Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes

Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes

Grade I race
Location	Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1979
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.nyra.com
Race information
Distance	1 1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-old fillies
Weight	121 (Northern hemisphere) 125 (Southern hemisphere)
Purse	$1,000,000

The Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early July at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A Grade I event open to three-year-old fillies, it is raced on turf over a distance of a mile and a quarter (10 furlongs). The purse was increased to $1,000,000 in 2014.^[1] The race is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event for the Filly and Mare Turf.^[2]

The Belmont Oaks became a Grade I race in 1999. It was previously known as the Garden City Stakes from 2007-2013 when it was run in September at  1 ¹⁄₈ miles. From 1996-2006, it was called the Garden City Breeders' Cup, and the Rare Perfume before that. The latter name was in honor of George Widener's racing mare, Rare Perfume. The Garden State name referred to Garden City, New York, a village in the Town of Hempstead in central Nassau County located near the racetrack.^[3]

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of  1 ¹⁄₄ miles)

• 1:59.27 - Lady Eli (2015)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Ogden Phipps (1981, 1987)
• 2 - John W. Phillips (2002, 2011)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 - Jose A. Santos (1989, 1990, 1991, 2004)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 - Chad C. Brown (2012-2015)
• 3 - H. Allen Jerkens (1988, 1992, 1993)

Winners

References