# Lecomte Stakes

The Lecomte Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses at a distance of one and one-sixteenths miles on the dirt run annually in mid-January, at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event currently offers a purse of $250,000.

## History
### Early years - Open era (1943-61)

The event was inaugurated 20 February 1943 as the LeCompte Handicap with handicap conditions for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles. The race was won by Emerson Francis Woodward's Valdina Farms standout Valdina Orphan who started a short priced 2/5 odds-on favorite winning easily by two lengths in a time of 1:51 flat. Three months later Emerson Francis Woodward and his wife Bessie were killed in an accident with a train at a graded crossing in his home state of Texas.
The event was named after the town of Lecompte, Louisiana, which was named but incorrectly spelt after a famous 19th century race horse owned by the Wells family who lived on a plantation south of the town. The horse's name was Lecomte, who is known as the only horse to defeat Lexington. Lecomte's dam was the brilliant Reel.
The event was programmed as a preparatory race for the Fair Grounds signature event for older horses, the New Orleans Handicap which in the era was scheduled one or two weeks after this race with the place getters receiving automatic entry.
In 1945 the event was not held due to World War II. In 1948 the eight-year-old Jack S. L. became the first two time winner of the event. In 1949 the result of the event was a dead heat between My Request and Caillou Rouge. My Request won and would go on and win the New Orleans Handicap. In 1951 Joe W. Brown's four-year-old filly won the event Thelma Berger as part of his two horse entry in event with Riverlane and to date remains the only filly or mare to have won the event. The 1953 winner Smoke Screen also won the New Orleans Handicap.
In 1955 the event was run as the LeComte Handicap with reference to the correct name of the famous horse.
In 1961 one of Fair Grounds' favorite horses Mrs. Joe W. Brown's Tenacious won the event for the third straight time. In 1958 Tenacious finished third as the 11/10 favorite to the two time winner Speed Rouser, but would go on and win the New Orleans Handicap. In 1959 Tenacious set a new track record of 1:43 flat for the 1+1⁄16 miles distance. The 1961 running of the event would be the last time the race was scheduled as an event for older horses.

### Three-year-old event (1962 onwards)

In 1962 the conditions of the event were changed that only three-year-olds could enter. The event immediately became a preparatory race for the Louisiana Derby which was held later in the meeting in March. The 1963 winner City Line won the event defeating Lemon Twist by five lengths and setting a new stakes record of 1:422⁄5. City Line would go on and repeat his win in his next start defeating Lemon Twist again by eight lengths in the Louisiana Derby. Mrs. Dorothy Dorsett Brown's two horse entry of Dapper Delegate and Doc Wesley won the event in 1965 starting at the short odds of 1/2. Dapper Delegate would also go on and in a fortnight capture the Louisiana Derby.
The first winner of the LeComte Handicap to make an impact on the American Triple Crown events was Joseph R. Straus's 1972 winner No Le Hace. No Le Hace started as the 6/5 favorite and won by 2+1⁄2 lengths winning his third straight race. No Le Hace would win the Louisiana Derby and the go to Oaklawn Park and win the Arkansas Derby. No Le Hace proceeded in running second at Churchill Downs in the Derby Trial Stakes a week before the Kentucky Derby. In the 1972 Kentucky Derby No Le Hace finished second to Riva Ridge and two weeks later finished second in the 1972 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico to Bee Bee Bee.
A major upset occurred in the 1988 running of the event when Thomas Leavell's Pastourelles defeated the heavily backed 3/10 odds-favorite Risen Star by a length and a quarter. Risen Star would turn the tables on Pastourelles in the Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes and Louisiana Derby. More impressive was Risen Star's campaign in the American Triple Crown events where he won 1988 Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes by 14+1⁄2 lengths.
In 1991 the distance of the event was decreased to one mile.
In 2003 the American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event as Grade III.
Due to the catastrophic damage caused by of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 the winter meeting was abbreviated and held at Louisiana Downs and the event was not scheduled.
The event was held over a distance of a mile and 40 yards in 2010 and 2011 and was increased to a mile and 70 yards in 2012.
In 2013 Oxbow won the event by a stakes record 11+1⁄2 lengths. Later in May Oxbow won the 2013 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. The 2019 winner War of Will also went onto win the 2019 Preakness Stakes.
In 2020 the event's distance was set to the 1+1⁄16 miles distance, last run in 1991.
