# River City Stakes

The River City Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of one and one eighth miles on the turf held annually in November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event offers a purse of $300,000.

## History

The name of the event is after a nickname for the city of Louisville where river traffic between the upper Ohio River and the Gulf of Mexico provided the early settlement of Louisville as it grew as a portage site.
The event was inaugurated on 30 October 1978, opening day of Churchill Downs Fall meeting as the River City Handicap as a six furlong dirt race and was won by Inca Roca who won his fifth race from fourteen starts in a time of 1:102⁄5.
The event was run over six furlongs until 1981 and then increased to 1 mile. In 1987 the event was scheduled on the turf over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles. The following year the distance of the event increased to 1+1⁄8 miles but it was moved off the turf and onto the main track due to inclement weather.
The American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event as Grade III in 1996 and was won by the 2/1 favourite Same Old Wish. Same Old Wish would win the event again the following year as a seven-year-old.
The event was run as a handicap prior to 2019.
The race was not run from 2020 to 2021 and in 2022 when the event was resumed it was moved to the dirt track due to the state of turf track and was downgraded to Listed status.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:47.90 – Dr. Kashnikow (CAN) (2001)
* 1 mile (dirt): 1:36.20 - Taylor's Special (1986)
Margins:
* 7 lengths – Go With the Times (1979)
Most wins:
* 2 – Same Old Wish (1996, 1997)
* 2 – Dr. Kashnikow (CAN) (2001, 2002)
* 2 – Mr. Misunderstood (2018, 2019)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 – Friendship Stable (1996, 1997)
* 2 – Erdenheim Farm (2001, 2002)
* 2 – Flurry Racing Stables (2018, 2019)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 6 – Pat Day (1982, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1999, 2000)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 3 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1984, 2023, 2024)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| River City Stakes |||||||||||
| 2024 | Battle of Normandy | 4 | Luan Machado | Claude R. McGaughey III | West Point Thoroughbreds & Woodford Racing | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.79 | $290,500 | III | |
| 2023 | Smokin' T | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Claude R. McGaughey III | DATTT Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.66 | $289,858 | III | |
| 2022 | Hozier | 4 | Julien R. Leparoux | Rodolphe Brisset | Storyteller Racing | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.67 | $292,500 | Listed | Off turf |
| 2020–2021 | 2020–2021 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2019 | Mr. Misunderstood | 5 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Flurry Racing Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.31 | $175,000 | III | |
| River City Handicap |||||||||||
| 2018 | Mr. Misunderstood | 4 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Flurry Racing Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:55.94 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2017 | Shining Copper | 7 | Corey J. Lanerie | Michael J. Maker | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.78 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2016 | Thatcher Street | 5 | Brian Hernandez Jr | Ian R. Wilkes | Randall L. Bloch, Phil Milner, John Seiler & Amtietan | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.45 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2015 | Heart to Heart (CAN) | 4 | Julien R. Leparoux | Brian A. Lynch | Terry Hamilton | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.16 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2014 | Villandry | 5 | Julien R. Leparoux | Charles LoPresti | Gainesway Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.54 | $114,000 | III | |
| 2013 | Potomac River | 4 | Juan P. Vargas | Sergio Baez | Maribel Ruelas | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.20 | $116,300 | III | |
| 2012 | Keep Up | 5 | Miguel Mena | Alex Clarkson | Mill Ridge Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.05 | $115,700 | III | |
| 2011 | Blues Street | 7 | Robby Albarado | Eddie Kenneally | Anstu Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.72 | $111,000 | III | |
| 2010 | Battle of Hastings (GB) | 4 | Joel Rosario | Gregory Fox | Mike House | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.90 | $111,200 | III | |
| 2009 | Rahystrada | 5 | Leandro D. Goncalves | Byron G. Hughes | Robert E. Courtney | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.18 | $112,700 | III | |
