Travers Stakes

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The Travers Stakes, held at Saratoga Race Course near Saratoga Springs, New York, is the oldest major thoroughbred horse race in the United States.

First held in 1864, it was named for William Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association at the time whose horse Kentucky won the first running of the Stakes. Aside from 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1911, and 1912, it has been held every year since; Flower Alley won the 136th Travers on August 27, 2005.

A Grade 1 Stakes race, the field is limited to three-year-olds, Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds (57 kg), fillies carry 123 pounds (56 kg), and since 1999 the first prize has been $1,000,000. The race is the highlight of the summer race meeting at Saratoga, just as the Belmont Stakes is the highlight of the spring meeting at Belmont Park.

The Travers has been run at four different distances: