The Poker Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...

 held annually in mid June 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 Elmont, New York

Elmont, New York

Elmont is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the northwest corner of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, along its border with the borough of Queens in New York City...

. A Grade III

Graded stakes race

A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...

 event open to horses age three and older, it is raced on turf

Grass

Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...

 at a distance of one mile (8 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).

The inaugural running of the 1985 Poker Handicap was contested at a distance of a mile and a sixteenth and at a mile and a quarter the following year.

Records

Speed record:

• 1:31. 63 - Elusive Quality
  Elusive Quality
  Elusive Quality is a thoroughbred racehorse.Elusive Quality stands at stud at Darley America's Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He raced in the colours of Darley's principal, Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum. Prior to standing at Darley America he stood at Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, Kentucky...
  
   (1998)
  (New stakes and course record for one mile and believed to be a world record
  World record
  A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
  
   at the time.)

Most wins:

• 2 - Fourstardave
  Fourstardave
  Fourstardave was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.Fans called him "The Sultan of Saratoga" because he'd won at least one race at Saratoga Race Course each year from 1987 to 1994. He died of a heart attack in October 2002 at the age of 17 on the Belmont Park track yet is buried in Claire Court at...
  
   (1989, 1993)
• 2 - Affirmed Success (2000, 2001)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Harbor View Farm (1985, 1995)
• 2 - Richard M. Bomze (1989, 1993)
• 2 - Albert Fried, Jr. (2000, 2001)
• 2 - Juddmonte Farms
  Juddmonte Farms
  Juddmonte Farms is a famous and award-winning horse breeding farm, owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. A member of the Saudi Arabian royal family the successful businessman presides over the massive conglomerate Mawared...
  
   (2003, 2007)
• 2 - IEAH Stables
  IEAH Stables
  IEAH Stables operates a thoroughbred horse racing stable in the United States. It is based in Garden City, New York.IEAH was formed in 2003 by Michael Iavarone, Michael Sherack and Richard Schiavo. Current IEAH employees include Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens as a bloodstock agent and Mike...
  
   (2006, 2008)

Most wins by a jockey

Jockey

A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

:

• 3 - Jose Santos (1987, 1988, 1989)
• 3 - Jerry Bailey (1991, 1998, 2001)
• 3 - Jorge Chavez
  Jorge F. Chavez
  Jorge F. Chavez is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Chavez began his career in horse racing in 1982 in his native Peru and by 1987 was his country's leading rider. In April 1988 he emigrated to the United States where he raced with a great deal of success at Florida race tracks...
  
   (1994, 1999, 2000)

Most wins by a trainer

Horse trainer

In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

:

