Inaugurated 1919 | Surface Dirt | |
Location Pimlico Race Course,
Baltimore, Maryland
United States Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing Website www.preakness.com/peoples-pink-party Distance 1 ⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) | ||
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is open to three-year-old fillies willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $250,000. The Black-Eyed Susan was given graded stakes race status in 1973 as a Grade II event and has been ever since.
Contents
History
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes was first run in 1919 as the Pimlico Oaks; in 1952, the name was changed to its present style to complement the Preakness Stakes and to acknowledge the Maryland State flower. The inaugural edition was won by Milkmaid who went on to earn United States Champion 3-Yr-Old Filly honors. Milkmaid's owner J. K. L. Ross had a very good 1919 racing campaign, also winning the first U.S. Triple Crown with the colt Sir Barton.
In its 93rd running in 2017, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is one of three races that are the de facto distaff counterparts to the Triple Crown races, along with the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park. These races have been unofficially referred to as the "Filly Triple Crown." Three races run at Belmont and Saratoga Race Course in New York are also called the Triple Tiara to avoid trademark conflicts. However, consideration has been given within the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the sport's governing body in the United States, to change the Triple Tiara series to the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the Mother Goose Stakes.
Twenty-three fillies that won The Black-Eyed Susan went on to be named a Champion according to the Maryland Jockey Club, those fillies include; Royal Delta, Silverbulletday, Serena's Song, Family Style, Davona Dale, What a Summer, My Juliet, Office Queen, Process Shot, Airmans Guide, High Voltage, Real Delight, Wistful III, But Why Not, Gallorette, Twilight Tear, Vagrancy, Fairy Chant, Nellie Morse, Maid at Arms, Careful, Cleopatra and Milkmaid.
Davona Dale is the only filly to win the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes, and Coaching Club American Oaks. Nellie Morse is the only winner to also win the Preakness Stakes.
The Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, and the Acorn Stakes are the counterparts to the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, held at Churchill Downs, Pimlico Race Course and Belmont Park, respectively. The "Filly Triple Crown", known as the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, is a series of three races at the Belmont Park. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has considered changing the Triple Tiara series.
Records
Speed record:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Winners of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes since 1919
The 16 fillies whose name appear in Bold were named either (14) American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly or
(8) American Champion Older Female Horse and in (6) cases they were named Champion in both divisions.
Special Bonus
Paths to the $2,200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Bonus
- win Forward Gal Stakes + win Davona Dale Stakes + win Gulfstream Park Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
- win Las Virgenes Stakes + win Santa Anita Oaks + win Gulfstream Park Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
- win California Oaks + win Santa Anita Oaks + win Gulfstream Park Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
- win Portland Meadows Oaks + win Santa Anita Oaks + win Gulfstream Park Oaks + win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes