Pimlico Special
Horse race
The Pimlico Special is a Grade 3 American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of 1+ 3 ⁄16 miles (9+ 1 ⁄2 furlongs) held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in mid May. The race currently offers a purse of $250,000.[ 1]
History
The Pimlico Special was first run in 1937 and was won by that year's U.S. Triple Crown winner War Admiral who went on to be voted the American Horse of the Year . In 1938, the Pimlico Special was host to one of American racing's most historic moments when Seabiscuit defeated War Admiral in a much anticipated match race . That race was covered by almost every major newspaper, magazine and radio station of the time.[ 2]
Discontinued after 1958, the race was revived as a handicap event in 1988 and made a graded stakes race one year later in 1989. The race was not eligible for grading in 2011 because it had not been run the previous two years.[ 3]
Eighteen Pimlico Special winners have gone on to win a Championship for Horse of the Year or an Eclipse Award as the best horse in their divisions. The latest was Invasor in 2006; others include Mineshaft , Real Quiet , Skip Away , Cigar , Criminal Type , Blushing John , Tom Fool , Capot , Citation , Assault , Armed , Twilight Tear , Whirlaway , Market Wise , Challedon , Seabiscuit and War Admiral .[ 4]
The Pimlico track record for 1+ 3 ⁄16 miles is held by Farma Way who ran the distance in 1:52 2/5 while capturing the 1991 Pimlico Special.
Records
Speed record:
1:52.55 – Farma Way (1991) (at current distance of 1+ 3 ⁄16 miles; time recognised by Equibase based on hundredths)
Most wins by a horse:
Most wins by a jockey :
Most wins by a trainer :
Most wins by an owner:
Winners of the "Pimlico Special" since 1937
Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
Grade
2022
First Captain
4
Luis Saez
Claude R. McGaughey III
Bobby Flay , Woodford Racing, Siena Farm, & West Point Thoroughbreds
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:56.24
$250,000
III
2021
Last Judgment
5
Jose L. Ortiz
Michael J. Maker
Bethlehem Stables
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:54.37
$250,000
III
2020
Harpers First Ride
4
Angel Cruz
Claudio A. Gonzalez
MCA Racing Stable LLC
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:54.97
$250,000
III
2019
Tenfold
4
Ricardo Santana
Steve Asmussen
Winchell Thoroughbreds
1+ 1 ⁄4
2:02.36
$300,000
III
2018
Irish War Cry
4
José Ortiz
H. Graham Motion
Isabelle de Tomaso
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:55.51
$300,000
III
2017
Shaman Ghost
5
Javier Castellano
Jimmy Jerkens
Stronach Stables
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:54.55
$300,000
III
2016
Noble Bird
5
Julien Leparoux
Mark E. Casse
John C. Oxley
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:55.18
$300,000
III
2015
Commissioner
5
Javier Castellano
Todd Pletcher
WinStar Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:56.09
$300,000
III
2014
Revolutionary
4
Mike E. Smith
Todd Pletcher
WinStar Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:55.99
$300,000
III
2013
Last Gunfighter
4
Javier Castellano
Chad Brown
John D. Gunther
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:58.50
$300,000
III
2012
Alternation
4
Luis Quinonez
Donnie K. Von Hemel
Pin Oak Stable
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:57.60
$300,000
III
2009–11
Race not held
2008
Student Council
6
Shaun Bridgmohan
Steve Asmussen
Millennium Farms
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:54.87
$250,000
I
2007
Race not held
2006
Invasor
4
Ramon Domínguez
Kiaran McLaughlin
Shadwell Stable
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:54.40
$500,000
I
2005
Eddington
4
Eibar Coa
Mark A. Hennig
Willmott Stables
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:58.05
$500,000
I
2004
Southern Image
4
Victor Espinoza
Michael Machowsky
Blahut Stables
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:55.89
$600,000
I
2003
Mineshaft
4
Robby Albarado
Neil J. Howard
Farish /Webber/Elkins
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:56.16
$600,000
I
2002
Race not held
2001
Include
4
Jerry Bailey
Bud Delp
Brereton C. Jones
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:55.61
$750,000
I
2000
Golden Missile
5
Kent Desormeaux
Joe Orseno
Frank Stronach
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:54.65
$750,000
I
1999
Real Quiet
4
Gary Stevens
Bob Baffert
Michael E. Pegram
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:54.31
$750,000
I
1998
Skip Away
5
Jerry Bailey
Sonny Hine
Carolyn Hine
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:54.20
$750,000
I
1997
Gentlemen
5
Gary Stevens
Richard Mandella
Randall Dee Hubbard
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:53.03
$600,000
I
1996
Star Standard
4
Pat Day
Nick Zito
William Condren
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:54.40
$600,000
I
1995
Cigar
5
Jerry Bailey
William I. Mott
Allen E. Paulson
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:53.60
$600,000
I
1994
As Indicated
4
Robbie Davis
Richard Schosberg
Heatherwood Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:55.00
$600,000
I
1993
Devil His Due
4
Herb McCauley
H. Allen Jerkens
Edith LiButti
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:55.40
$600,000
I
1992
Strike the Gold
4
Craig Perret
Nick Zito
BCC Stable
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:54.80
$700,000
I
1991
Farma Way
4
Gary Stevens
D. Wayne Lukas
Quarter B Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:52.40
$750,000
I
1990
Criminal Type
5
José A. Santos
D. Wayne Lukas
Calumet /J. K. Arnemann
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:53.00
$1,000,000
I
1989
Blushing John
4
Ángel Cordero Jr.