• 2 - Angel Penna, Jr. (1997, 2005)
• 2 - Richard Schosberg (2000, 2001)
• 2 - Robert J. Frankel (2003, 2007)
• 2 - Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. (2006, 2008)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2011	Courageous Cat	5	Jose Lezcano Jose Lezcano Jose Lezcano is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He rides in New York in the spring, summer and fall and spends the winter in Florida. His big break came in 2008 when he won a Breeders' Cup race....	Bill Mott Bill Mott William I. "Bill" Mott is an American horse trainer, most notable for his work with Cigar. Mott earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in 1995 and 1996. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1998 at the age of 45, becoming the second-youngest trainer ever...	Pam and Martin Wygod	1:36.69
2010
2009	Sailor's Cap	4	Alan Garcia Alan 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...	James J. Toner James J. Toner James J. "Jimmy" Toner is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.At age nineteen in April 1960 he got his first win as a trainer, making him the youngest to ever win a Thoroughbred horse race in State of New York. He won the 1999 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf with Soaring Softly.-References:*...	Team Valor Team Valor Team Valor Stable LLC is an American Thoroughbred horse racing stable based in Versailles, Kentucky. It was founded by Barry Irwin and Jeff Siegel who create partnerships with racing enthusiasts to race Thoroughbred horses at major racing venues, primarily in North America.In early July 2007,...	1:36.50
2008	Kip Deville Kip Deville Kip Deville was an American Thoroughbred racehorse whose most important win came at age four in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Mile. Bred in Oklahoma by Dr...	5	Cornelio Velasquez Cornelio Velásquez Cornelio H. Velásquez is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He was introduced to horse racing at age fifteen by trainer Carlos Salazar Guardia in his native Panama and enrolled in the national jockey school...	Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.	IEAH Stables IEAH Stables IEAH Stables operates a thoroughbred horse racing stable in the United States. It is based in Garden City, New York.IEAH was formed in 2003 by Michael Iavarone, Michael Sherack and Richard Schiavo. Current IEAH employees include Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens as a bloodstock agent and Mike...	1:32.94
2007	Art Master	6	Garrett Gomez Garrett K. Gomez Garrett Keith Gomez is an American thoroughbred jockey.-Early career:Gomez learned to ride by watching his father, Louie, who was a jockey at many tracks in the Southwest United States...	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms Juddmonte Farms Juddmonte Farms is a famous and award-winning horse breeding farm, owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. A member of the Saudi Arabian royal family the successful businessman presides over the massive conglomerate Mawared...	1:33.21
2006	Rebel Rebel	4	Edgar Prado	Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.	IEAH Stables IEAH Stables IEAH Stables operates a thoroughbred horse racing stable in the United States. It is based in Garden City, New York.IEAH was formed in 2003 by Michael Iavarone, Michael Sherack and Richard Schiavo. Current IEAH employees include Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens as a bloodstock agent and Mike... /Resolute Group Stables	1:33.34
2005	Mr. Light	6	Cornelio Velasquez Cornelio Velásquez Cornelio H. Velásquez is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He was introduced to horse racing at age fifteen by trainer Carlos Salazar Guardia in his native Panama and enrolled in the national jockey school...	Angel Penna, Jr.	Earle I. Mack Earle I. Mack Earle Irving Mack is an American businessman and former United States Ambassador to Finland.-Education:Mack graduated from Drexel University with a B.S. in 1959. He then went on to attend Fordham School of Law. In 1992 Mack was one of first 100 alumni inducted into the newly formed Drexel 100...	1:32.18
2004	Christine's Outlaw	4	Shaun Bridgmohan Shaun Bridgmohan Shaun X. Bridgmohan is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.At age thirteen, Bridgmohan's family emigrated to the United States, settling in South Florida where he developed an interest in horse racing...	George Weaver	R.C. Hill Stable	1:32.46
2003	War Zone	4	Javier Castellano Javier Castellano Javier Castellano is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Castellano began his riding career in his native Venezuela in 1996 and in June 1997 moved to the United States where rode at race tracks in southern Florida until 2001 when he moved to race on the New York State racing circuit.In...	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms Juddmonte Farms Juddmonte Farms is a famous and award-winning horse breeding farm, owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. A member of the Saudi Arabian royal family the successful businessman presides over the massive conglomerate Mawared...	1:32.81
2002	Volponi Volponi Volponi is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by trainer Philip G. Johnson's family operation, Amherst Stable, he was sired by Florida Derby winner Cryptoclearance...	4	Shaun Bridgmohan Shaun Bridgmohan Shaun X. Bridgmohan is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.At age thirteen, Bridgmohan's family emigrated to the United States, settling in South Florida where he developed an interest in horse racing...	Philip G. Johnson	Amherst Stable/Spruce Pond Stable	1:32.24
