Clark Stakes


The Clark Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Among the oldest races in the United States, it was first run in 1875, the year the racetrack opened for business. Currently a Grade II event, it is open to horses age three and older and is contested on dirt over a distance of miles. It was known as the Clark Handicap through 2018 before the race conditions were changed to set weights and allowances in 2019.
The race is named in honor of Colonel M. Lewis Clark, founder of the Louisville Jockey Club which built Churchill Downs.
Through 1901, it was restricted to three-year-old horses.
Since inception, the Clark Handicap has been run at various distances:
  • 2 miles : 1875–1880
  • miles : 1881–1895
  • miles : 1896–1901, 1922–1924, 1955–present
  • miles : 1902–1921, 1925–1954
The race was run in two divisions in 1953.

Records

Speed record:
Most wins
  • 2 – Hodge
  • 2 – Bold Favorite
  • 2 – Bob's Dusty
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a trainer
Most Wins by an owner
  • 3 – Robert N. Lehmann

    Winners

† In 2003, Evening Attire won the race but was disqualified for interference in the stretch and set back to second.
‡ In 2010, Successful Dan won the race but was disqualified and placed third for interference.