Dinner Party Stakes

Dinner Party Stakes
Grade III race
The Dungannon Bowl, a 1955 replica of the original Annapolis Subscription Plate, awarded to the winner of the annual Dinner Party Stakes
LocationPimlico Race Course
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Inaugurated1870
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
Websitewww.pimlico.com
Race information
Distance1+18 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old & up
WeightAssigned
PurseUS$500,000 (2024)

The Dinner Party Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid-May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the eighth-oldest graded stakes race in the United States and the oldest stakes race in Maryland and all of the Mid-Atlantic states. The race is open to horses age three and up and is run one and one-eighth miles on the turf. Currently a Grade III stakes race with a purse of $500,000, at one time the Dixie was a very important race that drew the top horses from across North America.

History

[edit]

First run as the "Dinner Party Stakes" when Pimlico Race Course opened in 1870, it was named for the 1868 dinner party in Saratoga Springs, New York where Maryland Governor Oden Bowie and others met and wagered, resulting in the building of the Pimlico race course for thoroughbred race horses.[1]

The inaugural event was won by Preakness, for whom the Preakness Stakes was named. In 1871, it was called the Reunion Stakes and was won in a walkover by Harry Bassett. Suspended in 1888, in 1924, the race was revived by William P. Riggs, Maryland Jockey Club secretary.

Modern era

[edit]

Champions of many eras are among the Dixie's winners. Ten winners or runners-up have won the Eclipse Award or Champion, the latest being Paradise Creek in 1994. Other Dixie Stakes Champions include Sky Classic (1992), Bowl Game (1978), Fort Marcy (1970), Turbo Jet II (1964), Assault (1947), Armed (1946), Whirlaway (1942), Sarazen (1925), Duke of Magenta (1878), and Tom Ochiltree (1875).[2]

The Annapolis Subscription Plate, awarded to the racehorse Dungannon in 1743. Collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art.

The winner of the Dixie Stakes is presented with one of the most revered trophies in American thoroughbred horseracing, a replica of the oldest trophy in North America, the Annapolis Subscription Plate. That replica, "The Dungannon Bowl", is a perpetual trophy given annually to the winner of the Dixie Stakes, the oldest stakes race run in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic states.[3]

Run for many years as the Dixie Handicap, in 1965 it was raced in two divisions at a mile and a half. Or et Argent won the first division in a course record time of 2:30.20. A few minutes later, Flag won the second division, beating Or et Argent's record with a clocking of 2:29.00.

The 2018 edition of the race was run on dirt due to a heavy front of rain over Pimlico, and was downgraded to a Gr.III for the running. Fire Away, a half-brother to stallion Mr. Speaker, won the race.[4]

The event was downgraded in 2023 to Grade III.

Records

[edit]

Most wins:

Speed record:

  • 1+116 mile : 1:40.57 – Ironicus (2015)
  • 1+18 mile : 1:46.34 – Mr. O'Brien (2004)
  • 1+12 miles : 2:27.80 – Nassipour (1985)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

  • 5 – Ramon Domínguez (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010)
  • 4 – Pat Day (1991, 1992, 1994, 1999)
  • 4 – Vincent Bracciale Jr. (1973, 1976, 1983, 1985)

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners of the Dinner Party Stakes since 1870

