The Travers Stakes is one of the most storied races in horse racing. Held annually at Saratoga Race Course since 1864, this Grade 1 race is affectionately nicknamed the “Midsummer Derby” and attracts many of the nation’s top three-year-olds.
Impress your friends at your next watch party with these twelve facts about the Travers Stakes.
1. The race is named after William Riggin Travers, the first president of Saratoga Race Course.
William Travers won the inaugural edition of the race with his horse Kentucky.
2. Seven fillies have won the Travers Stakes:
Maiden (1865), Ruthless (1867), The Banshee (1868), Sultana (1876), Liza (1895), Ada Nay (1903), and Lady Rotha (1915)
3. Since 1901, more Travers winners have broken from post position no. 2 than any other post.
23 horses have won from this post. Post no. 4 is close behind with 21 winners, followed by 20 winners from post no. 3.
[Video: Arcaneglo won from post no. 2 in 2023]
4. Twenty-three Travers Stakes winners have been named Champion Three-Year-Old since 1936.
[Video: Holy Bull was the 1994 Champion Three-Year-Old and Horse of the Year]
5. Javier Castellano is the winningest jockey in Travers Stakes history.
He has piloted seven winners: Bernardini (2006), Afleet Express (2010), Stay Thirsty (2011), V.E. Day (2014), Keen Ice (2015), Catholic Boy (2018), and Arcangelo (2023)
[Video: Castellano piloted Keen Ice to an upset victory in the 2015 Travers]
6. The original Travers Stakes trophy is the “George III” Man o’ War Cup, which was won by Mrs. Samduel D. Riddle when Man o’ War defeated Sir Barton in their 1920 match race.
This gold trophy was donated to Saratoga by Mrs. Riddle and each year the name of the Travers winner is inscribed on the trophy. A gold-plated replica is presented to the winning owner.
7. Lexington sired nine Travers Stakes winners:
Kentucky (1864), Maiden (1865), Merrill (1866), The Banshee (1868), Kingfisher (1870), Harry Basset (1871), Tom Bowling (1873), Sultana (1876), and Duke of Magenta (1878)
8. Arrogate holds the Travers Stakes speed record.
He completed the distance of 1 ¼ miles in 1:59.36.
9. Damascus holds the record for largest winning margin in the Travers Stakes.
He won by 22 lengths in 1967.
[Video: Watch Damascus win the 1967 Travers Stakes]
10. Each year since 1962, the silks of the Travers Stakes winner are painted on a canoe that sits on the lake in Saratoga’s infield.
[Video: Learn about more Travers traditions]
11. Alpha and Golden Ticket had a dead heat in the 2012 Travers Stakes.
There was also a dead heat in 1874 between Attila and Acrobat, but Attila won a run-off and was deemed the official winner.
[Video: Watch Alpha and Golden Ticket dead heat in the 2012 Travers Stakes]
12. Nine Travers Stakes winners have been named Horse of the Year:
Granville (1936), Whirlaway (1941), One Count (1952), Sword Dancer (1959), Buckpasser (1966), Damascus (1967), Arts and Letters (1969), Holy Bull (1994), Point Given (2001)
[Video: Watch Point Given win the 2001 Travers]
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