Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

"Turf Classic" redirects here. For the race at Churchill Downs, see Turf Classic Stakes.

The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes is a Grade I American Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for three years old and older over a distance of 1+1⁄2 miles on the turf track scheduled annually in late September or early October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $500,000.

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes

Grade I race
Location	Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1977 (as Turf Classic at Aqueduct Racetrack)
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	NYRA
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄2 miles
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-years-old and older
Weight	Weight for Age
Purse	$500,000 (2021)

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 19 November 1977 as the Aqueduct Turf Classic Stakes and was won by Johnny D., ridden by 17-year-old Steve Cauthen by 3+3⁄4 lengths in a time of 2:331⁄5.^[1] The event was scheduled two weeks after the Washington D.C. International, an event that Johnny D. won as well^[1] earning him US Champion Male Turf Horse honors for 1977. The following year the event was held at Belmont Park.^[2] In 1979 the event was classified Grade I and was returned to Aqueduct and was held there until 1983.^[2]

In 1983 the name of the event was shortened to being called just the Turf Classic. The event drew the top Thoroughbreds from the U.S. and Europe when it was part of a million dollar bonus for any horse who won it plus the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto and the Washington D.C. International at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. That year the champion French bred filly All Along was able to win the treble, winning the million dollar bonus^[3] and being crowned US Champion Female Turf Horse and US Horse of the Year.

Other notable champions to win the event in the pre-Breeders' Cup era include the French bred mare, winner in 1978, Waya, who was crowned the US Champion Older Female Horse the following year. The Irish bred filly April Run won the event twice in 1981 and 1982. In 1982 she also won the Washington D.C. International and was voted as US Champion Female Turf Horse. John Henry remarkably won this event in 1984 as a nine year old and what would be his second last start. He was crowned the US Horse of the Year that year.

Early in the Breeders' Cup era the event immediately become one of the major preparatory races for the Breeders' Cup Turf. The 1986 winner the three-year-old Manila and 1987 winner the Irish bred Theatrical, both won the Breeders' Cup Turf and were voted US Champion Male Turf Horse. In 1994 Tikkanen also won the Turf Classic-Breeders' Cup Turf double enroute to US Champion Male Turf Horse.

In 2004 the event was renamed is named in honor of Joe Hirsch, the award-winning racing columnist and founding president of the National Turf Writers Association. Joe Hirsch, aged 80, died on January 9, 2009.^[4]

Dual winner English Channel was a Breeders' Cup Turf winner in 2007 and also the sire of Channel Maker, a dual winner (2018, 2020) and second placed finisher in 2019 of this event.

In 2022 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.^[5] The 2022 & 2023 winner was English Channel's daughter War Like Goddess, with his offspring successful in the event for the fourth time.^[6]

Records

Time record:

• 2:23.39 – Big Blue Kitten (2015)

Margins:

• 10+1⁄4 lengths – Grand Couturier (GB) (2008)

Most wins:

• 2 – April Run (IRE) (1981, 1982)
• 2 – Val's Prince (1997, 1999)
• 2 – English Channel (2006, 2007)
• 2 – Channel Maker (2018, 2020)
• 2 – War Like Goddess (2022, 2023)

Most wins by an owner:

• 4 – Bertram & Diana M. Firestone (1981, 1982, 1987, 2010)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 – John R. Velazquez (1995, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 6 – William I. Mott (1987, 2005, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
At Aqueduct – Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes
2024	Far Bridge	4	Joel Rosario	Christophe Clement	LSU Stables	1+1⁄2 miles	2:32.22	$485,000	I	[7]
2023	ƒ War Like Goddess	6	Junior Alvarado	William I. Mott	George Krikorian	1+1⁄2 miles	2:32.86[a]	$500,000	I	[8]
2022	ƒ War Like Goddess	5	Jose Lezcano	William I. Mott	George Krikorian	1+1⁄2 miles	2:27.29	$500,000	I	[9]
At Belmont Park
2021	Rockemperor (IRE)	5	Javier Castellano	Chad C. Brown	Michael Dubb, Michael E. Kisber, Wonder Stables, Bethlehem Stables & Madaket Stables	1+1⁄2 miles	2:25.61	$500,000	I	[10]
2020	Channel Maker	4	Manuel Franco	William I. Mott	Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable & Reeves Thoroughbred Racing	1+1⁄2 miles	2:25.99	$250,000	I	[11]
2019	Arklow	5	Junior Alvarado	Brad H. Cox	Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger & Peter Coneway	1+1⁄2 miles	2:27.34	$507,500	I	[12]
2018	Channel Maker	4	Jose L. Ortiz	William I. Mott	Wachtel Stable & Gary Barber	1+1⁄2 miles	2:30.73	$500,000	I	[13]
2017	Beach Patrol	4	Joel Rosario	Chad C. Brown	James Covello, Sheep Pond Partners & Head of Plains Partners	1+1⁄2 miles	2:26.29	$500,000	I	[14]
2016	Ectot (GB)	5	Jose L. Ortiz	Todd A. Pletcher	Al Shaqab Racing & Gerard Augustin-Normand	1+1⁄2 miles	2:28.76	$475,000	I	[15]
2015	Big Blue Kitten	7	Joe Bravo	Chad C. Brown	Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey	1+1⁄2 miles	2:23.39	$600,000	I	[16]
2014	Main Sequence	5	Rajiv Maragh	H. Graham Motion	Flaxman Holdings	1+1⁄2 miles	2:26.32	$600,000	I	[17]
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes
2013	Little Mike	6	Mike E. Smith	Dale L. Romans	Priscilla Vaccarezza	1+1⁄2 miles	2:25.00	$600,000	I	[18]
2012	Point of Entry	4	John R. Velazquez	Claude R. McGaughey III	Phipps Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:33.73	$600,000	I	[19]
2011	Cape Blanco (IRE)	4	Jamie P. Spencer	Aidan P. O'Brien	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Mrs. Fitriani Hay	1+1⁄2 miles	2:36.61	$500,000	I	[20]
2010	Winchester	5	Cornelio Velasquez	Christophe Clement	Bertram and Diana Firestone	1+1⁄2 miles	2:36.09	$500,000	I	[21]
2009	Interpatation	7	Robby Albarado	Robert Barbara	Elliot Mavorah	1+1⁄2 miles	2:41.22	$600,000	I	[22]
2008	Grand Couturier (GB)	5	Alan Garcia	Robert Ribaudo	Marc Keller	1+1⁄2 miles	2:34.84	$600,000	I	[23]
2007	English Channel	5	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	James T. Scatuorchio	1+1⁄2 miles	2:25.73	$600,000	I	[24]
2006	§ English Channel	4	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	James T. Scatuorchio	1+1⁄2 miles	2:28.69	$600,000	I	[25]
2005	Shakespeare	4	Jerry D. Bailey	William I. Mott	Dell Ridge Farm & William Schettine	1+1⁄2 miles	2:27.22	$750,000	I	[26]
2004	Kitten's Joy	3	John R. Velazquez	Dale L. Romans	Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.97	$750,000	I	[27]
Turf Classic Invitational Stakes
2003	Sulamani (IRE)	4	Jerry D. Bailey	Saeed bin Suroor	Godolphin Racing	1+1⁄2 miles	2:27.51	$750,000	I	[28]
2002	§ Denon	4	Edgar S. Prado	Robert J. Frankel	Edmund A. Gann & Flaxman Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:28.47	$750,000	I	[29]
2001	Timboroa (GB)	5	Edgar S. Prado	Robert J. Frankel	Edmund A. Gann	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.43	$750,000	I	[30]
2000	John's Call	9	Jean-Luc Samyn	Thomas H. Voss	Trillium Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:28.58	$750,000	I	[31]
1999	Val's Prince	7	Jorge F. Chavez	H. James Bond	Robin Martin & Steve Weiner	1+1⁄2 miles	2:28.63	$600,000	I	[32]
1998	Buck's Boy	5	Shane Sellers	P. Noel Hickey	Quarter B Farm	1+1⁄2 miles	2:33.25	$500,000	I	[33]
1997	Val's Prince	5	Mike E. Smith	James E. Picou	Robin Martin & Steve Weiner	1+1⁄2 miles	2:28.92	$500,000	I	[34]
1996	Diplomatic Jet	4	Jorge F. Chavez	James E. Picou	Fred W. Hooper	1+1⁄2 miles	2:27.51	$500,000	I	[35]
1995	Turk Passer	5	John R. Velazquez	Flint S. Schulhofer	Michael Shanley	1+1⁄2 miles	2:36.63	$500,000	I	[36]
1994	Tikkanen	3	Cash Asmussen	Jonathan E. Pease	Augustin Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:25.88	$500,000	I	[37]
1993	Apple Tree (FR)	4	Mike E. Smith	André Fabre	Mohammed Al Kabeer	1+1⁄2 miles	2:28.31	$500,000	I	[38]
1992	Sky Classic	5	Pat Day	James E. Day	Sam-Son Farm	1+1⁄2 miles	2:24.50	$500,000	I	[39]
1991	Solar Splendor	4	Herb McCauley	Patrick J. Kelly	Live Oak Plantation	1+1⁄2 miles	2:27.89	$500,000	I	[40]
At Belmont Park – Turf Classic
1990	Cacoethes	4	Ray Cochrane	Guy Harwood	Lady Jane Harrison	1+1⁄2 miles	2:25.00	$600,000	I	[41]
1989	Yankee Affair	7	Jose A. Santos	Henry L. Carroll	Jujugen Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:27.20	$654,200	I	[42]
1988	Sunshine Forever	3	Angel Cordero Jr.	John M. Veitch	Darby Dan Farm	1+1⁄2 miles	2:33.80	$600,000	I	[43]
1987	Theatrical (IRE)	5	Pat Day	William I. Mott	Bertram R. Firestone	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.20	$600,000	I	[44]
1986	Manila	3	Jose A. Santos	LeRoy Jolley	Bradley M. Shannon	1+1⁄2 miles	2:27.80	$705,250	I	[45]
1985	Noble Fighter	3	Alain Lequeux	Mitri Saliba	Buckram Oak Farm	1+1⁄2 miles	2:25.40	$718,500	I	[46]
1984	John Henry	9	Chris McCarron	Ron McAnally	Dotsam Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:25.20	$626,250	I	[47]
At Aqueduct
1983	ƒ All Along (FR)	4	Walter R. Swinburn	Patrick L. Biancone	Daniel Wildenstein	1+1⁄2 miles	2:34.00	$585,700	I	[48]
1982	ƒ April Run (IRE)	4	Cash Asmussen	François Boutin	Diana M. Firestone	1+1⁄2 miles	2:29.80	$476,800	I	[49]
1981	ƒ April Run (IRE)	3	Philippe Paquet	François Boutin	Diana M. Firestone	1+1⁄2 miles	2:31.20	$300,000	I	[50]
1980	ƒ Anifa	4	Alfred Gibert	Mitri Saliba	Buckram Oak Farm	1+1⁄2 miles	2:39.60	$300,000	I	[51]
1979	Bowl Game	5	Jorge Velasquez	John M. Gaver Jr.	Greentree Stable	1+1⁄2 miles	2:28.20	$250,000	I	[52]
At Belmont
1978	ƒ Waya (FR)	4	Angel Cordero Jr.	Angel Penna Sr.	Daniel Wildenstein	1+1⁄2 miles	2:26.80	$200,000		[53]
At Aqueduct
1977	Johnny D.	3	Steve Cauthen	Michael Kay	Dana S. Bray Jr.	1+1⁄2 miles	2:33.20	$200,000		[1]

Legend:
  Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
ƒ Filly or Mare

1. War Like Goddess set a new track record for the distance on the outer turf track at Aqueduct

See also

• List of American and Canadian Graded races
• Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Handicap top three finishers and starters

References

1. "Cauthen is aboard as Johnny D. wins (1977 Turf Classic – race 8: held 19 November 1977)". Hackensack Record. The Associated Press. 20 November 1977. p. 77. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
2. "Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (Gr. 1)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
3. Beard, Gordon (13 November 1983). "All Along wins International and $1 million bonus (1983 Washington DC International – race 8: held 12 November 1989)". The Courier-Journal. p. 51. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
4. Stakes Histories, The Original Racing Almanac 2009, page 360 on June 26, 2008.
5. Ehalt, Bob (28 July 2022). "NYRA Shifts Belmont Fall Meet to Aqueduct Change will allow construction of infield tunnel, redevelopment plan to begin". Retrieved 22 August 2022.
6. Mitchell, Eric (8 October 2022). "War Like Goddess Beats Boys in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic; The English Channel mare defeated six male challengers Oct. 8 at Aqueduct". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
7. "2024 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 6)". Equibase. September 28, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
8. "2023 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
9. "2022 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
10. "2021 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
11. "2020 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
12. "2019 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
13. "2018 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
14. "2017 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
15. "2016 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 6)". Equibase. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
16. "2015 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
17. "2014 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
18. "2013 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
19. "2012 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
20. "2011 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 6)". Equibase. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
21. "2010 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
22. "2009 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
23. "2008 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
24. "2007 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 30 September 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
25. "2006 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 7 October 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
26. "2005 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 1 October 2005. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
27. "2004 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 2 October 2004. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
28. "2003 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 September 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
29. "2002 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 September 2002. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
30. "2001 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 September 2001. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
31. "2000 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 7 October 2000. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
32. "1999 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 9 October 1999. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
33. "1998 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 October 1998. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
34. "1997 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 18 October 1997. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
35. "1996 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 5 October 1996. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
36. "1995 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 October 1995. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
37. "1994 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 8 October 1994. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
38. "1993 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 9 October 1993. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
39. "1992 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 3 October 1992. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
40. "1991 Turf Classic Invitational Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 October 1991. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
41. Indrisano, Ron (8 October 1990). "Cacoethes captures Turf Classic with continental flair (1990 Turf Classic – race 6: held 7 October 1990)". Boston Globe. p. 57. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
42. "Yankee Affair nabs Turf Classic (1989 Turf Classic – race 8: held 8 October 1989)". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. 9 October 1989. p. 29. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
43. "Sunshine Forever stars in $600,000 Turf Classic (1988 Turf Classic – race 8: held 9 October 1988)". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. 10 October 1988. p. 35. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
44. "Relaxed Theatrical romps in Turf Classic (1987 Turf Classic – race 8: held 26 September 1987)". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. 27 September 1987. p. 24. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
45. Cornelius, Jim (21 September 1986). "Manila edges longshot in Turf Classic at Belmont (1986 Turf Classic – race 8: held 22 September 1986)". Hackensack Record. p. 40. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
46. "55-1 longshot Noble Fighter captures Turf Classic (1985 Turf Classic – race 8: held 21 September 1985)". Central New Jersey Home News. The Associated Press. 22 September 1985. p. 40. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
47. Cornelius, Jim (23 September 1984). "John Henry wins Turf Classic (1984 Turf Classic – race 8: held 22 September 1984)". Hackensack Record. p. 7. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
48. "All Along tops Turf Classic (1983 Turf Classic – race 9: held 29 October 1983)". Hackensack Record. 30 October 1983. p. 187. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
49. Whelan, Tom (24 October 1982). "April Run wins Turf Classic (1982 Turf Classic – race 8: held 23 October 1982)". White Plains Journal News. p. 50. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
50. "Firestone's April Run captures rich Turf Classic (1981 Turf Classic – race 8: held 24 October 1981)". The Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 25 October 1981. p. 18. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
51. Whelan, Tom (24 October 1980). "Anifa, 44-1, wins soggy Turf Classic (1980 Invitational Turf Classic – race 8: held 23 October 1980)". White Plains Journal News. p. 50. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
52. "Bowl Game captures 'Classic' (1979 Invitational Turf Classic – race 8: held 27 October 1979)". Central New Jersey Home News. The Associated Press. 28 October 1979. p. 50. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
53. "French filly wins Turf Classic at Belmont (1978 Turf Classic – race 8: held 21 October 1978)". White Plains Journal News. The Associated Press. 22 October 1978. p. 588. Retrieved 17 September 2020.