# John Henry Turf Championship Stakes

The John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (renamed for John Henry who won it three times) is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the Oak Tree Racing Association's Autumn Meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
It is raced over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the turf and is one of the final prep races leading to the Breeders' Cup Turf. Once a Grade I event, it is now a Grade II and open to horses three years old and up. It currently offers a purse of $200,000.
Inaugurated as the Oak Tree Stakes in 1969, from 1971 through 1995 it was called the Oak Tree Invitational Stakes, and from 1996 through 1999, the Oak Tree Turf Championship Stakes. From 2000 through 2011 it was called the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes. The race, now named for John Henry, remains at Santa Anita although the Oak Tree Autumn Meeting was held at Hollywood Park until its closure in December, 2013.
From 1969 through 1994 it was raced at a distance of 1+1⁄2 miles.
In winning the 2008 edition, Red Giant set a world record time of 1:57.16 for 1+1⁄4 miles on turf.

## Records

Time record: (at current 1+1⁄4 miles distance)
* 1:57.16 – Red Giant (2008)
Most wins:
* 3 – John Henry (1980, 1981, 1982)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Dotsam Stable (1980, 1981, 1982)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 8 – Bill Shoemaker (1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 9 – Charles Whittingham (1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1986)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2021 | United | 6 | Flavien Prat | Richard E. Mandella | LNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nanci & Jaime Roth) | 1:58.41 |
| 2020 | United | 5 | Flavien Prat | Richard E. Mandella | LNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nanci & Jaime Roth) | 1:59.17 |
| 2019 | Cleopatra's Strike | 6 | Abel Cedillo | Philip D'Amato | Slam Dunk Racing & M. Nentwig | 1:58.22 |
| 2018 | Liam The Charmer | 5 | Tyler Gaffalione | Michael W. McCarthy | Madaket Stables LLC | 1:58.01 |
| 2017 | Itsinthepost | 5 | Tyler Baze | Jeff Mullins | Red Baron's Barn LLC | 1:58.28 |
| 2016 | Ashleyluvssugar | 5 | Gary Stevens | Peter Eurton | Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, Ciaglia Racing | 1:58.35 |
| 2015 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2014 | Bright Thought | 5 | Tyler Baze | Philip D'Amato | Dye and Venneri Racing | 1:58.27 |
| 2013 | Indy Point | 5 | Gary Stevens | Richard Mandella | GusMay-Fer | 1:57:47 |
| 2012 | Slim Shadey | 4 | Garrett Gomez | Simon Callaghan | Phil Cunningham | 1:59.17 |
| 2011 | Acclamation | 5 | Patrick Valenzuela | Don Warren | Old English Rancho | 1:59.45 |
| 2010‡ | Champ Pegasus | 4 | Joel Rosario | Richard Mandella | Diamond A Racing/Vargas | 2:01.21 |
| 2009 | Presious Passion | 6 | Elvis Trujillo | Mary Hartmann | Patricia Generazio | 1:59.13 |
| 2008 | Red Giant | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Peachtree Stable | 1:57.16 |
| 2007 | Artiste Royal | 6 | Joe Talamo | Neil D. Drysdale | David & Jill Heerensperger | 1:59.89 |
| 2006 | The Tin Man | 8 | Victor Espinoza | Richard Mandella | Ralph & Aury Todd | 2:00.12 |
| 2005 | Fourty Niners Son | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Neil D. Drysdale | Tom Baxter | 2:01.17 |
| 2004 | Star Over The Bay | 6 | Tyler Baze | Michael R. Mitchell | G Racing & VanBurger et al. | 1:58.70 |
| 2003 | Storming Home | 5 | Gary Stevens | Neil D. Drysdale | Sheikh Mohammed | 2:01.64 |
