The Damon Runyon Stakes is an Ungraded American Thoroughbred turf race for two-year-old horses run at Aqueduct Race Track in December each year.
In its 40th running in 2017, this race is essentially restricted to New York-breds, and is set at one mile and 70 yards (8.32) and currently offers a purse of $100,000. It was run at seven furlongs from 1979 to 1982, and in 1987 and 1988, at one mile (8 furlongs) from 1983 to 1986, and from 1989 to 1993. From 1994 to 2007 its length was 8 1/2 furlongs. From 2007 to 2014 it has been run at 8.32 furlongs except in 2013 when it was once again run at 8 furlongs.
The Damon Runyon was raced at Belmont Park in 1979, 1983, and 1984.
The race is named for Damon Runyon, a famous sports reporter and short story writer who created a Broadway all his own during the Twenties and Thirties. From these stories came the musical Guys and Dolls. Runyon loved horse racing and campaigned a small string of his own horses.