Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes

Race Name	Grade	Track
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes	1	Belmont Park

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes

The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes is a 1 1/2 mile Grade 1 American flat horse race on turf for three-year-old thoroughbreds and older. Run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont New York, it was named after Joe Hirsch, founder and president of the National Turf Writers Association and a popular award-winning horseracing columnist.

When the race was inaugurated in 1977, it was known then as the Aqueduct Turf Classic Invitational Stakes and run at New York's Aqueduct Racetrack. It was also raced at Aqueduct in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1983. In 1983, the race name was shortened to the 'Turf Classic' and attracted some of America and Europe's top-rated thoroughbreds.

Part of the reason for this is that race organizers used to offer a $1 million bonus to any owner whose horse won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes, Toronto's Canadian International Stakes (at Woodbine Racetrack) and Maryland's Washington, D.C. International (at Laurel Park Racecourse) in the same year.

The fastest time recorded for the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes is 2:24.50 set by Sky Classic in 1992, while top-rated jockey John Velazquez holds the record with the most wins, namely four in 1995, 2004, 2006 and 2007 respectively. Six trainers have each won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes twice.

These include Mitri Saliba (1980 and 1985), Francois Boutin (1981 and 1982), Bill Mott (1987 and 2005), James E. Picou (1996 and 1997), Bobby Frankel (2001 and 2002), and Todd Pletcher (2006 and 2007).

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes - Past Winners

2003 Sulamani
2004 Kitten's Joy
2005 Powerscourt
2006 English Channel
2007 English Channel

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes - Betting

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