| 2002 | The Tin Man | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Richard Mandella | Ralph & Aury Todd | 1:58.93 |
| 2001 | Senure | 5 | Alex Solis | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1:59.47 |
| 2000 | Mash One | 6 | David R. Flores | Robert J. Frankel | Amerman Racing / Palumbo | 2:00.67 |
| 1999 | Mash One | 5 | David R. Flores | Robert J. Frankel | Amerman Racing / Palumbo | 1:59.07 |
| 1998 | Military | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Wallace Dollase | The Thoroughbred Corp. | 2:02.04 |
| 1997 | Rainbow Dancer | 6 | Alex Solis | Jenine Sahadi | Evergreen Farm | 2:01.94 |
| 1996† | Admise | 4 | Kent Desormeaux | Walter Greenman | Biszantz & Vandeweghe | 1:58.48 |
| 1995 | Northern Spur | 4 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Charles J. Cella | 2:02.37 |
| 1994 | Sandpit | 5 | Corey Nakatani | Richard Mandella | Sierra Thoroughbreds | 2:25.12 |
| 1993 | Kotashaan | 5 | Kent Desormeaux | Richard Mandella | La Presle Farm | 2:25.06 |
| 1992 | Navarone | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | Rodney Rash | Robert E. Hibbert | 2:24.29 |
| 1991 | Filago | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 2:23.62 |
| 1990 | Rial | 5 | Rafael Meza | A. Pico Perdomo | Enrique Carlos Boelcke | 2:23.80 |
| 1989 | Hawkster | 3 | Russell Baze | Ron McAnally | M/M J. Shelton Meredith | 2:22.80 |
| 1988 | Nasr El Arab | 3 | Gary Stevens | André Fabre | Sheikh Mohammed | 2:25.20 |
| 1987± | Allez Milord | 4 | Chris McCarron | John Gosden | Gallagher Farm | 2:36.20 |
| 1986 | Estrapade | 6 | Fernando Toro | Charles Whittingham | Allen E. Paulson | 2:26.00 |
| 1985 | Yashgan | 4 | Chris McCarron | John Sullivan | Liebau et al. | 2:27.20 |
| 1984 | Both Ends Burning | 4 | Russell Baze | Neil D. Drysdale | Burdett-Coutts & Nelson | 2:25.40 |
| 1983 | Zalataia | 4 | Freddy Head | André Fabre | Edith de Gil | 2:29.20 |
| 1982 | John Henry | 7 | Bill Shoemaker | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable | 2:24.00 |
| 1981 | John Henry | 6 | Bill Shoemaker | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable | 2:23.40 |
| 1980 | John Henry | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable | 2:23.40 |
| 1979 | Balzac | 4 | Chris McCarron | Charles Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | 2:25.40 |
| 1978 | Exceller | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 2:24.60 |
| 1977 | Crystal Water | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Roger E. Clapp | Connie M. Ring | 2:26.40 |
| 1976 | King Pellinore | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Cardiff Stock Farm | 2:31.40 |
| 1975 | Top Command | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | M/M Quinn Martin & Murty Farm (Duane, Wayne, Robert Murty) | 2:26.00 |
| 1974 | Tallahto | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Charles Whittingham | Elizabeth A. Keck | 2:25.80 |
| 1973 | Portentous | 3 | John Ramirez | Evan S. Jackson | Daniel Schwartz | 2:25.60 |
| 1972 | Cougar II | 6 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Mary Jones Bradley | 2:27.20 |
| 1971 | Cougar II | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Mary Jones Bradley | 2:24.60 |
| 1970 | Daryl's Joy | 4 | Johnny Sellers | Charles Whittingham | R. K. C. Goh | 2:26.20 |
| 1969 | Czar Alexander | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Angel Penna Sr. | Gustave Ring | 2:23.40 |
± In 1987 the winning time may have been affected because the race was started on the backstretch instead of from its normal hillside position. † In 1996, Bon Point finished first but was disqualified and set back to fifth place. ‡ In 2010 run at Hollywood Park.