Gazelle Stakes

The Gazelle Stakes (formerly Gazelle Handicap until 2004) is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, New York. It is a Grade III event run over a distance of miles on dirt that is open to three-year-old fillies. The race was previously run in the Fall at Belmont Park and often used as a stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup Distaff. As of 2013, the race is now run in the Spring at Aqueduct, typically on the same day as the Wood Memorial, and is now used as a prep race for the Kentucky Oaks.

Race transition

Race name

• Gazelle Handicap: 1887–2004
• Gazelle Stakes: since 2005

Grading

• Grade I: 1984–2012
• Grade II: 1973–1983 and since 2013

Distance

• 1987–1900: unknown
• 1900–1958: 1 1⁄16 miles
• 1959 and 1960: 1 mile
• since 1961: 1 1⁄8 miles

Qualification

• Three-year-old fillies
• Only 1917–1920 Three-years-old and up fillies

Venue

• Gravesend Race Track: 1887–1916
• Belmont Park: 1956–1959, 1961, 1969–2008
• Aqueduct Racetrack: 1917–1955, 1960, 1962–1968, since 2009

There were no races in 1911–1916, and 1933–1935.

Records

Time record: (at current distance of miles)

• 1:46.80 – Maud Muller (1974)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1974, 1976, 1985, 1991)
• 4 – Javier Castellano (2001, 2006, 2008, 2014)

Most wins by an trainer:

• 6 – James G. Rowe Sr. (1890, 1903, 1907, 1909, 1917, 1923)
• 6 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1986, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2006)
• 6 – James E. Fitzsimmons (1924, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1942, 1960)

Most wins by an owner:

• 4 – Greentree Stable (1923, 1941, 1967, 1987)
• 4 – Sarah & Walter Jeffords (1928, 1937, 1945, 1951)
• 4 – Godolphin Racing (2002, 2009, 2012, 2021)

Winners

References