The Jerome Stakes is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run each spring at one mile on the dirt at Aqueduct Racetrack. It is open to three-year-olds and carries a purse of $200,000.
The Jerome is the second oldest stakes race in the country and in 2012 will be in its 142nd running. Named after Leonard W. Jerome, the founder of the old Jerome Park Racetrack in The Bronx, a predecessor to Belmont Park...Mr. Jerome was the grandfather of The Right Honourable Sir Winston Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, etc.
On September 3, 1960, the great Kelso was ridden for the first time by Eddie Arcaro. In 1875, Aristides, the winner of the inaugural Kentucky Derby, won this race. In 1878, Duke of Magenta came home first. It's also been won by Fair Play in 1908, Bold Ruler in 1957, Carry Back in 1961, and Richter Scale in 1997.
Fitz Herbert, trained by the great Sam Hildreth, won this race on his way to the title of Horse of the Year in 1909 and in 1910.
The Jerome was first run at Jerome Park from 1866-1889, then at Morris Park Racecourse until 1905, at Belmont Park from 1906-1959 and 1968-2009, and also at Aqueduct Racetrack in 1960, from 1962-1967 and in 2011. There was no race run from 1910 to 1913 and there were two divisions from 1866 to 1870. Since inception it has been contested at a variety of distances:
- 2 miles :1871–1877
- 1¾ miles : 1878–1889
- 1 5/16 miles : 1890–1891, 1903
- 1½ miles : 1892
- 1¼ miles : 1893–1894, 1896–1909
- 1 mile, 1 furlong : 1895
In 1905, Bedouin set a new world record of 2:10.60 for a mile and five sixteenths on dirt in winning the Jerome Handicap at Belmont Park.
Famous quotes containing the words jerome and/or stakes:
“I attribute the quarrelsome nature of the Middle Ages young men entirely to the want of the soothing weed.”
—Jerome K. Jerome (1859–1927)
“This man was very clever and quick to learn anything in his line. Our tent was of a kind new to him; but when he had once seen it pitched, it was surprising how quickly he would find and prepare the pole and forked stakes to pitch it with, cutting and placing them right the first time, though I am sure that the majority of white men would have blundered several times.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)