Since the first running of the Gotham Stakes (G3) in 1953, first at Jamaica Racetrack and now at Aqueduct, a lot of really good horses have reached the winner’s circle after capturing the traditional Kentucky Derby prep, including Native Dancer, Jaipur, Dr. Fager, Gone West, Devil HIs Due and Lure. Perhaps the most notable Gotham winner, however, is Triple Crown hero Secretariat, who won the Gotham in 1973 on his way to earning his spot as racing’s immortal gold standard of excellence.
The origin for the race’s name is simple, it comes from one of New York City’s most popular nicknames, Gotham City. The word ”Gotham” was originally used in England and translated in Old English literally means “homestead where goats are kept.” It was first used as a nickname for New York City, first by Washington Irving in his Salmagundi Papers, a satirical periodical, in 1807.
Each year the Gotham is considered by many to be a main stop on the Triple Crown Trail despite the fact that in all the years it’s been contested it’s only produced a single Derby winner and just one other runner, Easy Goer, to have any impact on the celebrated three-race series for 3-year-old colts. It is, however, the main prep for the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) in a month, a race also with a storied history but a lower-
than-average impact on the Derby aside from a significant number of winners making the gate for the Run for the Roses.
Regardless of its record in producing Derby winners, 50 valuable “Road to the Derby” points are up for grabs for the win, plus 20-10-5 through a fourth-place finish.
Six jockeys are tied for the most wins in the Gotham – Jose Lezcano, Mike Smith, Richard Migliore, Jacinto Vazquez, Jorge Velasquez and Angel Cordero Jr. with three a piece. Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has saddled three winners as well, including Easy Goer in 1989. Easy Goer set the stakes and track record of 1:32 2/5 when it was contested at a mile, but the race has also been contested at 1 1/16 miles and a mile and 70 yards. This year the race will be contested at a mile once again.
Once again, the Gotham carries a purse of $300,000 and has been carded as the day’s 10th race with a post time of 5:36 p.m. ET.
The Saturday afternoon weather in New York is expected to be cloudy and chilly with a peak high in the mid-50s with a better than 50 percent chance for rain.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
