Grade 3 race | |
Location | Gulfstream Park (2014–present) Calder Race Course (1973–2013) |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1973 |
Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
Website | www |
Race information | |
Distance | 1½ miles (12 furlongs) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | Four years & older |
Purse | US$200,000 |
The W. L. McKnight Stakes is an American Grade 3 Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. [1] Inaugurated in 1973 at Calder Race Course it remained there through 2013 when the track closed. In 2017 a race condition was changed from being open to horses age three and older to those who were four and older. A race on turf at a distance of a mile and one-half, due to safety concerns it was shifted from the turf course to the main dirt track in 1993, 2005, and 2013.
The race was named for William L. McKnight, the founder of Tartan Farms. [2] Prior to 2019, it was run as the W. L. McKnight Handicap.
Twilight Eclipse has the distinction of winning the McKnight Handicap back-to-back on two different racing surfaces. At Calder Race Course, the gelding won the race on grass in 2012 and in 2013 on dirt after it was switched from a soggy grass course to the dirt track. It was only the second time in his career that Twilight Eclipse had run on dirt. [3] [4]
In 1995, Flag Down set the race record that still stood when the Calder track closed. Flag Down was bred by Windfields Farm and raced by Allen Paulson who at the time was also racing the great future U. S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Cigar. [5]
Of its fifty-three runnings, no female horse has won the McKnight.
Speed record:
Most wins:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Miles) | Time | Win$ | Gr. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Red Knight | 9 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Michael J. Maker | Trinity Farm | 11⁄2 | 2:25.11 | $116,500 | G3 |
2022 | Abaan | 5 | Luis Saez | Todd Pletcher | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Alex Daigneault | 11⁄2 | 2:29.53 | $115,320 | G3 |
2021 | Tide Of The Sea | 5 | Tyler Gaffalione | Michael J. Maker | Three Diamonds Farm | 11⁄2 | 2:24.57 | $87,420 | G3 |
2020 | Spooky Channel | 5 | Julien Leparoux | Brian A. Lynch | Terry Hamilton | 11⁄2 | 2:26.16 | $116,560 | G3 |
2019 | Zulu Alpha | 6 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Michael J. Maker | Michael M. Hui | 11⁄2 | 2:36.80 | $114,080 | G3 |
2018 | Oscar Nominated | 5 | José Ortiz | Michael J. Maker | Ken & Sarah Ramsey | 11⁄2 | 2:30.08 | $119,040 | G3 |
2017 | Taghleeb | 6 | Tyler Gaffalione | Michael J. Maker | Michael M. Hui | 11⁄2 | 2:25.90 | $115,320 | G3 |
2016 | Race not held | ||||||||
2015 | Charming Kitten | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Ken & Sarah Ramsey | 11⁄2 | 2:27.76 | $59,520 | G3 |
2014 | Divine Oath | 3 | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | Let's Go Stable (Kevin Scatuorchio & Bryan Sullivan) | 11⁄2 | 2:34.25 | $57,040 | G3 |
2013 | Twilight Eclipse | 4 | Jose Lezcano | Thomas Albertrani | West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. (Terry Finley CEO) | 11⁄2 | 2:23.66 | $75,175 | G3 |
2012 | Twilight Eclipse | 3 | Manoel Cruz | Thomas Albertrani | West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. (Terry Finley CEO) | 11⁄2 | 2:26.71 | $90,210 | G2 |
2011 | Musketier | 9 | Luis Saez | Roger L. Attfield | Stella Perdomo | 11⁄2 | 2:28.25 | $90,520 | G2 |
2010 | Prince Will I Am | 3 | Javier Castellano | Michelle K. Nihei | Casa Farms I (Susan A. Atkins) | 11⁄2 | 2:38.40 | $93,000 | G2 |
