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Gazelle Stakes
| Race Name |
Grade |
Track |
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| Gazelle Stakes |
1 |
Belmont Park |
 |
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Gazelle Stakes
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The Gazelle Stakes is an
American Grade 1 flat thoroughbred race for three-year-old horses and
older. The 1 1/8 mile $250,000 Gazelle Stakes is held annually at
Belmont Park in Elmont, New York and is raced on a left-handed dirt
course.
The inaugural Gazelle Stakes took place in 1887 which was
won by Kentucky-bred Firenze, a top-rated filly of the period that
earned herself a place in the American Thoroughbred Champion and Hall of
Fame. She was described by the New York Times as 'one of the greatest
distaffers of the 19th Century.'
Between 1887 and 1916, the
Gazelle Stakes was run at the Gravesend Race Track at Gravesend on Coney
Island. From 1917 to 1955, 1960 and 1962 to 1968 it was held at the
Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens. It was cancelled between 1911
and 1916 due to the First World War.
From 1900 until 1958 the
Gazelle Stakes was run over 1 1/8 miles, and then reduced to 1 mile in
1959 and 1960. The fastest time ever set in the Gazelle Stakes was
clocked in 1974 when Maud Muller completed the 1 1/8 mile race in a
rocket time of 1:46.80.
Only one jockey has ever succeeded in
winning the Gazelle Stakes four times, which is Angel Cordero Jr who
proved victorious in 1974, 1976, 1985 and 1991. With 7,057 career wins,
Cordero Jr is currently the only Puerto Rican inducted into the United
States' Racing Hall of Fame. |
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Gazelle Stakes - Past Winners
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2003 Buy the Sport
2004 Stellar Jayne
2005 In The Gold
2006 Pine Island
2007 Lear's Princess
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