2001	Affirmed Success	7	Jerry Bailey	Richard Schosberg	Albert Fried, Jr.	1:34.60
2000	Affirmed Success	6	Jorge Chavez Jorge F. Chavez Jorge F. Chavez is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Chavez began his career in horse racing in 1982 in his native Peru and by 1987 was his country's leading rider. In April 1988 he emigrated to the United States where he raced with a great deal of success at Florida race tracks...	Richard Schosberg	Albert Fried, Jr.	1:34.06
1999	Rob 'n Gin	5	Jorge Chavez Jorge F. Chavez Jorge F. Chavez is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Chavez began his career in horse racing in 1982 in his native Peru and by 1987 was his country's leading rider. In April 1988 he emigrated to the United States where he raced with a great deal of success at Florida race tracks...	Robert Barbara	Sabine Stable	1:32.81
1998	Elusive Quality Elusive Quality Elusive Quality is a thoroughbred racehorse.Elusive Quality stands at stud at Darley America's Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He raced in the colours of Darley's principal, Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum. Prior to standing at Darley America he stood at Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, Kentucky...	5	Jerry Bailey	William I. Mott	Mohammed al Maktoum Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...	1:31.63
1997	Draw Shot	4	Chris Antley Chris Antley Christopher Wiley Antley was a champion American jockey.He was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida but grew up in Elloree, South Carolina. He left school at sixteen to ride horses professionally at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. His first win was on a horse named Vaya Con Dinero...	Angel Penna, Jr.	Francis Santangelo	1:33.08
1996	Smooth Runner	5	Julie Krone Julie Krone Julie 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...	Richard C. Mettee	Herbert Allen	1:33.60
1995	Caress	4	Robbie Davis Robbie Davis Robbie 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....	H. Allen Jerkens H. Allen Jerkens Harry Allen Jerkens is an American Thoroughbred race horse Hall of Fame trainer.Jerkens' father owned a riding academy on Long Island that led to his interest in horse racing and in 1950 he trained his first winner. Sometimes called the "Giant Killer", he is best known for his upsets...	Harbor View Farm	1:34.35
1994	Dominant Prospect	4	Jorge Chavez Jorge F. Chavez Jorge F. Chavez is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Chavez began his career in horse racing in 1982 in his native Peru and by 1987 was his country's leading rider. In April 1988 he emigrated to the United States where he raced with a great deal of success at Florida race tracks...	Gary Sciacca Gary Sciacca Gary Sciacca is an American horse trainer in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing.Sciacca earned his first win as a professional trainer on October 21, 1981 at New York's Aqueduct Racetrack...	Charles A. Coronia	1:32.69
1993	Fourstardave Fourstardave Fourstardave was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.Fans called him "The Sultan of Saratoga" because he'd won at least one race at Saratoga Race Course each year from 1987 to 1994. He died of a heart attack in October 2002 at the age of 17 on the Belmont Park track yet is buried in Claire Court at...	8	Richard Migliore	Leo O'Brien	Richard M. Bomze	1:33.02
1992	Scott the Great	6	Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-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...	William Hebert	August F. Russo	1:33.27
1991	Who's To Pay	5	Jerry Bailey	MacKenzie Miller MacKenzie Miller Mackenzie Todd Miller was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer and owner/breeder. During his forty-six year career, he conditioned seventy-two stakes winners, including four Eclipse Award champions....	Rokeby Stable	1:33.40
1990	Scottish Monk	7	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:...	Steven T. Jerkens	Cedar Valle Stable	1:33.40
1989	Fourstardave Fourstardave Fourstardave was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.Fans called him "The Sultan of Saratoga" because he'd won at least one race at Saratoga Race Course each year from 1987 to 1994. He died of a heart attack in October 2002 at the age of 17 on the Belmont Park track yet is buried in Claire Court at...	4	Jose Santos	Leo O'Brien	Richard M. Bomze	1:33.20
1988	Wanderkin	5	Jose Santos	Richard O'Connell Richard O'Connell (racehorse trainer) Richard O'Connell was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer who was voted Trainer of the Year three times by New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc...	Poma Stable	1:35.60
1987	Double Feint	4	Jose Santos	Leroy Jolley, Jr.	Peter M. Brant Peter M. Brant Peter M. Brant is an American industrialist, businessman and entrepreneur, worth an estimated $2.4 billion. He is also a major art collector, movie producer, and avid horseman...	1:35.20
1986	Island Sun	4	Richard Migliore	Patrick J. Kelly	Live Oak Plantation Racing	2:02.40
1985	Mr. Chromacopy	4	Jean Cruguet Jean Cruguet Jean Cruguet is an French-American thoroughbred horse racing jockey who won the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing....	Pancho Martin	Harbor View Farm	1:42.40