[edit]
Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
(Miles)
Time
Purse
Gr.
2022 Set Piece 6 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Juddmonte 1+116 1:41.64 $250,000 II
2021 Somelikeithotbrown 5 Jose L. Ortiz Michael J. Maker Skychai Racing LLC 1+116 1:40.09 $250,000 II
2020 Factor This 5 Florent Geroux Brad Cox Gaining Ground Racing LLC 1+116 1:46.17 $250,000 II
2019 Catholic Boy 4 Javier Castellano Johnathan Thomas Robert V. LaPenta, et al. 1+116 1:41.09 $250,000 II
2018 Fire Away 6 Manuel Franco Shug McGaughey Phipps Stable 1+116 1:43.92 $250,000 III
2017 World Approval 5 Julien Leparoux Mark Casse Live Oak Plantation 1+116 1:43.15 $250,000 II
2016 Takeover Target 4 Joel Rosario Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence 1+116 1:44.76 $250,000 II
2015 Ironicus 4 Javier Castellano Shug McGaughey Stuart S. Janney III 1+116 1:40.53 $300,000 II
2014 Utley 6 Edgar Prado Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 1+116 1:43.88 $400,000 II
2013 Skyring 4 Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Calumet Farm 1+18 1:47.87 $400,000 II
2012 Hudson Steele 5 Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Roger Weiss 1+18 1:47.29 $300,000 II
2011 Paddy O'Prado 4 Kent Desormeaux Dale Romans Donegal Racing 1+18 1:53.56 $200,000 II
2010 Strike a Deal 6 Ramon Domínguez Alan E. Goldberg Richard Santulli 1+18 1:47.81 $200,000 II
2009 Parading 6 Kent Desormeaux Shug McGaughey Ogden Phipps 1+18 1:48.28 $200,000 II
2008 Pays to Dream 4 Javier Castellano David G. Donk December Hill Farm 1+18 1:54.74 $250,000 II
2007 Remarkable News 5 Ramon Domínguez Angel Penna Jr. Holly Rincon 1+18 1:46.36 $250,000 II
2006 Better Talk Now 7 Ramon Domínguez H. Graham Motion Bushwood Racing 1+18 1:48.48 $250,000 II
2005 Cool Conductor 4 Cornelio Velásquez Ralph Nicks David E. Garner 1+18 1:52.79 $200,000 II
2004 Mr O'Brien 5 Ramon Domínguez Robin L. Graham Skeedattle II 1+18 1:46.34 $200,000 II
2003 Dr. Brendler 5 Ramon Domínguez H. Graham Motion Francis O'Toole 1+18 1:57.78 $200,000 II
2002 Strut The Stage 4 Robby Albarado Mark Frostad Sam-Son Farm 1+18 1:51.70 $200,000 II
2001 Hap 5 Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson Trust 1+18 1:48.56 $200,000 II
2000 Quiet Resolve 5 Robby Albarado Mark Frostad Sam-Son Farm 1+18 1:50.42 $200,000 II
1999 Middlesex Drive 4 Pat Day Philip M. Hauswald C. Steven Duncker 1+18 1:48.64 $200,000 II
1998 Yagli 5 Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson Trust 1+18 1:51.01 $200,000 II
1997 Ops Smile 5 Edgar Prado J. William Boniface Jacq. & Roger Schipke 1+18 1:48.20 $200,000 II
1996 Gold and Steel 4 Alex Solis Jean C. Rouget Gary A. Tanaka 1+18 1:52.80 $200,000 II
1995 The Vid 5 Jerry Bailey Marty Wolfson Joseph J. Sullivan 1+18 1:52.25 $200,000 II
1994 Paradise Creek 5 Pat Day William I. Mott Masayuki Nishiyama 1+18 1:48.51 $150,000 II
1993 Lure 4 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey Claiborne Farm 1+18 1:47.60 $150,000 II
1992 Sky Classic 5 Pat Day James E. Day Sam-Son Farm 1+18 1:47.83 $150,000 II
1991 Double Booked 6 Pat Day Linda L. Rice Robert Gorham 1+18 1:47.04 $150,000 III
