The Bowling Green Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses age four years old and older over a distance of miles on the turf held annually in late July at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 11 June 1958 at Belmont Park as the sixth event on the card that day and was won by the French bred horse, Rafty trained by the US Hall of Fame trainer Hollie Hughes in a time of 2:17.

The event is named for the area on the lower tip of Manhattan Island, known as Bowling Green.

In 1963 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racecourse and the distance was increased to 13 furlongs ( miles). The last running of the event at Aqueduct in 1967 is one of the more notable when Poker defeated champions Assagai and his own stablemate, the 1966 US Horse of the Year, Buckpasser who was entering the race with a fifteen race winning streak.

The 1970 winner Fort Marcy would later that year be crowned US Horse of the Year and the 1972 winner Run the Gantlet was the 1971 US Champion Male Turf Horse.

In 1973 the event was classified as Grade II and for several years in the late 1980s the event held Grade I status.

In winning the Bowling Green Handicap on 17 June 1990 at Belmont Park, the 1989 Canadian champion With Approval set a new World Record of 2:10 for miles on turf. As of today, the record remains unmatched.

The 2008 edition was replaced in its summer spot by the Man o' War Stakes. The Man o' War was moved from a fall schedule to improve turf scheduling competition. In 2015 the New York Racing Association moved the Bowling Green to Saratoga.

Two mares have won this race, Drumtop in 1971 setting a new course record for the miles distance and Summer Guest in 1973. Drumtop also finished second to Fort Marcy in 1970.

In 2024 the British-bred Silver Knott set a new track record at Saratoga Racetrack for the miles distance winning in 2:11.40 on the inner turf course.

Records Speed record: miles: 2:10.20 – With Approval (1990) (new World Record)

Margins: 4 lengths – Open Call (1982)

Most wins: 2 – Whitmore's Conn (2002, 2003) 2 – Channel Maker (2018, 2023) 2 – Cross Border (2020, 2021)

