# Stepping Stone Purse

The Stepping Stone Purse was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the latter part of April at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Open to three-year-old horses, it was, along with the Derby Trial Stakes, one of two final prep races hosted by Churchill Downs running up to the Kentucky Derby.
In 1959, Sword Dancer won the Stepping Stone Purse, then ran second in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Belmont Stakes. The following year, Bally Ache won this race then ran second in the Derby but won the Preakness Stakes. In 1969, future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Majestic Prince won this race by six lengths while setting a new stakes record and then won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. In 1974, Cannonade too won the Stepping Stone Purse and the Kentucky Derby and 1965 winner Tom Rolfe went on to finish third in the Derby but then won the Preakness Stakes.

## Records
### Speed record

* 1:21.60 – Majestic Prince (1969) (at 7 furlongs)
* 1:37.40 – Nostalgia (1977) (at 8 furlongs)

### Most wins by a jockey

* 2 – Bill Shoemaker (1959, 1966)
* 2 – Ismael Valenzuela (1962, 1964)
* 2 – Manuel Ycaza (1963, 1968)

### Most wins by a trainer

* 2 – Woody Stephens (1963, 1974)

### Most wins by an owner

* 2 – Cain Hoy Stable (1963, 1968)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 1981 | Mythical Ruler | Kevin Wirth | Fred Wirth | Al Risen Jr. & Paxton Price | 1:37.80 |
| 1980 | Jaklin Klugman | Darrel McHargue | Riley S. Cofer | Jack Klugman & John Dominguez | 1:38.60 |
| 1979 | King Celebrity | Don Brumfield | Robert J. Taylor | Che-Bar Stable | 1:37.80 |
| 1978 | Batonnier | Ronald Hardes | Harry Trotsek | Edward Seltzer | 1:37.60 |
| 1977 | Nostalgia | Larry Snyder | Del W. Carroll | William S. Farish III | 1:37.40 |
| 1976 | Amano | Larry Melancon | James A. Padgett | James C. Irvin | 1:24.80 |
| 1975 | Greek Answer | Mickey Solomone | Frank H. Merrill Jr. | W. Preston Gilbride | 1:25.00 |
| 1974 | Cannonade | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Woody Stephens | John M. Olin | 1:23.80 |
| 1973 | Shecky Greene | Walter Blum | Lou M. Goldfine | Joseph Kellman | 1:23.00 |
| 1972 | Hold Your Peace | Carlos Marquez | Arnold N. Winick | Maribel Blum | 1:24.00 |
| 1971 | Bold And Able | Howard Grant | Reggie Cornell | Calumet Farm | 1:22.60 |
| 1970 | My Dad George | Ray Broussard | Frank J. McManus | Raymond M. Curtis | 1:23.60 |
| 1969 | Majestic Prince | Bill Hartack | Johnny Longden | Frank M. McMahon | 1:21.60 |
| 1968 | Captain's Gig | Manuel Ycaza | William W. Stephens | Cain Hoy Stable | 1:22.60 |
| 1967 | Ruken | Fernando Alvarez | Clyde Turk | Louis R. Rowan | 1:23.20 |
| 1966 | Old Bag | Bill Shoemaker | Stanley M. Reiser | P. & R. Schleicher & S. M. Reiser | 1:25.20 |
| 1965 | Tom Rolfe | Ron Turcotte | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Powhatan Stable | 1:22.80 |
| 1964 | Mr. Brick | Ismael Valenzuela | James E. Picou | Roy Sturgis | 1:22.80 |
| 1963 | Never Bend | Manuel Ycaza | Woody Stephens | Cain Hoy Stable | 1:22.40 |
| 1962 | Sir Gaylord | Ismael Valenzuela | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery | 1:22.40 |
| 1961 | Light Talk | Robert Nono | Steve Ippolito | Jacnot Stable | 1:23.40 |
| 1960 | Bally Ache | Bobby Ussery | Homer Pitt | Edgehill Farm | 1:22.60 |
| 1959 | Sword Dancer | Bill Shoemaker | J. Elliott Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1:22.20 |
| 1958 | Belleau Chief | Johnny Heckmann | E. B. Carpenter | Lora Birr | 1:22.80 |