Churchill Downs Stakes

The inaugural running of the event was the Churchill Downs Handicap took place on the closing day of the Churchill Downs Spring meeting, June 6, 1911, as a three-year-old and over race over a distance of miles with five starters and was won by Carlton G. in track record time of 1:51 under jockey George Taplin for owner and trainer Lon Johnson. The following year longshot Any Port equalled the record 1:51 winning by lengths. In 1947 the event was held on opening day of the spring meeting at a shortened distance of seven furlongs. The distance of the event was decreased to six furlongs for four running held from 1952 to 1955. Soon after return to the now distance of seven furlongs, in 1958 Shac Pan set a new track record of 1:22 flat winning by a head over Ezgo. In 1983, the conditions of the event were modified from handicap to stakes allowance for four-year-olds and older which reflect in the name of the event. The winner that year, 4/5 odds-on Pleasant Tap would also win the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Suburban Handicap and was awarded the U.S. Champion Older Male Horse. The event was upgraded to Grade II in 1998. The 2004 winner, six-year-old Speightstown, went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and was subsequently recognized as the U.S. Champion Sprinter. In 2007, the conditions of the event were changed from handicap to stakes allowance and the name of the event was modified to the Churchill Downs Stakes. Mitole, the 2019 winner would also win the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap, Forego Stakes and Breeders' Cup Sprint and was crowned the U.S. Champion Sprinter. ==Records==

Speed record: • 7 furlongs – 1:20.49 T O Elvis (2026) • 6 furlongs – 1:10.60 Roaming (1953) • 1 mile – 1:36.60 My Bill (1941) Margins: • 5 lengths – Barbizon Streak (1974), Dreadnought (1981) Most wins: • 3 – Arab's Arrow (1938, 1939, 1940) Most wins by a jockey: • 5 – Steve Brooks (1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1959) Most wins by a trainer: • 4 – William I. Mott (1983, 1985, 1999, 2023) Most wins by an owner: • 3 – Louise Hickman (1938, 1939, 1940) • 3 – Dixiana Farm (1950, 1952, 1973) • 3 – Albert M. Stall Sr. (1980, 1982, 1985) ==Winners==

Notes: § Ran as an entry ƒ Filly or Mare † In the 2002 running of the event Snow Ridge was first past the post but was disqualified due the rider Mike E. Smith accidentally striking D'wildcat's face with his whip as the runners approached the finishing post. D'wildcat was declared the winner. ==See also==