Stars and Stripes Stakes
The Stars and Stripes Stakes is a Grade III flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and up. It is raced over a distance of 12 furlongs (1 ½ miles) on the turf course at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois as a lead up race to the Breeders' Cup Turf. The race currently carries a purse of $100,000.
Inaugurated in 1929 it was raced on dirt through 1949 and again in 1974.
Until the advent of the Breeders' Cup races, the race was known as the Stars and Stripes Handicap and was an important part of the annual racing calendar. It drew the top horses from across the United States and has been won by a number of U.S. Hall of Fame horses as well as U.S. Triple Crown champion Citation.
In 2010, the race was set at 1 5/8 miles. In 2015 it was run at 1 1/2 miles.
Records
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 - Rene Douglas (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008)
Winners since 2000
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 2015 | The Pizza Man | 6 | Florent Geroux | Roger A. Brueggemann | Midwest Thoroughbreds | 2:34.13 |
| 2014 | The Pizza Man | 5 | Florent Geroux | Roger A. Brueggemann | Midwest Thoroughbreds | 2:33.67 |
| 2013 | Dark Cove | 6 | Rosie Napravnik | Michael J. Maker | Ken & Sarah Ramsey | 2:27.39 |
| 2012 | Ioya Bigtime | 5 | Jeffrey Sanchez | Chris M. Block | Team Block | 2:28.44 |
| 2011 | Free Fighter | 6 | Tim Thornton | Michael Reavis | Frank Mancari | 2:31.98 |
| 2010 | Memorial Maniac | 5 | James Graham | Larry Demeritte | Butterfly Stable | 2:44.29 |
| 2009 | Free Fighter | 4 | James Graham | Chris Block | Team Block/Thomas Fedro Sr. | 2:28.31 |
| 2008 | Silverfoot | 8 | Rene Douglas | Dallas Stewart | Chrysalis Stables LLC | 2:30.40 |
| 2007 | Always First | 6 | Robby Albarado | Tom Voss | Merriefield Farm/Charles Noell | 2:31.74 |
| 2006 | Major Rhythm | 7 | Earlie Fires | Ed Beam | James Messineo | 2:29.93 |
| 2005 | Revved Up | 7 | Brice Blanc | Christophe Clement | Live Oak Racing | 2:28.29 |
| 2004 | Ballingarry | 5 | Rene Douglas | Laura de Seroux | Sidney L. Port Trust et al. | 2:36.30 |
| 2003 | Ballingarry | 4 | Rene Douglas | Laura de Seroux | Sidney L. Port Trust et al. | 2:28.30 |
| 2002 | Cetewayo | 8 | Rene Douglas | Michael Dickinson | John A. Chandler | 2:27.50 |
| 2001 | Falcon Flight | 5 | Rene Douglas | D. Burke II | Gary A. Tanaka | 2:27.86 |
| 2000 | Williams News | 5 | Robby Albarado | Tom Amoss | On Target Racing Stable | 2:31.22 |
Selected earlier winners
- 1999 : No race
- 1998 : No race
- 1997 : Lakeshore Road
- 1996 : Vladivostok
- 1995 : Snake Eyes
- 1994 : Marastani
- 1993 : Little Bro Lantis
- 1992 : Plate Dancer
- 1991 : Blair's Cove
- 1990 : Mister Sicy
- 1989 : Salem Drive
- 1988 : No race
- 1987 : Sharood
- 1986 : Explosive Darling
- 1985 : Drumalis
- 1984 : Tough Mickey
- 1983 : Rossi Gold
- 1982 : Rossi Gold
- 1981 : Rossi Gold & Ben Fab (DH)
- 1980 : Told
- 1979 : Overskate
- 1969 : Hawaii
- 1968 : Fort Marcy
- 1959 : Round Table
- 1949 : Coaltown
- 1948 : Citation
- 1947 : Armed
- 1942 : Take Wing
- 1938 : War Minstrel
- 1935 : Discovery
- 1934 : Indian Runner
- 1933 : Indian Runner
- 1932 : Equipoise
- 1930 : Blue Larkspur