Richard J. Lundy
Allen E. Paulson
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:53.20
$700,000
II
1988
Bet Twice
4
Craig Perret
Warren A. Croll Jr.
Blanche P. Levy
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:54.20
$710,000
1959–87
Race not held
1958
Vertex
4
Sam Boulmetis Sr.
Joseph F. Piarulli
J. J. Brunetti/F. A. Piarulli
1+ 3 ⁄16
2:00.60
$60,000
1957
Promised Land
3
Bill Hartack
Hirsch Jacobs
Ethel D. Jacobs
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:57.40
$60,000
1956
Summer Tan
4
Dave Erb
Sherrill W. Ward
Mrs. J. W. Galbreath
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:56.60
$60,000
1955
Sailor II
3
Hedley Woodhouse
Preston M. Burch
Isabel Dodge Sloane
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:57.60
$66,500
1954
Helioscope
‡3
Sam Boulmetis Sr.
Howard Hausner
William G. Helis Jr.
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:59.00
$60,000
1953
Tom Fool
4
Ted Atkinson
John M. Gaver Sr.
Greentree Stable
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:55.80
$50,000
1952
General Staff
4
Glen Lasswell
Jimmy McGee
Larry MacPhail
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:57.40
$41,500
1951
Bryan G.
4
Ovie Scurlock
Casey Hayes
Meadow Stable
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:57.40
$41,500
1950
One Hitter
4
Ted Atkinson
John M. Gaver Sr.
Greentree Stable
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:58.60
$25,000
1949
Capot
4
Ted Atkinson
John M. Gaver Sr.
Greentree Stable
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:56.80
$25,000
1948
†Citation
3
Eddie Arcaro
Horace A. Jones
Calumet Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:59.80
$25,000
1947
Fervent
3
Albert Snider
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:58.40
$41,500
1946
Assault
3
Eddie Arcaro
Max Hirsch
King Ranch
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:57.00
$41,500
1945
Armed
4
Douglas Dodson
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:58.80
$41,500
1944
Twilight Tear
3
Douglas Dodson
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:56.60
$41,500
1943
Shut Out
4
Eddie Arcaro
John M. Gaver Sr.
Greentree Stable
1+ 3 ⁄16
2:00.20
$41,500
1942
†Whirlaway
4
George Woolf
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
2:00.40
$16,500
1941
Market Wise
3
Wendell Eads
George W. Carroll
Louis Tufano
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:58.80
$16,500
1940
Challedon
4
George Woolf
Don Cameron
Branncastle Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
2:03.20
$16,500
1939
Challedon
3
Eddie Arcaro
Louis Schaefer
Branncastle Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:59.00
$16,500
1938
Seabiscuit
5
George Woolf
Tom Smith
Charles S. Howard
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:56.60
$25,000
1937
War Admiral
‡3
Charley Kurtsinger
George Conway
Glen Riddle Farm
1+ 3 ⁄16
1:58.80
$10,000
Notes:
‡ For 3-yr-olds in 1937 and 1954
† Won by Walkovers in 1942 and 1948
See also
References