The Pimlico Special was first run in 1937 and was won by that year's U.S. Triple Crown winner War Admiral who went on to be voted the American Horse of the Year . In 1938, the Pimlico Special was host to one of American racing's most historic moments when Seabiscuit defeated War Admiral in a much anticipated match race . That race was covered by almost every major newspaper, magazine and radio station of the time.[2]
Discontinued after 1958, the race was revived as a handicap event in 1988 and made a graded stakes race one year later in 1989. The race was not eligible for grading in 2011 because it had not been run the previous two years.[3]
Eighteen Pimlico Special winners have gone on to win a Championship for Horse of the Year or an Eclipse Award as the best horse in their divisions. The latest was Invasor in 2006; others include Mineshaft , Real Quiet , Skip Away , Cigar , Criminal Type , Blushing John , Tom Fool , Capot , Citation , Assault , Armed , Twilight Tear , Whirlaway , Market Wise , Challedon , Seabiscuit and War Admiral .[4]
The Pimlico track record for 1+ 3 ⁄16 miles is held by Farma Way who ran the distance in 1:52 2/5 while capturing the 1991 Pimlico Special.
Speed record:
1:52.55 – Farma Way (1991) (at current distance of 1+ 3 ⁄16 miles; time recognised by Equibase based on hundredths) Most wins by a horse:
Most wins by a jockey :
Most wins by a trainer :
Most wins by an owner:
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Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade 2022 First Captain 4 Luis Saez Claude R. McGaughey III Bobby Flay , Woodford Racing, Siena Farm, & West Point Thoroughbreds1+ 3 ⁄16 1:56.24 $250,000 III 2021 Last Judgment 5 Jose L. Ortiz Michael J. Maker Bethlehem Stables 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:54.37 $250,000 III 2020 Harpers First Ride 4 Angel Cruz Claudio A. Gonzalez MCA Racing Stable LLC 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:54.97 $250,000 III 2019 Tenfold 4 Ricardo Santana Steve Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds 1+ 1 ⁄4 2:02.36 $300,000 III 2018 Irish War Cry 4 José Ortiz H. Graham Motion Isabelle de Tomaso 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:55.51 $300,000 III 2017 Shaman Ghost 5 Javier Castellano Jimmy Jerkens Stronach Stables 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:54.55 $300,000 III 2016 Noble Bird 5 Julien Leparoux Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:55.18 $300,000 III 2015 Commissioner 5 Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher WinStar Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:56.09 $300,000 III 2014 Revolutionary 4 Mike E. Smith Todd Pletcher WinStar Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:55.99 $300,000 III 2013 Last Gunfighter 4 Javier Castellano Chad Brown John D. Gunther 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:58.50 $300,000 III 2012 Alternation 4 Luis Quinonez Donnie K. Von Hemel Pin Oak Stable 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:57.60 $300,000 III 2009–11 Race not held 2008 Student Council 6 Shaun Bridgmohan Steve Asmussen Millennium Farms 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:54.87 $250,000 I 2007 Race not held 2006 Invasor 4 Ramon Domínguez Kiaran McLaughlin Shadwell Stable 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:54.40 $500,000 I 2005 Eddington 4 Eibar Coa Mark A. Hennig Willmott Stables 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:58.05 $500,000 I 2004 Southern Image 4 Victor Espinoza Michael Machowsky Blahut Stables 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:55.89 $600,000 I 2003 Mineshaft 4 Robby Albarado Neil J. Howard Farish /Webber/Elkins1+ 3 ⁄16 1:56.16 $600,000 I 2002 Race not held 2001 Include 4 Jerry Bailey Bud Delp Brereton C. Jones 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:55.61 $750,000 I 2000 Golden Missile 5 Kent Desormeaux Joe Orseno Frank Stronach 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:54.65 $750,000 I 1999 Real Quiet 4 Gary Stevens Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:54.31 $750,000 I 1998 Skip Away 5 Jerry Bailey Sonny Hine Carolyn Hine 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:54.20 $750,000 I 1997 Gentlemen 5 Gary Stevens Richard Mandella Randall Dee Hubbard 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:53.03 $600,000 I 1996 Star Standard 4 Pat Day Nick Zito William Condren 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:54.40 $600,000 I 1995 Cigar 5 Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:53.60 $600,000 I 1994 As Indicated 4 Robbie Davis Richard Schosberg Heatherwood Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:55.00 $600,000 I 1993 Devil His Due 4 Herb McCauley H. Allen Jerkens Edith LiButti 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:55.40 $600,000 I 1992 Strike the Gold 4 Craig Perret Nick Zito BCC Stable 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:54.80 $700,000 I 1991 Farma Way 4 Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Quarter B Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:52.40 $750,000 I 1990 Criminal Type 5 José A. Santos D. Wayne Lukas Calumet /J. K. Arnemann1+ 3 ⁄16 1:53.00 $1,000,000 I 1989 Blushing John 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. Richard J. Lundy Allen E. Paulson 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:53.20 $700,000 II 1988 Bet Twice 4 Craig Perret Warren A. Croll Jr. Blanche P. Levy 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:54.20 $710,000 1959–87 Race not held 1958 Vertex 4 Sam Boulmetis Sr. Joseph F. Piarulli J. J. Brunetti/F. A. Piarulli 1+ 3 ⁄16 2:00.60 $60,000 1957 Promised Land 3 Bill Hartack Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:57.40 $60,000 1956 Summer Tan 4 Dave Erb Sherrill W. Ward Mrs. J. W. Galbreath 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:56.60 $60,000 1955 Sailor II 3 Hedley Woodhouse Preston M. Burch Isabel Dodge Sloane 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:57.60 $66,500 1954 Helioscope ‡3 Sam Boulmetis Sr. Howard Hausner William G. Helis Jr. 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:59.00 $60,000 1953 Tom Fool 4 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:55.80 $50,000 1952 General Staff 4 Glen Lasswell Jimmy McGee Larry MacPhail 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:57.40 $41,500 1951 Bryan G. 4 Ovie Scurlock Casey Hayes Meadow Stable 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:57.40 $41,500 1950 One Hitter 4 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:58.60 $25,000 1949 Capot 4 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:56.80 $25,000 1948 †Citation 3 Eddie Arcaro Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:59.80 $25,000 1947 Fervent 3 Albert Snider Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:58.40 $41,500 1946 Assault 3 Eddie Arcaro Max Hirsch King Ranch 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:57.00 $41,500 1945 Armed 4 Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:58.80 $41,500 1944 Twilight Tear 3 Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:56.60 $41,500 1943 Shut Out 4 Eddie Arcaro John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1+ 3 ⁄16 2:00.20 $41,500 1942 †Whirlaway 4 George Woolf Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 2:00.40 $16,500 1941 Market Wise 3 Wendell Eads George W. Carroll Louis Tufano 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:58.80 $16,500 1940 Challedon 4 George Woolf Don Cameron Branncastle Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 2:03.20 $16,500 1939 Challedon 3 Eddie Arcaro Louis Schaefer Branncastle Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:59.00 $16,500 1938 Seabiscuit 5 George Woolf Tom Smith Charles S. Howard 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:56.60 $25,000 1937 War Admiral ‡3 Charley Kurtsinger George Conway Glen Riddle Farm 1+ 3 ⁄16 1:58.80 $10,000
Notes:
‡ For 3-yr-olds in 1937 and 1954 † Won by Walkovers in 1942 and 1948 