Albany Stakes
Encyclopedia
The Albany Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race
that is the third and final leg of the "Big Apple Triple," a grouping of three races in New York
for horses bred in that state. A horse who wins all three of the Big Apple Triple wins the purse total of $400,000 plus a $250,000 bonus. The first leg is the Mike Lee Handicap
run at Belmont Park
, and the second leg is the New York Derby
at Finger Lakes
race track. The series began in 1999.
The Albany is held at the Saratoga Race Course
and is open to Thoroughbred
three-year-old horses of either gender running at a mile and one eighth on the dirt. It offers a purse of $150,000. Although it is not restricted to registered New York breds, due to the racing conditions, it still is not an open race.
Run since 1978, the Albany was held at Belmont Park in 1981, at Aqueduct Race Track in 1980, and also from 1982 to 1985.
In 2008, Tin Cup Chalice won the first Big Apple Triple by taking the Albany Stakes, the New York Derby, and the Mike Lee Handicap. In the Albany Stakes, Tin Cup Chalice went up against Big Truck
, a Kentucky Derby runner and Icabad Crane, the third place finisher in the Preakness Stakes.
Fourstardave
won this race in 1988 and Julie Krone
won it on Copper Mount in 1994.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
that is the third and final leg of the "Big Apple Triple," a grouping of three races in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
for horses bred in that state. A horse who wins all three of the Big Apple Triple wins the purse total of $400,000 plus a $250,000 bonus. The first leg is the Mike Lee Handicap
Mike Lee Handicap
The Mike Lee Handicap is the first leg of the "Big Apple Triple," a grouping of three races in New York state for New York breds. A horse who wins all three of the Big Apple Triple wins the purse total of $400,000 plus a $250,000 bonus. The second leg is the New York Derby held at Finger Lakes...
run at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
, and the second leg is the New York Derby
New York Derby
The New York Derby is the second leg of the "Big Apple Triple," a grouping of three races in New York state for New York breds. A horse who wins all three of the Big Apple Triple wins the purse total of $400,000 plus a $250,000 bonus. The first leg is the Mike Lee Handicap run at Belmont Park, and...
at Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
race track. The series began in 1999.
The Albany is held at the Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
and is open to Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
three-year-old horses of either gender running at a mile and one eighth on the dirt. It offers a purse of $150,000. Although it is not restricted to registered New York breds, due to the racing conditions, it still is not an open race.
Run since 1978, the Albany was held at Belmont Park in 1981, at Aqueduct Race Track in 1980, and also from 1982 to 1985.
In 2008, Tin Cup Chalice won the first Big Apple Triple by taking the Albany Stakes, the New York Derby, and the Mike Lee Handicap. In the Albany Stakes, Tin Cup Chalice went up against Big Truck
Big Truck (horse)
Big Truck was an American Thoroughbred Racehorse. Sired by Hook and Ladder, a grandson of Northern Dancer, out of the mare Just A Ginny, a daughter of the 1994 Kentucky Derby winner, Go for Gin....
, a Kentucky Derby runner and Icabad Crane, the third place finisher in the Preakness Stakes.
Fourstardave
Fourstardave
Fourstardave was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.Fans called him "The Sultan of Saratoga" because he'd won at least one race at Saratoga Race Course each year from 1987 to 1994. He died of a heart attack in October 2002 at the age of 17 on the Belmont Park track yet is buried in Claire Court at...
won this race in 1988 and Julie Krone
Julie Krone
Julie Krone , is a retired American jockey. In 1993, she became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she captured the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair...
won it on Copper Mount in 1994.
Past winners
- 2011 - Bigger is Bettor (Abel Lezcano) (Socialsaul, winner of the New York Derby, placed. Preachintothedevil, winner of the Mike Lee Handicap, came in third.)
- 2010 - Stormy's Majesty (Edgar Prado)
- 2009 - Fiddlers Afleet (Ramon Dominguez)
- 2008 - Tin Cup ChaliceTin Cup ChaliceTin Cup Chalice , was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, in 2008, became the first New York-bred to win New York’s “OTB Big Apple Triple" of Racing: the Mike Lee Handicap, the New York Derby, and the Albany Stakes...
(Pedro Rodriguez) - 2007 - Stunt Man (Ramon Dominguez)
- 2006 - Indian Hawke (Jose SantosJosé SantosJose Abon Santos is a retired Chilean thoroughbred jockey who has been honored by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in the United States.-Career:...
) - 2005 - Naughty New Yorker (Jean-Luc Samyn)
- 2004 - West Virginia (John Velazquez)
- 2003 - Traffic Chief (Jose Santos)
- 2002 - Private Emblem (Jerry BaileyJerry BaileyJerry D. Bailey is a retired American Hall of Fame jockey. He began his racing career in November 1974. His first mount was on a horse named Pegged Rate, who ran off the board. He notched his first career win the next day on his second career mount, Fetch, at New Mexico's Sunland Park, and has...
) - 2001 - Personal Pro (Edgar Prado)
- 2000 - Gratiaen (Edgar Prado)
- 1999 - GanderGander (horse)Gander is a thoroughbred race horse by Cormorant out of Lovely Nurse by Sawbones...
(Pat DayPat DayPatrick Alan "Pat" Day is an American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991...
)