#129
The Travers Stakes
Published or Updated August 30, 2011
Location: United States
Sport: Horse Racing
Level: Professional
Sport: Horse Racing
Level: Professional
Event Type: Race
First Held: 1864
Next Up: 8/27/2011
First Held: 1864
Next Up: 8/27/2011
When and Where: every August in Saratoga Springs, NY
Joining the Belmont Stakes as a race where an original Louis Comfort Tiffany masterpiece is the prize, the Travers Stakes is the oldest thoroughbred horse race in the United States, and arguably one of the most steeped in tradition.
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Facts and Links
In 1962, Jaipur won by a nose-bob in track record time over Ridan in, arguably, the greatest Travelers of all time.
Though it was never proven, the 1921 Travelers Stakes is known for a betting scandal in which the favorite was inexplicably scratched just before the race started and a late entry, Sporting Blood, went on to win.
In 1997, Hall of Fame jockeys Jerry Bailey and Chris McCarron raced against each other in inclement weather. Chris McCarron aboard Deputy Commander won after a fierce home-stretch duel with Bailey aboard Behrens.
In 2006, the New York State Lottery announced its sponsorship of the Stakes.
The race, unlike many others, is limited to three-year-old thoroughbreds.
The race has been run at four different lengths in its history, but has held steady at 10 Furlongs (1 1/4 miles) since 1904.
The Traveler's trophy, designed by Tiffany & Co, is named the Man o' War Cup after the horse that won the race in 1920.
Since 1961, the colors of the winning horse have been painted on the Travelers Canoe that has sat on a pond in the infield since 1926.