| 2008 | Karelian | 6 | William D. Troilo | George R. Arnold II | Green Lantern Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.06 | $114,400 | III | Dead heat |
| 2008 | Demarcation | 4 | Jesus Lopez Castanon | Paul J. McGee | Amerman Racing Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.06 | $114,400 | III | Dead heat |
| 2007 | Thorn Song | 4 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Dale L. Romans | Zayat Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.37 | $227,400 | III | |
| 2006 | Bayeux | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Gerard A. Butler | Michael Tabor | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.77 | $168,900 | III | |
| 2005 | America Alive | 4 | Robby Albarado | Neil J. Howard | Mill House | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.78 | $167,700 | III | |
| 2004 | G P Fleet | 4 | Jose R. Martinez Jr. | Steven B. Flint | Richard Bertram & Elaine Klein | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.26 | $174,300 | III | |
| 2003 | Hard Buck (BRZ) | 4 | Brice Blanc | Kenneth G. McPeek | Team Victory II | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.60 | $172,800 | III | |
| 2002 | Dr. Kashnikow (CAN) | 5 | Robby Albarado | John R. S. Fisher | Erdenheim Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.44 | $175,650 | III | |
| 2001 | Dr. Kashnikow (CAN) | 4 | Robby Albarado | John R. S. Fisher | Erdenheim Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.90 | $177,300 | III | |
| 2000 | Brahms | 3 | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Tom Van Meter | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.09 | $180,450 | III | |
| 1999 | Comic Strip | 4 | Pat Day | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III, G. Watts Humphrey Jr. & James Elkins | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.71 | $171,150 | III | |
| 1998 | Wild Event | 5 | Shane Sellers | Louis M. Goldfine | Arthur I. Appleton | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.18 | $187,800 | III | |
| 1997 | Same Old Wish | 7 | Shane Sellers | Robert Barbara | Friendship Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.90 | $171,900 | III | |
| 1996 | Same Old Wish | 6 | Shane Sellers | Robert Barbara | Friendship Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.21 | $113,100 | III | |
| 1995 | Homing Pigeon | 5 | Randy Romero | Harvey L. Vanier | Nancy A. Vanier | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.00 | $112,800 | Listed | |
| 1994 | Lindon Lime | 4 | Shane Sellers | W. Elliott Walden | Frank Mansell | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.30 | $116,400 | Listed | |
| 1993 | Secreto's Hideaway | 4 | Willie Martinez | Akiko M. Gothard | Mickey Liber | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.83 | $111,800 | Listed | Off turf |
| 1992 | Cozzene's Prince (CAN) | 5 | Dave Penna | Tino Attard | Kirby Canada Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.31 | $112,400 | Listed | |
| 1991 | Spending Record | 4 | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Moyglare Stud Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.34 | $115,500 | Listed | |
| 1990 | Silver Medallion | 4 | Craig Perret | Philip M. Hauswald | Brereton C. Jones | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.80 | $87,000 | | |
| 1989 | Spark O'Dan | 4 | Joe M. Johnson | Gary G. Hartlage | William S. Greene | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.80 | $85,275 | | |
| 1988 | Ile de Jinsky | 4 | Eugene J. Sipus Jr. | William C. Thomas | Finish Line Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:53.20 | $68,310 | | Off turf |
| 1987 | Kings River II (IRE) | 5 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Bertram Firestone | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.40 | $57,150 | | |
| River City Stakes |||||||||||
| 1986 | Taylor's Special | 5 | Pat Day | William I. Mott | William Lucas | 1 mile | 1:36.20 | $46,165 | | |
| 1985 | Banner Bob | 6 | K. Keith Allen | Jerome J. Sarner Jr. | William J. & Sharon Walsh | 1 mile | 1:36.60 | $44,800 | | |
| 1984 | Eminency | 4 | Pat Day | Claude R. McGaughey III | Happy Valley Farm | 1 mile | 1:38.40 | $28,350 | | |
| 1983 | Northern Majesty | 3 | Sam Maple | Raymond S. Lawrence Jr. | Leslie Combs II & C. C. Green | 1 mile | 1:37.00 | $28,450 | | |
| River City Handicap |||||||||||
| 1982 | Pleasing Times | 3 | Pat Day | Joseph M. Bollero | Tom Gentry | 1 mile | 1:38.20 | $31,250 | | |
| 1981 | Suliman | 4 | Larry Snyder | Robert E. Holthus | Joyce Starr & Dixie Holthus | 6 furlongs | 1:10.60 | $30,950 | | |
| 1980 | Tinsley's Hope | 6 | Julio C. Espinoza | William C. Thomas | Henry Pace | 6 furlongs | 1:11.00 | $29,300 | | |
| 1979 | Go With the Times | 3 | Gerland Gallitano | Joseph M. Bollero | Russell Reineman | 6 furlongs | 1:10.20 | $25,000 | | |
| 1978 | Inca Roca | 5 | Julio C. Espinoza | Earl J. Puckett | Charles Jarrell | 6 furlongs | 1:10.40 | $27,475 | | |
Legend:
 Dirt  Turf