The event is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:42.40 – City Line (1963)
* 1 mile & 70 yards: 1:42.57 – Vicar's in Trouble (2014)
* 1 mile & 40 yards: 1:39.29 – Fly Cry (1994)
* 1 mile: 1:37.60 – Dixieland Heat (1993)
Margins:
* 11+1⁄2 lengths – Oxbow (2013)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 – Robby Albarado (1998, 2001, 2005, 2012, 2017)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 5 – John B. Theall (1946, 1951, 1959, 1960, 1961)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 - Mr. & Mrs. Joe W. Brown (1951, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1967)
Lecomte Stakes – Louisiana Derby double:
* City Line (1963), Dapper Delegate (1965), No Le Hace (1972), Clev Er Tell (1977), Dixieland Heat (1993), Friesan Fire (2009), International Star (2015)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| Lecomte Stakes |||||||||||
| 2025 | Disco Time | 3 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.07 | $250,000 | III | |
| 2024 | Track Phantom | 3 | Joel Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen | L and N Racing, Clark O. Brewster, Jerry Caroom & Breeze Easy | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.73 | $194,000 | III | |
| 2023 | Instant Coffee | 3 | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | Gold Square | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.12 | $194,000 | III | |
| 2022 | Call Me Midnight | 3 | James Graham | J. Keith Desormeaux | Peter L. Cantrell | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.36 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2021 | Midnight Bourbon | 3 | Joseph Talamo | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44:41 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Enforceable | 3 | Julien R. Leparoux | Mark E. Casse | John C. Oxley | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.72 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2019 | War of Will | 3 | Tyler Gaffalione | Mark E. Casse | Gary Barber | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:43.44 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2018 | Instilled Regard | 3 | Javier Castellano | Jerry Hollendorfer | OXO Equine | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.59 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2017 | Guest Suite | 3 | Robby Albarado | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III & Lora Jean Kilroy | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:43.20 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2016 | Mo Tom | 3 | Corey J. Lanerie | Thomas M. Amoss | G M B Racing | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:43.18 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2015 | International Star | 3 | Miguel Mena | Michael J. Maker | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:43.62 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2014 | Vicar's in Trouble | 3 | Rosie Napravnik | Michael J. Maker | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.57 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2013 | Oxbow | 3 | Jon Court | D. Wayne Lukas | Bluegrass Hall | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:43.30 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2012 | Mr. Bowling | 3 | Robby Albarado | J. Larry Jones | Brereton Jones | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:43.49 | $175,000 | III | |
| 2011 | Wilkinson | 3 | Garrett K. Gomez | Neil J. Howard | Gaillardia Racing | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:40.97 | $96,000 | III | |
| 2010 | Ron the Greek | 3 | James Graham | Thomas M. Amoss | Jack T. Hammer | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:40.09 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2009 | Friesan Fire | 3 | Gabriel Saez | J. Larry Jones | Fox Hill Farms & Vinery Stables | 1 mile | 1:37.67 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2008 | Z Fortune | 3 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steven M. Asmussen | Zayat Stables | 1 mile | 1:37.79 | $99,000 | III | |
| 2007 | Hard Spun | 3 | Mario G. Pino | J. Larry Jones | Fox Hill Farms | 1 mile | 1:37.87 | $98,000 | III | |
| 2006 | 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 | Race not held |
| 2005 | Storm Surge | 3 | Robby Albarado | Dallas Stewart | Overbrook Farm | 1 mile | 1:39.34 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2004 | Fire Slam | 3 | Shane Sellers | David M. Carroll | Stan E. Fulton | 1 mile | 1:38.48 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2003 | Saintly Look | 3 | Shane Sellers | Dallas Stewart | William A. Carl | 1 mile | 1:37.62 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2002 | Easyfromthegitgo | 3 | Donnie Meche | Steven M. Asmussen | James Cassels & Bob Zollars | 1 mile | 1:37.98 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 2001 | Sam Lord's Castle | 3 | Robby Albarado | Josie Carroll | Eugene & Laura Melnyk | 1 mile | 1:37.98 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| Lecomte Handicap |||||||||||
