# Secretariat Stakes

The Secretariat Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the turf. The event was originally raced at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois as a supporting stakes race on the Arlington Million racing program.
Churchill Downs, whose parent company owns the land of the defunct Arlington Park racetrack, originally planned to run the Secretariat Stakes in 2022, but the race was not run due to issues with the Churchill Downs turf course. The 2023 race was re-scheduled to be run at Churchill-owned Colonial Downs in Virginia.

## History
### Precursor — Arlington Invitational

In 1973, after Secretariat became the first U.S. Triple Crown winner in twenty five years, many race tracks wanted to have him race at their tracks. Arlington racetrack management offered to run him in the American Derby but it was too soon after his Belmont Stakes victory. Instead, management established an event that would enhance Secretariat's connections. This event was called the Arlington Invitational with $125,000 stakes offered in order to showcase Secretariat to Chicago racing fans and it was held 30 June 1973. A crowd of 41,223 witnessed seeing the three challengers grouped as a single betting entry at 6–1 and Secretariat was 1–20 odds-on which created a minus pool of $17,941. Secretariat won the 1+1⁄8 miles race by nine lengths in 1:47 flat, just 1⁄5 off the track record set by Damascus with My Gallant and Our Native running second and third respectively. Both of these horses had lost to the champion in the Triple Crown series. The performance produced a lasting impression on Arlington Park management.

### Event

One year and one day after Secretariat's performance at Arlington Park, track management scheduled a race to honor him. The inaugural event was held 30 June 1974 over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the turf. The race was won in an upset with the 39-1 longshot Glossary winning. The event was set with Grade II status.
It was run over 1+1⁄8 miles (1.8 km) in 1975/76 and extended to 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) from 1978 to 1984, before settling at 1+1⁄4 miles from 1985 to 2018.
In 1984 the event was upgraded to Grade I status.
In 1985 the event was held at Hawthorne Race Course over a shorter distance of 1+1⁄4 miles.
There was no race run in 1988, 1998 and 1999.
In 2005 it was included in the Grand Slam of Grass, which offered a substantial bonus to the winner of this race, the Colonial Turf Cup, the Virginia Derby and the Breeders' Cup Turf.
In 2019 the race was shortened to one mile.
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Arlington Park did not schedule the event in its abbreviated season.
During the last year of racing at Arlington Park in 2021, the race was renamed the Bruce D. Stakes in honor of the late Bruce Duchossois, the son of track owner Richard L. Duchossois.
In March 2022 Churchill Downs Incorporated (owner of the Arlington Park property) announced that it would move the Secretariat Stakes to Churchill Downs along with several of Arlington's traditional stakes races, including the Arlington Million. A week and a half before the Secretariat was supposed to be run, Churchill announced that the Secretariat would not be contested due to issues with the Churchill Downs turf course, while the other major turf stakes formerly run at Arlington—the Arlington Million and the Beverly D. Stakes—would be run as scheduled.
In December 2022 an agreement was reached between Churchill Downs and the American Graded Stakes Committee to move the 2023 Arlington Million and its supporting races, including the Secretariat Stakes, to Colonial Downs in Virginia.

