Stephen Foster Handicap

Horseraces infobox
class = Grade I
horse race = Stephen Foster Handicap


caption =
location = Churchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
inaugurated = 1982
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website = [http://www.churchilldowns.com/about/management_team.html Churchill Downs]
distance = 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs)
track = Dirt, left-handed
qualification = Three-Year-Olds and Up
weight = Handicap
purse = $1.000,000
bonuses = The Stephen Foster Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run in mid June at the end of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Stephen Foster Handicap is run on the dirt at a distance of one and one-eighth miles. It has progressed from Grade III status in 1988 to Grade II in 1995 and is presently a Grade I event open to horses three years old and up. The race had been restricted to horses four years of age an older in 1983 and from 1985 through 1987.

Currently offering a purse of $750,000, the race draws some of the top older horses from various parts of the United States.

The race is named for the famous American songwriter Stephen Foster who wrote "My Old Kentucky Home", the state song of Kentucky.

Race records

Jockeys Robby Albarado, Aaron Gryder, Pat Day, and Jerry Bailey have each won the race on two occasions.

Vodika Collins was the first horse to win the race twice, taking it back-to-back in its first two runnings. In 1994 /95 Recoup the Cash became the second two-time winner.

The 2006 edition of the Stephen Foster Handicap produced its biggest upset ever when jockey Calvin Borel aboard 91:1 longshot Seek Gold defeated the favored 2003 winner, Perfect Drift. [http://www.ntra.com/races.aspx?id=18172]

Winners of the Stephen Foster Handicap since 1998

Earlier winners

* 1997 - City By Night
* 1996 - Tenants Harbor
* 1995 - Recoup the Cash (Aaron Gryder)
* 1994 - Recoup the Cash
* 1993 - Root Boy
* 1992 - Discover

* 1991- Black Tie Affair
* 1990 - No Marker (Aaron Gryder)
* 1989 - Air Worthy
* 1988 - Honor Madal
* 1987 - Red Attack

* 1986 - Hopeful Word
* 1985 - Vanlandingham
* 1984 - Mythical Ruler
* 1983 - Vodika Collins
* 1982 - Vodika Collins

References

* [http://www.thoroughbredchampions.com/library/foster.htm Thoroughbred Champions list of races from 1982 to 2000]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANyDHLAxZTk Video at YouTube of Seek Gold's win in the 2006 Stephen Foster Handicap]