Most wins by an owner: 4 – Rokeby Stables (1970, 1972, 1973, 1984)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Jorge Velásquez (1969, 1970, 1982) 3 – Jerry Bailey (1984, 1991, 2001) 3 – John Velazquez (1994, 1998, 2012) 3 – Javier Castellano (2013, 2015, 2016) 3 – Flavien Prat (2022, 2024, 2026)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 – William I. Mott (1987, 2001, 2010, 2018, 2023)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Saratoga – Bowling Green Stakes2026Ole Crazy Bone6Flavien PratMichael J. MakerFlying P Stable miles2:14.18$250,000II2025Far Bridge 5Joe RosarioMiguel Clement LSU Stables miles2:15.38$180,000II2024Silver Knott (GB) 4Flavien PratCharlie ApplebyGodolphin Racing miles2:11.03$242,500II2023Channel Maker9Manuel FrancoWilliam I. MottWachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable & Reeves Thoroughbred Racing miles2:15.21$250,000II2022Rockemperor6Flavien PratChad C. BrownMadaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, & Michael E. & Carus Kisber miles2:15.81$242,500II2021Cross Border7Luis SaezMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles2:16.36$250,000II2020‡ Cross Border6José OrtizMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles2:14.77$250,000II2019Channel Cat4Luis SaezTodd A. PletcherCalumet Farm miles2:14.43$250,000II2018Channel Maker4Joel RosarioWilliam I. MottMatthew Schera miles2:19.41$250,000II7 Julien R. LeparouxJames Lawrence IIGary Barber & Wachtel Stable2017Hunter O'Riley4Florent GerouxJames J. TonerSean Shay & Michael J. Ryan miles2:12.94$250,000II2016Flintshire (GB)6Javier CastellanoChad C. BrownJuddmonte Farms miles2:18.24$237,500IIAt Saratoga – Bowling Green Handicap2015Red Rifle5Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherTwin Creeks Racing miles2:13.69$250,000IIAt Belmont Park – Bowling Green Handicap2014Hangover Kid6Jose LezcanoJason ServisFour Tags Stable miles2:28.18$200,000II2013Hyper6Javier CastellanoChad C. BrownKenneth and Sarah Ramsey miles2:01.37$250,000II2012Air Support4John R. Velazquez Stuart S. Janney III miles2:06.12$196,000II2011Grassy5Garrett K. GomezChristophe ClementClaiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider miles2:19.69$150,000II2010Al Khali4Alan GarciaWilliam I. MottBrous Stable & Wachtel Stale miles2:15.23$150,000II2009Grand Couturier (GB)6Alan GarciaRobert RibaudoMarc Keller miles2:15.86$158,500II2008Race not held2007Sunriver4Garrett K. GomezTodd A. Pletcher Aaron U. & Marie Jones miles2:12.68$150,000II2006Go Deputy6Fernando JaraTodd A. PletcherWertheimer et Frère miles2:17.49$147,000II2005Cacht Wells (ARG)5Eibar CoaStanley M. HoughCastletop Stable miles2:15.49$150,000II2004Kicken Kris4Edgar S. PradoMichael R. MatzBrushwood Stable miles2:12.19$150,000II2003Whitmore's Conn5Jean-Luc SamynRandy SchulhoferMichael & Lynn Shanley miles2:15.92$150,000II2002Whitmore's Conn4Shaun BridgmohanRandy SchulhoferMichael & Lynn Shanley miles2:13.43$150,000II2001King Cugat4Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottCentennial Farms miles2:10.62$150,000II2000Elhayq (IRE)5Shaun BridgmohanKiaran P. McLaughlinShadwell Racing miles2:13.81$150,000II1999Honor Glide5José A. SantosChristophe ClementRobert Schaedle III miles2:11.07$150,000II1998Cetewayo4John R. VelazquezMichael W. DickinsonJohn A. Chandler miles2:13.45$150,000II1997Influent6Jean-Luc SamynHoward M. TesherTurfnpaddock Farm miles2:11.06$150,000II1996Flag Down6José A. SantosChristophe ClementAllen E. Paulson miles2:13.29$150,000II1995Sentimental Moi5Ramon B. PerezWilliam Badgett Jr.Landon Knight miles2:15.48$150,000II1994Turk Passer4John R. VelazquezAnthony R. Margotta Jr.Michael Shanley miles2:13.25$150,000II1993Dr. Kiernan4Chris AntleyGary SciaccaHoward T. Whitbred miles2:17.70$150,000II1992Wall Street Dancer4Pat DayNiall M. O'CallaghanJohn D. Gunther miles2:12.92$200,000II1991Three Coins Up3Jerry D. BaileyJohn P. CampoOl' Pippingrock Farm miles2:10.86$200,000II1990With Approval4Craig PerretRoger L. AttfieldKinghaven Farms miles2:10.20$188,800II1989El Senor5Herb McCauleyWilliam W. WrightFrances W. Luro miles2:18.60$241,600I 1988Coeur de Lion (FR)4Craig PerretWilliam B. CoxEvergreen Farms miles2:13.40$252,800I1987Theatrical (IRE)5Pat DayWilliam I. MottBertram R. Firestone miles2:14.00$241,600I1986Uptown Swell4Eddie MapleRichard J. Lundy Virginia Kraft Rayson miles2:14.80$223,650I1985Sharannpour (IRE)5Ángel Cordero Jr.Robert J. FrankelJerry Moss miles2:18.20$238,000I 1984Hero's Honor4Jerry D. BaileyMacKenzie MillerRokeby Stables miles2:14.00$217,700I 1983Tantalizing4Jacinto VásquezAngel Penna Sr.Ogden Mills Phipps miles2:14.80$175,200I 1982Open Call4Jorge VelásquezRobert J. Reinacher Jr.Greentree Stable miles2:24.80$149,750II 1981Great Neck5Ángel Cordero Jr.Jan H. NerudTartan Farms (James & Virginia Binger) miles2:12.00$140,750II 1980Sten5Jeffrey FellRichard T. DeStasioMichael Berry miles2:13.20$144,250II 1979Overskate4Robin PlattsGil H. Rowntree John H. Stafford miles2:11.40$140,875II1978Tiller4Jeffrey FellDavid A. WhiteleyWilliam Haggin Perry miles2:12.40$117,100II1977Hunza Dancer5Jean CruguetArthur E. BreasleyRavi Tikkoo miles1:58.80$114,300II1976Erwin Boy5Ron TurcotteJames P. ConwaySea High Stable miles2:26.00$56,900II1975Barcas4Marco Castaneda Leonard Imperio Nelson Bunker Hunt miles2:32.20$55,500II1974Take Off5Ron TurcotteFrank CatroneAda L. Rice miles2:26.40$57,100II1973† Summer Guest4Jacinto VásquezJ. Elliott BurchRokeby Stable miles2:29.20$57,000II1972Run The Gantlet4Robert WoodhouseJ. Elliott BurchRokeby Stable miles2:27.80$56,0001971† Drumtop5Chuck BaltazarRoger Laurin James B. Moseley miles2:25.40$56,8001970Fort Marcy6Jorge VelásquezJ. Elliott BurchRokeby Stable miles2:26.60$47,400 1969Czar Alexander (GB)4Jorge VelásquezAngel Penna Sr.Gustave Ring miles2:27.40$59,400 1968High Hat4Eddie Belmonte Kay E. Jensen Mrs. Wallace Gilroy miles2:27.40$56,000 At Aqueduct 1967§ Poker4William BolandEdward A. NeloyOgden Phipps miles2:41.40$55,400 1966Moontrip (ARG)5Larry Adams Randy Sechrest Ewing Kauffman miles2:38.80$59,4001965Or et Argent (FR)4Walter Blum Wayne B. Stucki Colin Campbell miles2:40.60$59,5001964 Cedar Key4Manuel YcazaBill ShoemakerJerry Basta miles2:41.80$28,850 1963Pollingfold (IRE)4Willie HarmatzJames E. FitzsimmonsMrs. Frank E. Power miles2:45.40$27,800At Belmont Park1962Royal Record4John M. Gaver Sr.Wheatley Stable miles2:33.20$28,850 1961Dead Center4 Jack Yother Alphonse J. PupinoAlphonse J. Pupino miles2:29.80$39,650 1960Amber Morn4Pete AndersonJames R. HastieKen-Love Farm miles2:29.20$59,400 1959Bell Hop (FR)4Bobby UsseryOleg DubassoffJohn M. Schiff miles2:14.60$29,400 1958Rafty (FR)6Eric GuerinHollie HughesSanford Stud Farms miles2:17.20$29,400

Notes:

† Filly or Mare

§ Ran as part of an entry

‡ In the 2020 running Sadler's Joy was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the straight and was placed fourth. Cross Border was declared the winner.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links Video at YouTube of With Approval setting a new World Record in winning the 1990 Bowling Green Handicap

References