## Records

Race record:
* 1 mile: 1:35.10 – Gigante (2023)
* 1+1⁄4 miles: 1:59.65 – Kitten's Joy (2004)
* 1+1⁄2 miles: 2:29.80 – Mac Diarmida (1978)
Margins:
* 7+1⁄2 lengths – Stately Don (1987)
Most wins by an owner:
* 5 – Michael Tabor (1996, 2000, 2011, 2014, 2015)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 – Pat Day (1983, 1991, 1995)
* 3 – Kent Desormeaux (2002, 2009, 2010)
* 3 – Javier Castellano (2003, 2019, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 – Aidan O'Brien (2000, 2011, 2014, 2015)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| At Colonial Downs – Secretariat Stakes ||||||||||
| 2024 | Trikari | John R. Velazquez | H. Graham Motion | Amerman Racing | 1 mile | 1:34.92 | $500,000 | II | |
| 2023 | Gigante | Javier Castellano | Steve Asmussen | Iapetus Racing & Diamond T Racing | 1 mile | 1:35.10 | $500,000 | II | |
| 2022 | 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 |
| At Arlington Park – Bruce D. Stakes ||||||||||
| 2021 | Point Me By | Luis Saez | Eddie Kenneally | Homewrecker Racing | 1 mile | 1.37.70 | $300,000 | I | |
| Secretariat Stakes ||||||||||
| 2020 | 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 | Valid Point | Javier Castellano | Chad C. Brown | e Five Racing Thoroughbreds & Michael J. Ryan | 1 mile | 1:35.50 | $500,000 | I | |
| 2018 | Carrick | John R. Velazquez | Thomas Morley | Donegal Racing | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.04 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2017 | Oscar Performance | Jose L. Ortiz | Brian A. Lynch | Amerman Racing (John & Jerry Amerman) | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.79 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2016 | Beach Patrol | Florent Geroux | Chad C. Brown | James Covello, Sheep Pond & Head of Plains Partners | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.95 | $450,000 | I | |
| 2015 | Highland Reel (IRE) | Seamie Heffernan | Aidan P. O'Brien | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:02.26 | $450,000 | I | |
| 2014 | Adelaide (IRE) | Ryan L. Moore | Aidan P. O'Brien | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, B. Webb, J. Murray & J. Ingham | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:02.13 | $500,000 | I | |
| 2013 | Admiral Kitten | Rosie Napravnik | Michael J. Maker | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:02.17 | $500,000 | I | |
| 2012 | Bayrir (FR) | Christophe Lemaire | Alain de Royer-Dupré | HH Aga Khan IV | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:02.92 | $500,000 | I | |
| 2011 | Treasure Beach (GB) | Colm O'Donoghue | Aidan P. O'Brien | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:03.91 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2010 | Paddy O'Prado | Kent J. Desormeaux | Dale L. Romans | Donegal Racing | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:04.71 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2009 | Take the Points | Kent J. Desormeaux | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Partners | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:05.41 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2008 | Winchester | Rene R. Douglas | Dermot K. Weld | Bertram & Diana Firestone | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.76 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2007 | Shamdinan (FR) | Julien R. Leparoux | Doug F. O'Neill | Triple B Farms | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:04.02 | $424,000 | I | |
| 2006 | Showing Up | Cornelio Velasquez | Barclay Tagg | Lael Stables (H. Roy & Gretchen Jackson) | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:00.09 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2005 | Gun Salute | Cornelio Velasquez | William I. Mott | Brant Laue | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:03.79 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2004 | Kitten's Joy | Jerry D. Bailey | Dale L. Romans | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄4 miles | 1:59.65 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2003 | Kicken Kris | Javier Castellano | Michael R. Matz | Brushwood Stable | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:02.53 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2002 | Chiselling | Kent J. Desormeaux | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:04.16 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2001 | Startac | Alex O. Solis | Simon Bray | Allen Paulson Living Trust | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:04.91 | $400,000 | I | |
| 2000 | Ciro | Michael J. Kinane | Aidan P. O'Brien | Jayeff B Stables | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.64 | $400,000 | I | |
| 1998–1999 | 1998–1999 | 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 |
| 1997 | Honor Glide | Garrett K. Gomez | James E. Day | Robert G. Schaedle III | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:02.74 | $400,000 | I | |
| 1996 | Marlin | Shane Sellers | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.09 | $500,000 | I | |
| 1995 | Hawk Attack | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Cavalier Stable | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:00.17 | $400,000 | I | |
| 1994 | Vaudeville | Gary L. Stevens | Fordell Fierce | Ron Crockett | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.11 | $400,000 | I | |
| 1993 | Awad | Jorge Velasquez | David G. Donk | Ryehill Farm Stable (Jim & Eleanor Ryan) | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:08.74 | $400,000 | I | |
| 1992 | Ghazi | Robbie Davis | Del W. Carroll II | Hassan Shoaib | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.18 | $300,000 | I | |
| 1991 | Jackie Wackie | Pat Day | Dominic F. Imprescia Jr. | Carol Rocca & Gus DeMarinis | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.27 | $300,000 | I | |
| 1990 | § Super Abound | Randy Romero | Carl A. Nafzger | Genter Stable | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.60 | $250,000 | I | |
| 1989 | Hawkster | Pat Valenzuela | Ron McAnally | Mr. & Mrs. J. Shelton Meredith | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:04.00 | $250,000 | I | |
| 1988 | 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 |
| 1987 | Stately Don | Jacinto Vasquez | LeRoy Jolley | Bradley M. Shannon | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:04.60 | $172,650 | I | |
| 1986 | Southjet | Jose A. Santos | Angel Penna Sr. | Dogwood Stable | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:02.00 | $170,850 | I | |
| At Hawthorne Race Course ||||||||||
| 1985 | Derby Wish | Randy Romero | William I. Mott | John A. Franks | 1+1⁄4 miles | 2:01.00 | $269,800 | I | |
| At Arlington Park ||||||||||
| 1984 | Vision | Gregg McCarron | Woodford C. Stephens | Cherry Valley Farm | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:38.40 | $195,400 | I | |
| 1983 | Fortnightly | Pat Day | Anthony Basile | Bwamazon Farm | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:32.40 | $170,600 | II | |
| 1982 | Half Iced | Donald MacBeth | Stanley M. Hough | Bertram R. Firestone | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.00 | $150,000 | II | |
| 1981 | Sing Sing | Michael Venezia | Victor J. Nickerson | Sugartown Stable (Fred Papert) | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:53.20 | $160,400 | II | |
| 1980 | Spruce Needles | Julio C. Espinoza | William E. Adams | Golden Chance Farm (Robert & Verna Lehmann) | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:40.80 | $166,600 | II | |
| 1979 | Golden Act | Sandy Hawley | Loren Rettele | William H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:32.80 | $151,800 | II | |
| 1978 | Mac Diarmida | Jean Cruguet | Flint S. Schulhofer | Jerome M. Torsney | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.80 | $166,000 | II | |
| 1977 | Text | Marco Castaneda | Vincent Clyne | Elmendorf Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.00 | $121,900 | II | Off turf |
| 1976 | Joachim | Sam Maple | Jack Van Berg | Pratt-Van Berg | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.80 | $128,400 | II | |
| 1975 | Intrepid Hero | Ángel Cordero Jr. | John W. Russell | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.80 | $134,000 | II | |
| 1974 | Glossary | Angel L. Santiago | Victor J. Nickerson | Elmendorf Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.80 | $136,400 | II | |
| Arlington Invitational ||||||||||
| 1973 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.00 | $125,000 | | |
Legend:
 Dirt  Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry with stablemate Unbridled