1990 Two Moccasins 4 Randy Romero Laz Barrera James E. Cottrell 1+12 2:35.80 $150,000 III
1989 Coeur de Leon 5 Jean Cruguet W. Burling Cocks Evergreen Farms 1+12 2:38.40 $150,000 II
1988 Kadial 5 Gary Stevens Melvin F. Stute Jack Liebau 1+58 2:45.00 $150,000 II
1987 Akabir 6 Craig Perret Thomas Skiffington Minnesota Sunrise Stable 1+12 2:28.60 $125,000 II
1986 Uptown Swell 4 Walter Guerra Richard J. Lundy Virginia Kraft Payson 1+12 2:28.40 $150,000 II
1985 Nassipour 5 Vincent Bracciale Stephen A. DiMauro Dogwood Stable 1+12 2:27.80 $125,000 II
1984 Persian Tiara 4 Roger L. Shelton Adrian Maxwell Mrs. T. P. Donahue 1+12 2:41.00 $150,000 II
1983 Khatango 4 Vincent Bracciale David A. Whiteley Pen-Y-Bryn Farm 1+12 2:28.60 $125,000 II
1982 Robsphere 5 John Velazquez Richard Root Harry T. Mangurian Jr. 1+12 2:30.20 $125,000 II
1981 El Barril 5 Jacinto Vásquez Smiley Adams Walnut Hill Farms 1+12 2:29.80 $125,000 II
1980 Marquee Universal 4 Hector Pilar David A. Whiteley Gerald Freed 1+12 2:29.60 $125,000 II
1979 The Very One 4 Charlie Cooke Stephen A. DiMauro Helen Polinger 1+12 2:28.60 $125,000 II
1978 Bowl Game 4 Jorge Velásquez John M. Gaver Jr. Greentree Stable 1+12 2:33.40 $65,000 II
1977 Improviser 5 Miguel A. Rivera Jack Weipert Elmendorf Farm 1+12 2:28.60 $95,000 II
1976 Barcas 5 Vincent Bracciale Leonard Imperio Nelson Bunker Hunt 1+12 2:29.60 $65,000 II
1975 Bemo 5 Chris McCarron John W. Murphy Hickory Tree Stable 1+12 2:33.40 $65,000 II
1974 London Company 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. LeRoy Jolley Chance Hill Farm 1+12 2:28.80 $65,000 II
1973 Laplander 6 Vincent Bracciale Pierce Laplander Buckingham Farm 1+12 2:30.40 $65,000 II
1972 Onondaga 6 Jack Kurtz Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. Oakmead Farm 1+12 2:30.00 $65,000
1971 Chompion ** 6 Michael Hole Ivor G. Balding C. V. Whitney 1+12 2:34.20 $63,000
1970 Fort Marcy 6 Jorge Velásquez J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stables 1+12 2:27.20 $64,000
1969 Czar Alexander 4 Bill Hartack Angel Penna Sr. Gustave Ring 1+12 2:30.80 $64,000
1968 High Hat 4 Ray Broussard John O. Meaux Mrs. Wallace Gilroy 1+12 2:29.80 $65,000
1967 War Censor 4 Earlie Fires S. Bryant Ott Fourth Estate Stable 1+12 2:36.60 $67,500
1966 Knightly Manner 5 Tommy Lee Kenneth A. Field Barbara Guggenheim Obre 1+12 2:30.80 $67,500
1965 # Or et Argent 4 Walter Blum Wayne Stucki Colin Campbell 1+12 2:30.20 $35,000
1965 # Flag 5 Tommy Lee Hirsch Jacobs Jack Dreyfus 1+12 2:29.00 $35,000
1964 Will I Rule 4 Ron Turcotte Joseph S. Nash Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr. 1+12 2:40.00 $70,000
1963 Cedar Key 3 Tommy Lee Don McCoy Jerry Basta 1+12 2:32.20 $70,000
1962 Wise Ship 5 Heliodoro Gustines Jacob Byer Milton Ritzenberg 1+12 2:42.40 $72,000
1961 Hunter's Rock 3 Frank Lovato Kenneth A. Field Barbara Guggenheim Obre 1+12 2:36.20 $30,000
1960 Shield Bearer 5 Nick Shuk Jimmy Pitt Stephen C. Clark Jr. 1+12 2:32.40 $30,000
1959 One-Eyed King 5 Manuel Ycaza Tommy Kelly Cain Hoy Stable 1+38 2:15.40 $30,000
