Damon Runyon Stakes
Encyclopedia
The Damon Runyon Stakes is an American
Thoroughbred
turf
race for two-year-old horses
run at Aqueduct Race Track in December each year.
In its 33rd running in 2011, this race is essentially restricted to New York
-breds, and is set at one and one-sixteenth miles and offers a purse of $65,000. It was run at seven furlong
s from 1979 to 1982, and in 1987 and 1988, at one mile from 1983 to 1986, and from 1989 to 1993. It was run at Belmont Park
in 1979, 1983, and 1984.
The race is named for Damon Runyon
, a famous sports reporter and short story writer who created a Broadway all his own during the Twenties and Thirties. From these stories came the musical Guys and Dolls. Runyon loved horse racing and campaigned a small string of his own horses.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
turf
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
race for two-year-old horses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
run at Aqueduct Race Track in December each year.
In its 33rd running in 2011, this race is essentially restricted to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-breds, and is set at one and one-sixteenth miles and offers a purse of $65,000. It was run at seven furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s from 1979 to 1982, and in 1987 and 1988, at one mile from 1983 to 1986, and from 1989 to 1993. It was run at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in 1979, 1983, and 1984.
The race is named for Damon Runyon
Damon Runyon
Alfred Damon Runyon was an American newspaperman and writer.He was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era. To New Yorkers of his generation, a "Damon Runyon character" evoked a distinctive social type from the...
, a famous sports reporter and short story writer who created a Broadway all his own during the Twenties and Thirties. From these stories came the musical Guys and Dolls. Runyon loved horse racing and campaigned a small string of his own horses.
Past winners
- 2010 - Beau de Beaupre (Alan GarciaAlan Garcia (jockey)Alan Garcia is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He was Peru's leading apprentice jockey in 2003 and in that same year he began racing in the United States at the Meadowlands Racetrack where he was also the leading apprentice. His father and grandfather were both jockeys in Peru...
) - 2009 - Ibboye (Ramon A. DominguezRamon A. DominguezRamon A. Dominguez is an Eclipse Award-winning champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing....
) - 2008 - HaynesfieldHaynesfieldHaynesfield is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Barry Weisbord and Margaret Santulli, Haynesfield was purchased for $20,000 at the Keeneland April two year olds in training sale...
(Ramon Dominguez) - 2007 - Giant Moon (Ramon A. DominguezRamon A. DominguezRamon A. Dominguez is an Eclipse Award-winning champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing....
) - 2006 - Lawrence the Roman (Mike E. Smith)
- 2005 - Platinum Couple (Jose EspinozaJose L. EspinozaJose L. Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.-Year-end charts:Jose L. Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing....
) - 2004 - Naughty New Yorker (Jean-Luc SamynJean-Luc SamynJean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...
) - 2003 - West Virginia (Richard MiglioreRichard Migliore (jockey)Richard Migliore is a retired American jockey whose mounts have ranged from Fourstardave to Wando to Funny Cide to Kip Deville to Hidden Lake to Desert Code....
) - 2002 - Grey Comet (Aaron GryderAaron GryderAaron Tod Gryder is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Growing up fifteen minutes away from the Santa Anita racetrack, as a boy Gryder had no contact with horses other than his father and his grandparents' interest in attending the nearby races...
) - 2001 - Eye Of The Comet (Robert Messina)
- 2000 - Bluesbreaker (Aaron GryderAaron GryderAaron Tod Gryder is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Growing up fifteen minutes away from the Santa Anita racetrack, as a boy Gryder had no contact with horses other than his father and his grandparents' interest in attending the nearby races...
) - 1999 - Kirtons (Mike LuzziMike LuzziMichael Jude Luzzi is an American jockey. He grew up near Delaware Park Racetrack where his grandfather, trainer Buddy Raines, had a major role in raising him and his brother John who also became a jockey...
) - 1998 - Ewer All Wet (Aaron GryderAaron GryderAaron Tod Gryder is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Growing up fifteen minutes away from the Santa Anita racetrack, as a boy Gryder had no contact with horses other than his father and his grandparents' interest in attending the nearby races...
) - 1997 - Undaunted Mettle (Jorge Chavez)
- 1996 - Regal Chant (Clovis Crane)
- 1995 - Shoopers Gold (Jose SantosJosé SantosJose Abon Santos is a retired Chilean thoroughbred jockey who has been honored by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in the United States.-Career:...
) - 1994 - Ave's Flag (John Velazquez)
- 1993 - Seminole Spirit (Mike E. Smith)
- 1992 - Over the Brink (Mike E. Smith)
- 1991 - Montreal Marty (Julie KroneJulie KroneJulie Krone , is a retired American jockey. In 1993, she became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she captured the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair...
) - 1990 - Fourstars Allstar (Mike E. Smith)
- 1989 - Champagneforashley (Jacinto VasquezJacinto VásquezJacinto Vásquez is a retired Hall of Fame thoroughbred jockey. He rode two Kentucky Derby winners, Foolish Pleasure in 1975 and Genuine Risk in 1980, but may be best known as the regular jockey for the great filly Ruffian.-Biography:...
) - 1988 - Scarlet Ibis (Jacinto Vasquez)
- 1987 - Notebook (Jose Santos)
- 1986 - Sweet Envoy (Jacinto Vasquez)
- 1985 - Bullet Blade (Robbie DavisRobbie DavisRobbie Glen Davis is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Early life:Davis grew up in a single parent household forced onto welfare, something that would impact him for the rest of his life....
) - 1984 - Hot Debate (Don MacBethDon MacBethDonald MacBeth was a Canadian jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing.Born in Red Deer, Alberta, Macbeth rode horses at Alberta racetracks before going to race in the United States. Among horses of note, he rode Deputy Minister, winner of the 1981 Sovereign and Eclipse awards for Outstanding...
) - 1983 - Donna's World (Angel Cordero Jr.Angel Cordero Jr.Angel Tomas Cordero, Jr. , is one of the leading thoroughbred horse racing jockeys of all time and the only Puerto Rican to date to be inducted into the United States' Racing Hall of Fame.-Early years:...
) - 1982 - Aloha Hawaii (Gregg McCarron)
- 1981 - Guilford Lad (Eddie MapleEddie MapleEdward Retz "Eddie" Maple is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. One of eight brothers and sisters, he was an older brother to jockey Sam Maple who won more than 2,500 races. He began riding horses at age 12 and won his first race as a professional at 17...
) - 1980 - Adirondack Holme (Ruben Hernandez)
- 1979 - Restrainor (Ruben Hernandez)