2009 | Cloudy's Knight | 9 | Rosemary Homeister Jr. | Jonathan E. Sheppard | S J Stables LLC (Shirley & Jarrold Schwartz) | 11⁄2 | 2:27.63 | $88,350 | G2 |
2008 | Presious Passion | 5 | Elvis Trujillo | Mary E. Hartmann | Patricia A. Generazio | 11⁄2 | 2:25.64 | $86,490 | G2 |
2007 | Presious Passion | 4 | Elvis Trujillo | Mary E. Hartmann | Patricia A. Generazio | 11⁄2 | 2:26.13 | $115,320 | G2 |
2006 | Devil's Preacher | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | George R. Weaver | R. A. Hill Stable (Randy Hill) | 11⁄2 | 2:38.28 | $120,000 | G2 |
2005 | Meteor Storm | 6 | Javier Castellano | Wallace A. Dollase | The Horizon Stable (M. Jarvis, G. Margolis, K. Smole, J. Conway) | 11⁄2 | 2:25.91 | $120,000 | G2 |
2004 | Dreadnaught | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Thomas H. Voss | Trillium Stable (Douglas Joyce) | 11⁄2 | 2:26.60 | $120,000 | G2 |
2003 | Balto Star | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Anstu Stables, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:24.87 | $120,000 | G2 |
2002 | Man From Wicklow | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Richard A. Violette Jr. | Richard A. Violette Jr. | 11⁄2 | 2:28.05 | $120,000 | G2 |
2001 | Profit Option | 6 | Mark Guidry | Kenneth E. Hoffman | Mark Conway, K. E. Hoffman, Team Canonie, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:27.95 | $90,000 | G2 |
2000 | A Little Luck | 6 | Mike E. Smith | Barclay Tagg | Kathleen Crompton | 11⁄2 | 2:29.01 | $90,000 | G2 |
1999 | Wicapi | 7 | Cornelio Velásquez | Joseph G. Calascibetta | Acclaimed Racing Stable (Michael R. Berry) | 11⁄2 | 2:26.28 | $90,000 | G2 |
1998 | Wild Event | 5 | Shane Sellers | Louis M. Goldfine | Arthur I. Appleton | 11⁄2 | 2:26.93 | $90,000 | G2 |
1997 | Panama City | 3 | Pat Day | Patrick B. Byrne | Robert Sangster & Joseph Lacombe | 11⁄2 | 2:27.00 | $90,000 | G2 |
1996 | Diplomatic Jet | 4 | Jorge F. Chavez | James E. Picou | Fred W. Hooper | 11⁄2 | 2:24.20 | $90,000 | G2 |
1995 | Flag Down | 5 | José Santos | Christophe Clement | Allen E. Paulson | 11⁄2 | 2:24.00 | $90,000 | G2 |
1994-1 | Star of Manila | 3 | Craig Perret | Burk Kessenger Jr. | New Phoenix Stable (Gary Drake) | 11⁄2 | 2:28.40 | $90,000 | G2 |
1994-2 | Cobblestone Road | 5 | José Ferrer | Oliver E. Edwards | Bruce Watkins & Stanley Stahl | 11⁄2 | 2:27.80 | $90,000 | G2 |
1993 | Antartic Wings | 5 | Rene Douglas | Michael Lerman | Sandy Price | 11⁄2 | 2:32.40 | $60,000 | G2 |
1992 | Bye Union Avenue | 6 | Rene Douglas | Reynaldo H. Nobles | Due Process Stable | 11⁄2 | 2:27.20 | $90,000 | G2 |
1991 | Stolen Rolls | 5 | Pedro A. Rodriguez | Lawrence W. Jennings | Esquire Farms | 11⁄2 | 2:27.00 | $60,000 | G2 |
1990 | Drum Taps | 5 | José Santos | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III | 11⁄2 | 2:29.80 | $60,000 | G2 |
1989 | Mataji | 4 | Douglas Valiente | Happy Alter | Alters Racing Stable | 11⁄2 | 2:25.60 | $90,000 | G2 |
1988 | All Sincerity | 4 | Constantino Hernandez | Angel M. Medina | Almost Heaven Stable, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:25.40 | $120,000 | G2 |
1987 | Creme Fraiche | 6 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Brushwood Stable (Elizabeth Moran) | 11⁄2 | 2:27.00 | $120,000 | G2 |
1986 | Flying Pidgeon | 5 | José Santos | Luis Olivares | Constance Daparma & Marjan Stable, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:39.60 | $120,000 | G2 |
1985-1 | Jack Slade | 4 | Gerland Galitano | David C. Kassen | Andrew Adams | 11⁄2 | 2:26.20 | $69,900 | G2 |