1958 Pop Corn 4 John Ruane John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1+38 2:21.60 $32,750
1957 Akbar Khan 5 Eldon Nelson Thomas M. Waller Cockfield Stable 1+38 2:16.20 $32,750
1956 Chevation 5 Chris Rogers Richard E. Handlen Foxcatcher Farms 1+38 2:17.40 $35,000
1955 St. Vincent 4 Basil James Vance Longden Gardiner/Alberta Ranches 1+38 2:15.40 $34,000
1954 Straight Face 4 Bennie Green George Poole Greentree Stable 1+18 1:51.00 $33,000
1953 Royal Vale 5 Jack Westrope James E. Ryan Esther du Pont Weir 1+18 1:51.80 $32,000
1952 Alerted 4 Rocco Sisto Jimmy Penrod Hampton Stable 1+316 1:58.00 $35,000
1951 County Delight 4 Jimmy Nichols James E. Ryan Rokeby Stables 1+316 1:58.80 $32,000
1950 Loser Weeper 5 Nick Combest Bill Winfrey Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. 1+316 1:56.20 $32,000
1949 Chains 4 Job Dean Jessop Preston M. Burch Brookmeade Stable 1+316 1:56.60 $35,000
1948 Fervent 4 N. Leroy Pierson Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+316 2:01.60 $40,000
1947 Assault 4 Eddie Arcaro Max Hirsch King Ranch 1+316 1:57.40 $41,500
1946 Armed 5 Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+316 1:58.20 $45,000
1945 Rounders 6 Fred Remerscheid Frank Catrone Valdina Farm 1+316 1:56.40 $42,000
1944 Sun Again 5 Fred A. Smith Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+316 1:58.20 $42,000
1943 Riverland 5 Steve Brooks Moody Jolley Louisiana Farm 1+316 1:56.40 $30,000
1942 Whirlaway 4 Eddie Arcaro Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+316 1:57.00 $32,000
1941 Haltal 4 Conn McCreary Steve Judge Royce G. Martin 1+316 1:58.40 $33,000
1940 Honey Cloud 6 Henry Mora Whitey Abel Mrs. Albert J. Abel 1+316 1:58.60 $30,000
1939 Sir Damion 5 Don Meade George M. Odom Marshall Field III 1+316 1:58.60 $36,000
1938 Pompoon 4 George Woolf Johnny Loftus Jerome H. Louchheim 1+316 1:56.80 $34,000
1937 Calumet Dick 5 Joe Wagner Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+316 1:58.40 $15,000
1936 Dark Hope 7 Robert Jones Louis Feustel J. W. Y. Martin 1+316 1:57.00 $32,000
1935 Only One 4 Robert Merritt Mrs. W. Deering Howe 1+316 2:01.80 $7,500
1934 Equipoise 6 Raymond Workman Thomas J. Healey Cornelius V. Whitney 1+316 2:01.80 $7,000
1933 Stepenfetchit 4 Earl Steffen James W. Healy Liz Whitney 1+316 2:01.80 $9,000
1932 Gallant Knight 5 Herman Schutte Kay Spence Audley Farm Stable 1+316 1:58.00 $24,000
1931 Paul Bunyan 5 E. Gianelloni B. R. Johnson L. M. Severson 1+316 2:01.20 $25,000
1930 Sandy Ford 4 Frank Catrone William Shea Myrtle Shea 1+316 1:59.20 $42,000
1929 Diavolo 4 Johnny Maiben Jim Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1+316 2:00.00 $45,000
1928 Mike Hall 4 Harry Richards Walter W. Taylor Hal Price Headley 1+316 1:59.00 $40,000
1927 Mars 4 Frank Coltiletti Scott P. Harlan Walter M. Jeffords 1+316 1:59.40 $42,000
1926 Sarazen 5 Fred Weiner Max Hirsch Virginia Fair Vanderbilt 1+316 2:00.80 $40,000
1925 Sarazen 4 Earl Sande Max Hirsch Virginia Fair Vanderbilt 1+316 2:02.00 $42,000
1924 Chacolet 6 Mack Garner Will Buford Hal Price Headley 1+316 1:59.20 $40,000
1919 – 1923 Race not held
