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | 2 M / 3:20.20 |
| 1966 | Buckpasser | Braulio Baeza / Edward A. Neloy | 2 M / 3:26.20 |
| 1965 | Roman Brother | Braulio Baeza / Burley Parke | 2 M / 3:22.60 |
| 1964 | Kelso | Ismael Valenzuela / Carl Hanford | 2 M / 3:19.20 |
| 1963 | Kelso | Ismael Valenzuela / Carl Hanford | 2 M / 3:22.00 |
| 1962 | Kelso | Ismael Valenzuela / Carl Hanford | 2 M / 3:19.80 |
| 1961 | Kelso | Eddie Arcaro / Carl Hanford | 2 M / 3:25.80 |
| 1960 | Kelso | Eddie Arcaro / Carl Hanford | 2 M / 3:19.40 |
| 1959 | Sword Dancer | Eddie Arcaro / J. Elliott Burch | 2 M / 3:22.20 |
| 1958 | Inside Tract | Conn McCreary / John J. Weipert Jr. | 2 M / 3:23.40 |
| 1957 | Gallant Man | Bill Shoemaker / John A. Nerud | 2 M / 3:23.00 |
| 1956 | Nashua | Eddie Arcaro / Jim Fitzsimmons | 2 M / 3:20.40 |
| 1955 | Nashua | Eddie Arcaro / Jim Fitzsimmons | 2 M / 3:24.80 |
| 1954 | High Gun | Eddie Arcaro / Max Hirsch | 2 M / 3:25.80 |
| 1953 | Level Lea | William Boland / Max Hirsch | 2 M / 3:27.00 |
| 1952 | One Count | Dave Gorman / Oscar White | 2 M / 3:24.20 |
| 1951 | Counterpoint | Dave Gorman / Sylvester Veitch | 2 M / 3:21.60 |
| 1950 | Hill Prince | Eddie Arcaro / Casey Hayes | 2 M / 3:22.40 |
| 1949 | Ponder | Eddie Arcaro / Ben A. Jones | 2 M / 3:22.80 |
| 1948 | Citation | Eddie Arcaro / Ben A. Jones | 2 M / 3:21.60 |
| 1947 | Phalanx | Ruperto Donoso / Sylvester Veitch | 2 M / 3:21.60 |
| 1946 | Pavot | Eddie Arcaro / Oscar White | 2 M / 3:22.60 |
| 1945 | Pot o'Luck | Douglas Dodson / Ben A. Jones | 2 M / 3:27.40 |
| 1944 | Bolingbroke | Robert Permane / Jim Fitzsimmons | 2 M / 3:27.20 |
| 1943 | Princequillo | Conn McCreary / Horatio Luro | 2 M / 3:23.80 |
| 1942 | Whirlaway | George Woolf / Ben A. Jones | 2 M / 3:21.60 |
| 1941 | Market Wise | Basil James / George W. Carroll | 2 M / 3:20.80 |
| 1940 | Fenelon | James Stout / James E. Fitzsimmons | 2 M / 3:24.40 |
| 1939 | Cravat | Basil James / Walter Burrows | 2 M / 3:23.00 |
| 1938 | War Admiral | Wayne D. Wright / George Conway | 2 M / 3:24.80 |
| 1937 | Firethorn | Harry Richards / Preston M. Burch | 2 M / 3:26.00 |
| 1936 | Count Arthur | James Stout / Frank Hackett | 2 M / 3:24.40 |
| 1935 | Firethorn | Eddie Arcaro / Preston M. Burch | 2 M / 3:24.20 |
| 1934 | Dark Secret | Charles Kurtsinger / Jim Fitzsimmons | 2 M / 3:24.60 |
| 1933 | Dark Secret | Hank Mills / Jim Fitzsimmons | 2 M / 3:25.20 |
| 1932 | Gusto | Buddy Hanford / Max Hirsch | 2 M / 3:25.20 |
| 1931 | Twenty Grand | Charles Kurtsinger / James G. Rowe Jr. | 2 M / 3:23.40 |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande / Jim Fitzsimmons | 2 M / 3:24.40 |
| 1929 | Diavolo | John Maiben / Jim Fitzsimmons | 2 M / 3:24.00 |
| 1928 | Reigh Count | Chick Lang / Bert S. Michell | 2 M / 3:23.00 |
| 1927 | Chance Play | Earl Sande / John I. Smith | 2 M / 3:23.00 |
| 1926 | Crusader | Albert Johnson / George Conway | 2 M / 3:26.00 |
| 1925 | Altawood | John Maiben / G. Hamilton Keene | 2 M / 3:26.00 |
| 1924 | My Play | Andy Schuttinger / Roy Waldron | 2 M / 3:25.60 |
| 1923 | Homestretch | Chick Lang / Ernest Sletas | 2 M / 3:24.20 |
| 1922 | Mad Hatter | Earl Sande / Sam Hildreth | 2 M / 3:22.60 |
| 1921 | Mad Hatter | Earl Sande / Sam Hildreth | 2 M / 3:22.40 |
| 1920 | Man o' War | Clarence Kummer / Louis Feustel | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.80 |
| 1919 | Purchase | Clarence Kummer / Sam Hildreth | 1 1⁄2 M / 2:28.80 |