1985-2 | Flying Pidgeon | 5 | José Santos | Luis Olivares | Constance Daparma & Marjan Stable, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:25.80 | $70,800 | G2 |
1984-1 | Open Call | 6 | Jorge Velásquez | Robert J. Reinacher Jr. | Greentree Stable | 11⁄2 | 2:30.20 | $63,755 | G2 |
1984-2 | Nijinsky's Secret | 5 | José Vélez Jr. | Kent H. Stirling | Hedley McDougald | 11⁄2 | 2:31.20 | $63,675 | G2 |
1983 | Current Blade | 6 | Jerry D. Bailey | John P. Campo | Buckland Farm | 11⁄2 ± | 2:29.20 | $70,020 | G2 |
1982-1 | Ghazwan | 6 | Constantino Hernandez | Leonard Imperio | Buckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok) | 11⁄2 | 2:28.80 | $61,920 | G2 |
1982-2 | Russian George | 5 | Miguel A. Rivera | Jean Cruguet | Sea Salt Farm, Inc. | 11⁄2 | 2:29.80 | $61,320 | G2 |
1981-1 | El Barril | 5 | Jacinto Vásquez | Angel A. Penna Jr. | Walnut Hill Farm | 11⁄2 | 2:28.40 | $51,630 | G3 |
1981-2 | Buckpoint | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | J. Bert Sonnier | Owen Helman | 11⁄2 | 2:28.00 | $52,230 | G3 |
1980-1 | Old Crony | 5 | Don Brumfield | Edward I. Kelly Sr. | Bwamazon Farm (Millard A. Waldheim) | 11⁄8 ± | 1:48.40 | $35,565 | G3 |
1980-2 | Drum's Captain | 5 | Jeffrey Fell | Leonard Imperio | Buckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok) | 11⁄8 ± | 1:48.00 | $34,875 | G3 |
1979 | Bob's Dusty | 5 | Richard DePass | William E. Adams | Robert N. Lehmann | 11⁄8 ± | 1:48.00 | $55,800 | G3 |
1978 | Practitioner | 5 | Jesus S. Rodriguez | Leo Sierra | Dogwood Stable | 11⁄8 ± | 1:48.00 | $56,520 | G3 |
1977 | Hall of Reason | 5 | Mickey Solomone | Dukas "Duke" Davis | Malcolm Woldenberg | 11⁄8 ± | 1:47.20 | $52,200 | G3 |
1976 | Toonerville | 3 | Gene St. Leon | Norman St. Leon | Frank & Mike Ryan & Norman St. Leon | 11⁄8 ± | 1:44.60 | $55,800 | G3 |
1975 | Snurb | 5 | Gene St. Leon | Reed M. Combest | B.L.T. Stable (Art Bruns, et al.) | 11⁄8 ± | 1:46.00 | $37,800 | LR |
1974 | Shane's Prince | 5 | Eddie Maple | Frank J. McManus | Red Hand Stable | 11⁄8 ± | 1:46.00 | $35,700 | |
1973 | Getajetholme | 4 | Joseph E. Imparato | J. Bert Sonnier | Ralph Sessa | 11⁄8 ± | 1:47.20 | $38,700 | |
Calder Casino is a casino located in Miami Gardens, Florida. It includes slots, electronic table games, and bingo.
Gulfstream Park is a Thoroughbred horse race track, casino and outdoor entertainment and shopping destination in Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States. It is among the most important venues for horse racing in the United States, and is open 365 days a year.
The Donn Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1959 through 2016 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A race for horses age four and older, it was contested on turf from inception through 1964 at a distance of a mile and one-half. From 1965 onwards it was raced on dirt at a mile and one-eighth with the exception of 1976 when the distance was set at seven furlongs.
The La Prevoyante Stakes, until 2019 the La Prevoyante Handicap, is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida. The race is open to fillies and mares, age four and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on turf. The Grade III race currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The San Luis Rey Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Held during the third week of March, the Grade III event is open to horses of either gender, age four and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on the turf. The race normally begins on Santa Anita's downhill chute; from this position horses race down the hill and cross the dirt track before running one complete lap of the main turf course.
