What is the Monmouth Cup Stakes?
The Monmouth Cup Stakes is a Grade III dirt race for horses three years old and older at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. Contested at 1 1/8 miles, the race brings established older dirt runners together during Monmouth Park's most important weekend of the summer.
The event was inaugurated at Meadowlands Racetrack in 1977 as the Meadowlands Cup. Pay Tribute won the first edition for trainer Ron McAnally and jockey Ángel Cordero Jr. The race developed into one of the leading events on the Meadowlands calendar and was elevated to Grade I status in 1983. Its distance was shortened from 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/8 miles in 1990, and the race moved to Monmouth Park and became the Monmouth Cup in 2010.
Its distinguished list of past winners includes Spectacular Bid, Wild Again, Broad Brush, Alysheba, Marquetry, Etched, Sharp Azteca and Tapit Trice. Etched and Bradester are the only two-time winners, while Todd Pletcher leads all trainers with five victories through the 2025 edition.
When is the Monmouth Cup Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Monmouth Cup Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Monmouth Park. The Grade III event will be contested over 1 1/8 miles on dirt and carries a $350,000 purse. It is part of Monmouth Park's major July 18 program, which is headed by the NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes and also includes the United Nations Stakes, Molly Pitcher Stakes and WinStar Matchmaker Stakes.
Monmouth Cup Stakes History & Notable Winners
Surface to Air captured the 2025 Monmouth Cup for trainer Panagiotis Synnefias, owner Premier Stable and jockey Samuel Marin, completing the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.29. Tapit Trice won the 2024 edition in 1:50.46 under Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable.
Proxy prevailed in 2023 for trainer Michael Stidham, Godolphin and jockey Joel Rosario, stopping the clock in 1:49.99. Highly Motivated produced the fastest winning time among the five most recent editions when he completed the 2022 race in 1:46.53 for trainer Chad Brown, Klaravich Stables and jockey Flavien Prat. Dr Post won the 2021 running in 1:47.53 under Rosario for Pletcher and St. Elias Stable.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Surface to Air | Samuel Marin | 1:49.29 |
| 2024 | Tapit Trice | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 1:50.46 |
| 2023 | Proxy | Joel Rosario | 1:49.99 |
| 2022 | Highly Motivated | Flavien Prat | 1:46.53 |
| 2021 | Dr Post | Joel Rosario | 1:47.53 |
With a history extending back to the Meadowlands era and a winner's list that includes champions and major Grade I performers, the Monmouth Cup remains an important summer test for established horses in the older dirt division.