1918 Cudgel 4 Earl Sande H. Guy Bedwell J. K. L. Ross 1+316 1:59.20 $40,000
1917 Ticket 4 Andy Schuttinger Andrew Miller 1+316 1:59.20 $40,000
1916 Short Grass 8 Frank Keogh Emil Herz 1+316 1:59.20 $40,000
1915 The Finn 3 James H. Butwell Edward W. Heffner Harry C. Hallenbeck 1+316 1:59.20 $40,000
1905 – 1914 Race not held
1904 The Southerner 3 Matthew Corbett 1+34 3:06.60 $5,500
1903 Colonsay 3 William Daly 1+34 3:41.40 $3,000
1902 Adelaide Prince 3 W. Powers 1+34 3:06.60 $2,500
1889 – 1901 Race not held
1888 Taragon 3 William Hayward John Huggins Alexander Cassatt 2 miles 3:37.00 $7,000
1887 Hanover 3 Jim McLaughlin Frank McCabe Dwyer Brothers Stable 2 miles 3:51.60 $7,500
1886 The Bard 3 William Hayward Sr. John Huggins Alexander Cassatt 2 miles 3:33.00 $6,000
1885 East Lynne 3 William Donohue 2 miles 3:49.60 $6,500
1884 Loftin 3 Johnny Stoval R. A. Johnson & Co. 2 miles 3:37.60 $6,500
1883 George Kinney 3 Jim McLaughlin James G. Rowe Sr. Dwyer Brothers Stable 2 miles 3:56.00 $6,500
1882 Monarch 3 Charles Shauer 2 miles 3:44.00 $6,500
1881 Crickmore 3 Lloyd Hughes Bill Bird Oden Bowie 2 miles 3:37.00 $6,500
1880 Grenada 3 Lloyd Hughes Wyndham Walden George L. Lorillard 2 miles 3:38.00 $7,500
1879 Monitor 3 Lloyd Hughes Wyndham Walden George L. Lorillard 2 miles 3:34.60 $8,000
1878 Duke of Magenta 3 Lloyd Hughes Wyndham Walden George L. Lorillard 2 miles 3:41.00 $7,500
1877 King Faro 3 William Walker J. H. McIntyre/G. Rice 2 miles 3:55.00 $7,500
1876 Vigil 3 John Spellman Col. David McDaniel Col. David McDaniel 2 miles 3:41.50 $7,500
1875 Tom Ochiltree 3 George Evans Wyndham Walden John F. Chamberlain 2 miles 3:42.50 $7,500
1874 Vandalite 3 M. H. Houston A. B. Lewis & Co. 2 miles 3:35.50 $20,000
1873 Tom Bowling 3 Robert Swim David McDaniel David McDaniel 2 miles 3:58.00 $7,000
1872 Hubbard 3 Frank McCabe David McDaniel 2 miles 3:36.50 $20,000
1871 Harry Bassett 4 James G. Rowe Sr. David McDaniel David McDaniel 2 miles 3:55.00 $11,000
1870 Preakness 3 William Hayward Sr. Charles Littlefield Sr. Milton H. Sanford 2 miles 3:47.50 $11,000

A # designates that the race was run in two divisions in 1965.
** In 1971 Fort Marcy finished first but was disqualified and placed fourth. A @ indicates that this race was run at Laurel Park Racecourse from 1915 to 1919 as the Dixie Handicap.

See also

[edit]

Laurel Parks's Dixie Handicap

[edit]

From 1915 through 1918, Laurel Park Racecourse hosted a Dixie Handicap. The winners were:

  • 1918 – Cudgel
  • 1917 – Ticket
  • 1916 – Short Grass
  • 1915 – The Finn

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "HISTORY OF PIMLICO RACE COURSE". Pimlico Race Course. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2006-08-22. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  2. ^ 2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 52 on March 3, 2007.
  3. ^ 126th Preakness Stakes Souvenir Magazine, May 19, 2001, article titled, "It All Began Here, In Annapolis..." page 95-96 Retrieved Jan 21 2010
  4. ^ "Fire Away Takes Rail to Victory in Off-Turf Dixie". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2018-05-20.