Kitten's Joy was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was a multiple graded stakes winner and the American Champion Turf Horse of 2004. Since retiring to stud, he became one of the leading sires in North America and has had great success with his runners in Europe.
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 youngest thoroughbred trainer ever inducted. Mott started training thoroughbreds at age 15 and won the South Dakota Futurity with Kosmic Tour before he was out of high school. He worked his way up the ranks by becoming first an exercise rider, then an assistant trainer for Hall of Fame Trainer Jack Van Berg. In 1976, Mott, trainer Frank Brothers, and a stable crew guided Van Berg's horses through the wins at Sportsman's, Hawthorne and Arlington Park race tracks in Chicago. They were so successful that Van Berg was named leading trainer at Arlington Park and leading trainer in the Nation with 496 wins in 1976, a record that stood until Steve Asmussen broke it in 2003 with 555 wins. Asmussen broke his own record in 2008 and 2009. Mott worked as an assistant trainer for Van Berg for three years before striking out on his own in 1978.
Lure was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was best known for winning back to back Breeders' Cup Miles in 1992 and 1993. He began his career racing on dirt, and won the Gotham Stakes while on the Triple Crown trail. After losing his next two races though, his trainer decided to try him on the turf. After the switch, Lure won nine stakes races, three of them Grade I, and retired with earnings of over $2.5 million. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2013.
The Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap is a discontinued American Thoroughbred horse race open to horses aged three and older that was run each year at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida until the track closed at the end of the 2001 racing season. At the time, it was the oldest grass race in America.
Einstein was a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in the United States.
The Memorial Day Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1971 through 2014 at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida. Held on Memorial Day, it was an ungraded stakes race that had earned Grade III status in 2002–2007 and 2009–2010. The race was open to horses age three and older and was last raced on dirt over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles.
The Violet Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Inaugurated in 1977, the current Listed race is open to fillies and mares age three and older and is raced on turf over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles. First run at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey, it had its final running there in 2009. Not run in 2010, it was picked up by the Monmouth Park track in 2011 and as such was able to maintain its Grade 3 status.
Soaring Softly was an American Thoroughbred racehorse whose biggest win came in the 1999 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She originally raced on dirt, with limited success. Switched to turf at age four, she won seven of eight starts and was named the American Champion Female Turf Horse.
He's A Smoothie was a Canadian Thoroughbred Champion and Hall of Fame racehorse who set track records on both dirt and turf. Bred and raced by William R. Beasley, his sire was the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Round Table. His dam was Ratine, a daughter of Bahram, the Aga Khan's 1935 British Triple Crown champion. A successful sire of two British Classic winners, Bahram was purchased in 1940 by an American syndicate led by Alfred G. Vanderbilt II, who brought him to stand at stud in Maryland.
The Fort Lauderdale Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race open for three years old or older, over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf track held annually in December at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
Fort Larned is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic.
Itsmyluckyday is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Itsmyluckyday is a multiple graded stakes winner who finished second in the 2013 Preakness Stakes to Oxbow and won the Woodward Stakes in 2014.
Big Blue Kitten is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who specialises in turf races. Unraced as a juvenile, he finished third on his debut in 2011 and then went on a five race winning streak, culminating in a victory in the Grade II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes. After winning one minor race as a four-year-old he emerged as a top-class turf performer in 2013 when his wins included the United Nations Stakes and the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes. His only win of consequence in 2014 came in the Lure Stakes but he returned to his best as a seven-year-old in 2015 winning the Fort Marcy Handicap, a second United Nations Stakes and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes. Apart from his victories he finished second in the Arlington Million and third in the Breeders' Cup Turf. His performances earned him the title of American Champion Male Turf Horse for 2015.
Luis Saez is a Panamanian jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. Saez rode Maximum Security to finish first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby but was subsequently disqualified due to interference. The two later won the world's richest race, the $20,000,000 Saudi Cup, in 2020. Saez won his first Breeders' Cup race in 2020 and first American Classic in 2021, both with champion Essential Quality.
Mecke was an American Thoroughbred racehorse purchased for $40,000 who retired having earned more than $2.4 million dollars while winning two Grade 1 stakes on grass and equaling a track record time in another Grade 1 race on dirt.