Inaugurated 2002 Surface Dirt | Website www.churchilldowns.com | |
Location Churchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing Distance Varied (Began at 7 furlongs) | ||
The Matt Winn Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid May or early June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Open to three-year-old horses, it is contested on dirt and began at a distance of six furlongs. The event currently offers a purse of $100,000 added.
In 2009 the distance was set at 7 furlongs. In 2011, it was run at one and one/sixteenth miles.
The race was inaugurated in 2002 as the Northern Dancer Stakes. Its name was changed in 2011 to honor Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs's Col. Matt Winn, who served as president and general manager of the historic track from 1902 to 1949. Known by the media as "Mr. Derby," Winn is credited with building the Kentucky Derby into America's greatest race and one of the world's great sports events.