Modesty Stakes
{{Infobox horseraces
| surface = Turf
| class = Grade III
| horse race = Modesty Stakes
| image =
| caption =
| location = Churchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
| inaugurated = 1942 (at Washington Park Race Track, Homewood, Illinois)
| race type = Thoroughbred – Flat racing
| website =
| distance = {{frac|1|1|8}} miles
| track = Left-handed
| qualification = Fillies & Mares, 4-years-old & up
| weight = 123 lbs with allowances
| purse = $250,000 (2022)
| bonuses =
}}
The Modesty Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
A Grade III race contested over a distance of {{frac|1|1|8}} miles on turf, it is open to fillies and mares aged four and older. Run in May during on Kentucky Oaks day, the event currently offers a purse of $250,000.{{cite web|title=Modesty Handicap|url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Stakes&stkid=1552|website=Equibase|accessdate=9 July 2016}}
Inaugurated in 1942 at the old Washington Park Race Track as a race for three-year-old fillies, the following year it was made open to both fillies and older mares. Until 1951, it was run as the Modesty Stakes. It was raced on dirt from 1942 through 1955, 1958 through 1965, and again in 1996.
It has been run at various distances:
- 1 mile : 1942, 1944–1946, 1952, 1966
- 3/4 mile (6 furlongs) : 1947–1951, 1953–1954, 1958–1962
- 7/8 mile (7 furlongs) : 1943, 1963–1965
- {{frac|1|1|16}} miles (8.5 furlongs) : 1955–1957, 1967–1968,1986
- {{frac|1|1|8}} miles (9 furlongs) : 1987
- {{frac|1|3|16}} miles (9.5 furlongs) : 1980–1985, 1989–present
The race was hosted by Washington Park Race Track from 1942 through 1945 and from 1968 through 1961. Hawthorne Race Course hosted it in 1985. The race was named in honor of Modesty, a filly owned by Edward Corrigan who beat her male counterparts to win the 1884 inaugural running of the American Derby at Washington Park Race Track under African-American U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey, Isaac Burns Murphy.
In 1966, the Modesty Handicap was run in two divisions. There was no race from 1969 through 1979 inclusive, nor in 1988, 1995, 1998 and 1999.
In 2022, the event was moved to Churchill Downs after the closure of Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois.{{cite web|url=https://www.churchilldowns.com/uploads/horsemen-files/stakes-schedules/Spring%20Stakes%20Schedule.pdf|title=Churchill Downs Stakes Schedule|website=churchilldowns.com|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180707144319/https://www.churchilldowns.com/uploads/horsemen-files/stakes-schedules/Spring%20Stakes%20Schedule.pdf|archive-date=July 7, 2018|access-date=December 19, 2023}}
Records
Speed record: (at current distance of {{frac|1|1|8}} miles)
- 1:47.46 – Didia (2023)
Most wins:
- 2 – Sickle's Image (1951, 1954)
- 2 – Indian Maid (1960, 1961)
- 2 – Gaily Gaily (1989, 1990)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 – Calumet Farm (1948, 1952, 1959)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 – René Douglas (2002, 2003, 2008)
- 3 – Earlie Fires (1982, 1986, 1993)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 – Harry Trotsek (1953, 1956, 1958)
- 3 – William I. Mott (1989, 1990, 2005)
Winners
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%" | ||||||
| width="38px" | Year ! width="140px" | Winner ! Age ! width="150px" | Jockey ! width="150px" | Trainer ! width="190px" | Owner ! width="55px" |Distance ! Time | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024
|Fast as Flight |6 |Martin Drexler |TEC Racing |align=center|1-1/8 |1:50.63 | ||||||
| 2023
|Didia |5 |Vincent Cheminaud |Ignacio Correas IV |Merriebelle Stables |align=center|1-1/8 |1:47.46 | ||||||
| 2022
|Bleeker Street |4 |align=center|1-1/8 |1:50.10 | ||||||
| 2021
|Naval Laughter |4 |Sophie Doyle |Christopher Davis |Two Hearts Farm, LLC |align=center|1-3/16 |1:54.58 | ||||||
| bgcolor="#eeeeee"
| data-sort-value="2020" | | no race 2020 {{efn|The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States{{cite web |title= Churchill Downs reschedules |url= https://www.wlky.com/amp/article/kentucky-derby-to-be-postponed-until-september-amid-covid-19-concerns-festival-thunder/31680899 |website=WLKY|date=17 Mar 2020}}}} | ||||||
| 2019
|Juliet Foxtrot |4 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:54.00 | ||||||
| 2018
|Daddys Lil Darling |4 |Normandy Farm |align=center|1-3/16 |1:53.80 | ||||||
| 2017
|Dona Bruja |5 |Declan Cannon |Ignacio Correas IV |Dom Felipe |align=center|1-3/16 |1:55.75 | ||||||
| 2016
|Faufiler |5 |Jose Valdivia Jr. |align=center|1-3/16 |1:56.12 | ||||||
| 2015
|Walk Close |4 |Highland Yard |align=center|1-3/16 |1:57.08 | ||||||
| 2014
|I'm Already Sexy |4 |Hit The Board Stables |align=center|1-3/16 |1:57.56 | ||||||
| 2013
|Ausus |4 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:53.94 | ||||||
| 2012
|Romacaca |6 |Frank Carl Calabrese |align=center|1-3/16 |1:56.67 | ||||||
| 2011
|Fantasia |6 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:53.80 | ||||||
| 2010
|5 |William de Burgh |align=center|1-3/16 |1:55.11 | ||||||
| 2009
|4 |Lewis Lakin |align=center|1-3/16 |1:55.27 | ||||||
| 2008
|Communique |4 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:58.89 | ||||||
| 2007
|Bridge Game |4 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:54.62 | ||||||
| 2006
|Chic Dancer |5 |S.D. Brilie Ltd. Partnership |align=center|1-3/16 |1:57.48 | ||||||
| 2005
|Noisettes |5 |Haras Santa Maria Aras S.A. |align=center|1-3/16 |1:57.30 | ||||||
| 2004
|Bedanken |5 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:57.00 | ||||||
| 2003
|Owsley |5 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:55.06 | ||||||
| 2002
|England's Legend |5 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:55.69 | ||||||
| 2001
|Ioya Two |6 |Team Block |align=center|1-3/16 |1:55.47 | ||||||
| 2000
|Wade For Me |5 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:57.06 | ||||||
| bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|1999 | no race | | | |||||
| bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|1998 | no race | | | |||||
| 1997
|War Thief |5 |Lane Thoroughbreds |align=center|1-3/16 |1:57.47 | ||||||
| 1996
|4 |B. & J. Smicklas |align=center|1-3/16 |1:58.24 | ||||||
| bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|1995 | no race | | | |||||
| 1994
|Assert Oneself |4 |Three Sisters Stable |align=center|1-3/16 |1:56.01 | ||||||
| 1993
|Hero's Love |5 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:55.31 | ||||||
| 1992
|Tango Charlie |3 |T. Canonie Jr. |align=center|1-3/16 |1:58.79 | ||||||
| 1991
|Lady Shirl |4 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:56.53 | ||||||
| 1990
|Gaily Gaily |7 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:55.40 | ||||||
| 1989
|Gaily Gaily |6 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:58.20 | ||||||
| bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|1988 | no race | | | |||||
| 1987
|Spruce Luck |6 |Doug Tribert |C. Kenimer |align=center|1-1/8 |1:51.60 | ||||||
| 1986
|Zenobia Empress |5 |R. Fortune Jr. |align=center|1-1/16 |1:44.00 | ||||||
| 1985
|Kapalua Butterfly |4 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:55.00 | ||||||
| 1984
|Jay's Sue |5 |C. P. Blake |align=center|1-3/16 |2:01.20 | ||||||
| 1983
|Dana Calqui |5 |Dogwood Farm |align=center|1-3/16 |2:01.40 | ||||||
| 1982
|Office Wife |5 |align=center|1-3/16 |1:58.20 | ||||||
| 1981
|Innocent Victim |3 |Friedman & P. Teinowitz |align=center|1-3/16 |1:59.00 | ||||||
| 1980
|Allison's Gal |4 |Adrienne Krumhorn |align=center|1-3/16 |2:01.20 | ||||||
| 1968
|Ludham |4 |Happy Hill Farm |align=center|1-1/16 |1:44.40 | ||||||
| 1967
|Amerivan |5 |William S. Woodside |align=center|1-1/16 |1:46.20 | ||||||
| 1966
|Margarethen |4 |Ernest H. Woods |align=center|1 |1:37.40 | ||||||
| 1966
|Treasure Chest |3 |David Shaer |align=center|1 |1:37.20 | ||||||
| 1965
|Isaduchess |4 |align=center|7/8 |1:23.20 | ||||||
| 1964
|Alecee |5 |Forest H. Lindsay |align=center|7/8 |1:23.00 | ||||||
| 1963
|Hushaby |4 |align=center|7/8 |1:23.00 | ||||||
| 1962
|Goldflower |4 |align=center|3/4 |1:10.40 | ||||||
| 1961
|5 |align=center|3/4 |1:09.80 | ||||||
| 1960
|4 |align=center|3/4 |1:09.60 | ||||||
| 1959
|A. Glitter |4 |align=center|3/4 |1:10.00 | ||||||
| 1958
|Melody Mine |3 |align=center|3/4 |1:10.80 | ||||||
| 1957
|Grecian Ayr |4 |Larry Gilligan |Jimmy Wallace |Agoura Stock Farm |align=center|1-1/16 |1:43.60 | ||||||
| 1956
|Queen Hopeful |5 |align=center|1-1/16 |1:44.80 | ||||||
| 1955
|Insouciant |3 |Dr. Eslie Asbury |align=center|1-1/16 |1:43.40 | ||||||
| 1954
|Sickle's Image |6 |align=center|3/4 |1:10.00 | ||||||
| 1953
|Bella Figura |4 |Don Wagner |align=center|3/4 |1:10.20 | ||||||
| 1952
|3 |align=center|1 |1:35.60 | ||||||
| 1951
|Sickle's Image |3 |Charles Swain |align=center|3/4 |1:10.80 | ||||||
| 1950
|Myrtle Charm |4 |Glen Lasswell |align=center|3/4 |1:10.00 | ||||||
| 1949
|No Strings |3 |Mrs. John Marsch |align=center|3/4 |1:10.00 | ||||||
| 1948
|3 |align=center|3/4 |1:10.20 | ||||||
| 1947
|Sea Snack |4 |Manuel N. Gonzalez |align=center|3/4 |1:11.60 | ||||||
| 1946
|Athene |3 |align=center|1 |1:36.00 | ||||||
| 1945
|War Date |3 |align=center|1 |1:38.80 | ||||||
| 1944
|Gold Princess |5 |align=center|1 |1:39.40 | ||||||
| 1943
|Burgoo Maid |3 |George Burns |Ruth Sidell |align=center|7/8 |1:27.40 | ||||||
| 1942
|Lotopoise |3 |align=center|1 |1:37.80 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
- [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=1820 The Modesty Handicap at Pedigree Query]
Category:Graded stakes races in the United States
Category:1942 establishments in Illinois
Category:Turf races in the United States
Category:Middle distance horse races for fillies and mares
Category:Horse races established in 1942
Category:Horse races in Illinois