| 2000 | Noble Ruler | 3 | Larry Melancon | Niall M. O'Callaghan | Fsim Racing Stables | 1 mile | 1:39.11 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 1999 | Some Actor | 3 | Eddie Martin Jr. | Thomas M. Amoss | James McIngvale | 1 mile | 1:38.59 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 1998 | Western City | 3 | Robby Albarado | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1 mile | 1:37.84 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 1997 | Cash Deposit | 3 | Ronald D. Ardoin | Daniel J. Vella | Frank H. Stronach | 1 mile | 1:37.97 | $60,000 | Listed | |
| 1996 | Boomerang | 3 | Eddie Martin Jr. | James E. Baker | Peter J.Callahan & Catesby W. Clay | 1 mile | 1:39.49 | $43,075 | | |
| 1995 | Moonlight Dancer | 3 | Larry Melancon | Michael H. Daggett | Andrea S. Pollack | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:40.13 | $42,875 | | |
| 1994 | Fly Cry | 3 | Ronald D. Ardoin | Thomas M. Amoss | Al Prats & Bryan Wagner | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:39.29 | $33,174 | | |
| 1993 | Dixieland Heat | 3 | Elvis J. Perrodin | Gerald J. Romero | Leland Cook | 1 mile | 1:37.60 | $33,325 | | |
| 1992 | Line in the Sand | 3 | Shane P. Romero | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III | 1 mile | 1:39.80 | $32,027 | | |
| 1991 | Big Courage | 3 | Tammy Lee Fox | William I. Fox Sr. | Patricia Fox | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.30 | $32,875 | | |
| 1990 | Martha's Buck | 3 | Bobby J. Walker Jr. | William I. Fox Sr. | William Tinney | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.00 | $26,750 | | |
| 1989 | Majesty's Imp | 3 | Steve R. Rydowski | Sturges J. Ducoing | Bata Rasan Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.60 | $27,425 | | |
| 1988 | Pastourelles | 3 | Bobby J. Walker Jr. | Carl Bowman | Thomas Leavell | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.60 | $27,725 | | |
| 1987 | One Tough Cat | 3 | Kirk Paul LeBlanc | Edward J. Virgadamo | Magnolia Racing Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.20 | $28,750 | | |
| 1986 | Timely Albert | 3 | Phil Rubbicco | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.60 | $50,200 | | |
| 1985 | Encolure | 3 | Ronald D. Ardoin | Tommie T. Morgan | Mrs. Margaret Porter | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $53,500 | | |
| 1984 | § Silent King | 3 | Charles Mueller | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $60,150 | | |
| 1983 | Explosive Wagon | 3 | Charles Mueller | Gene C. Norman | Peggy McReynolds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.00 | $42,900 | | |
| 1982 | Linkage | 3 | Gregory P. Smith | Henry S. Clark II | Christiana Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.00 | $40,000 | | |
| 1981 | Law Me | 3 | James McKnight | Ted McClain | Edwin Whittaker | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.40 | $40,800 | | |
| 1980 | § Withholding | 3 | Bryan Fann | Ronnie G. Warren | Mr. & Mrs. Russell Michaels Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.20 | $39,650 | | |
| 1979 | Fuego Seguro | 3 | Michael R. Morgan | Billy S. Borders | Joseph R. Straus & Izzy Proler | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.60 | $34,675 | | |
| 1978 | § Dragon Tamer | 3 | Ray Sibille | William I. Fox Sr. | Patricia Fox & William Bailey | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.60 | $35,500 | | |
| 1977 | Clev Er Tell | 3 | Ray Broussard | Homer C. Pardue | Joseph R. Straus & Izzy Proler | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.80 | $27,925 | | |
| 1976 | Tudor Tambourine | 3 | David Copling | King Stauzy Allen Jr. | Mrs. Henry D. Paxson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.20 | $29,450 | | |
| 1975 | Colonel Power | 3 | Phil Rubbicco | John O. Meaux | Harvey Peltier | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:40.60 | $29,875 | | |
| 1974 | Crimson Ruler | 3 | Kenneth LeBlanc | Carroll J. Matherne | Lee Matherne | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $28,900 | | |
| 1973 | Vodika | 3 | Tommy Barrow | Forrest H. Kaelin | Frank Palermo & Charles Nedeff | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.00 | $24,825 | | |
| 1972 | No Le Hace | 3 | Phil Rubbicco | Homer C. Pardue | Joseph R. Straus | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.40 | $23,900 | | |
| 1971 | § Helio Rise | 3 | Phil Rubbicco | David F. Erb | Roger W. & Roger T. Wilson Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.00 | $18,700 | | |
| 1970 | § Action Getter | 3 | Mike Venezia | Robert G. Dunham | E. V. (Tony) Benjamin III & J. M. Jones Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.20 | $19,250 | | |
| 1969 | Foolish Prince | 3 | David E. Whited | John Oxley | Albert H. & Albert M. Stall | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $17,375 | | |
| 1968 | Port Digger | 3 | Martinez Heath | Jack A. Lohman | Daniel W. Myers | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.80 | $18,025 | | |
| 1967 | Grand Premiere | 3 | James Combest | Alcee J. Richard | Mrs. Joe W. Brown | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.60 | $18,350 | | |
| 1966 | Sails Pride | 3 | Leroy Moyers | J. M. Hart | Edward J. Grosfield | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:50.60 | $13,325 | | |
| 1965 | § Dapper Delegate | 3 | Johnny Heckman | Alcee J. Richard | Mrs. Joe W. Brown | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.40 | $9,675 | | |
| 1964 | Susan's Gent | 3 | Robert L. Baird | John O. Meaux | T. Allie Grissom | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $12,725 | | |
| 1963 | City Line | 3 | Robert L. Baird | John O. Meaux | T. Allie Grissom | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $12,450 | | |
| 1962 | Treasury Note | 3 | William Phelps | Henry Forrest | J. C. Pollard | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.40 | $12,900 | | |
| 1961 | Tenacious | 7 | Clarence Meaux | John B. Theall | Mrs. Joe W. Brown | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.00 | $12,075 | | |
| 1960 | Tenacious | 6 | Ray Broussard | John B. Theall | Mrs. Joe W. Brown | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.40 | $12,175 | | |
| 1959 | Tenacious | 5 | Ray Broussard | John B. Theall | Mrs. Joe W. Brown | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.00 | $12,275 | | |
| 1958 | Speed Rouser | 6 | Alfred Popara | Howard C. Hoffman | Sidney & Hannah Babbitz | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.40 | $12,450 | | |
| 1957 | Speed Rouser | 5 | Johnny Heckman | Howard C. Hoffman | Sidney & Hannah Babbitz | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.60 | $12,800 | | |
| 1956 | Galdar | 5 | Earl Van Hook | Edward M. Obrien | C. L. Dupuy | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $13,725 | | |
| 1955 | Spur On | 7 | Paul J. Bailey | M. A. Silagy Jr. | Marvin E. Affeld | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.40 | $14,275 | | |
| Lecompte Handicap |||||||||||
| 1954 | § Futuresque | 7 | Evans Jenkins | R. E. Harper | Red Head Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.60 | $13,750 | | |
| 1953 | Smoke Screen | 4 | Gerald Porch | Frank Sanders | Reverie Knoll Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.80 | $13,350 | | |
| 1952 | False | 4 | Earl Van Hook | John D. Mikel | Mrs. Nellie M. Mikel | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.60 | $11,550 | | |
| 1951 | §ƒ Thelma Berger | 4 | Kevin Stuart | John B. Theall | Joe W. Brown | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $12,850 | | |
| 1950 | John's Joy | 5 | Don Scurlock | Monte D. Parke | John A. Kinard Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $12,120 | | |
| 1949 | § My Request | 4 | Jerry West | James P. Conway | Ben F. Whitaker | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.80 | $11,180 | | Dead heat |
| 1949 | Caillou Rouge | 4 | Don Scurlock | Peter J. Valenti | Peter J. Valenti | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.80 | $11,180 | | Dead heat |
| 1948 | Jack S. L. | 8 | Robert L. Baird | John O. Ravannack | Mrs. John S. Letellier | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $10,000 | | |
| 1947 | Jack S. L. | 7 | Steven Brooks | John O. Ravannack | Mrs. John S. Letellier | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $10,000 | | |
| 1946 | King Dorsett | 4 | Charles LeBlanc | John B. Theall | John B. Theall | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:44.60 | $5,000 | | |
| 1945 | 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 | Race not held |
| 1944 | First Fiddle | 5 | Jack Westrope | Edward L. Mulrenan | Mrs. Edward L. Mulrenan | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:45.60 | $3,515 | | |
| 1943 | Valdina Orphan | 4 | Ferrill Zufelt | Frank Catrone | Valdina Farms | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51:00 | $5,050 | | |
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
ƒ Filly or Mare