The Pimlico Special is a Grade 3 American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of miles ( furlongs) held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in mid May. The race currently offers a purse of $250,000.

History

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.2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 47-52 on March 3, 2007.

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.Blood Horse: 2011 Graded Stakes: 13 Fewer Than '10

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.2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 47-52 on March 3, 2007.

The Pimlico track record for miles is held by Farma Way who ran the distance in 1:52 2/5 while capturing the 1991 Pimlico Special.

Farma Way joined Riva Ridge who set the same record for the same time and distance on dirt at Aqueduct Racetrack in 1973.

In his fourth year, the Farma Way colt won the Santa Anita Handicap and set a 1 3/16 mile track record for Pimlico Race Course in winning the 1991 Pimlico Special. His time of 1:52 2/5 also equaled the North American record for 1 3/16 miles on dirt set by Riva Ridge in 1973 at Aqueduct Racetrack. As of January 2008, their record still stands.

Records

Speed record: 1:52.55 – Farma Way (1991) (at current distance of miles; time recognised by Equibase based on hundredths)

Most wins by a horse: 2 – Challedon (1939 & 1940)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Eddie Arcaro (1939, 1943, 1946, 1948)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Ben A. Jones (1942, 1944, 1945, 1947) 4 – John M. Gaver Sr. (1943, 1949, 1950, 1953)

Most wins by an owner: 6 – Calumet Farm (1942, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1990)

Winners of the "Pimlico Special" since 1937 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade 2026Navajo Warrior5Flavien PratSaffie A. Joseph Jr.BAG Racing Stables, Miller Racing, Dr. Derek K. Paul, Mathis Stable, Paul Braverman & Timothy Pinch1:56.61$250,000III2025Awesome Aaron6John R. VelazquezNorm W. CasseTurman Racing Stable & AJ Suited Racing Stable 1:56.67$250,000III2024Pyrenees4Brian Hernandez Jr.Cherie DeVauxBlue Heaven Farm1:57.73$250,000III2023Rattle N Roll4Flavien PratKenneth G. McPeekLucky Seven Stable1:54.72$250,000III2022First Captain4Luis SaezClaude R. McGaughey IIIBobby Flay, Woodford Racing, Siena Farm, & West Point Thoroughbreds1:56.24$250,000III2021 Last Judgment5 Jose L. Ortiz Michael J. Maker Bethlehem Stables1:54.37$250,000III2020 Harpers First Ride4 Angel Cruz Claudio A. Gonzalez MCA Racing Stable LLC1:54.97$250,000III2019 Tenfold4 Ricardo Santana Steve Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds2:02.36$300,000III2018 Irish War Cry4 José Ortiz H. Graham Motion Isabelle de Tomaso1:55.51$300,000III2017 Shaman Ghost5 Javier Castellano Jimmy Jerkens Stronach Stables1:54.55$300,000III2016 Noble Bird5 Julien Leparoux Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley1:55.18$300,000III2015 Commissioner5 Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher WinStar Farm1:56.09$300,000III2014 Revolutionary4 Mike E. Smith Todd Pletcher WinStar Farm1:55.99$300,000III2013 Last Gunfighter4 Javier Castellano Chad Brown John D. Gunther1:58.50$300,000III2012 Alternation4 Luis Quinonez Donnie K. Von Hemel Pin Oak Stable1:57.60$300,000III2009–11Race not held2008 Student Council6 Shaun Bridgmohan Steve Asmussen Millennium Farms1:54.87$250,000I2007Race not held2006 Invasor4 Ramon Domínguez Kiaran McLaughlin Shadwell Stable1:54.40$500,000I2005 Eddington4 Eibar Coa Mark A. Hennig Willmott Stables1:58.05$500,000I2004 Southern Image4 Victor Espinoza Michael Machowsky Blahut Stables1:55.89$600,000I2003 Mineshaft4 Robby Albarado Neil J. Howard Farish/Webber/Elkins1:56.16$600,000I2002Race not held2001 Include4 Jerry Bailey Bud Delp Brereton C. Jones1:55.61$750,000I2000 Golden Missile5 Kent Desormeaux Joe Orseno Frank Stronach1:54.65$750,000I1999 Real Quiet4 Gary Stevens Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram1:54.31$750,000I1998 Skip Away5 Jerry Bailey Sonny Hine Carolyn Hine1:54.20$750,000I1997 Gentlemen5 Gary Stevens Richard Mandella Randall Dee Hubbard1:53.03$600,000I1996 Star Standard4 Pat Day Nick Zito William Condren1:54.40$600,000I1995 Cigar5 Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson1:53.60$600,000I1994 As Indicated4 Robbie Davis Richard Schosberg Heatherwood Farm1:55.00$600,000I1993 Devil His Due4 Herb McCauley H. Allen Jerkens Edith LiButti1:55.40$600,000I1992 Strike the Gold4 Craig Perret Nick Zito BCC Stable1:54.80$700,000I1991 Farma Way4 Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas Quarter B Farm1:52.40$750,000I1990 Criminal Type5 José A. Santos D. Wayne Lukas Calumet/J. K. Arnemann1:53.00$1,000,000I1989 Blushing John4 Ángel Cordero Jr. Richard J. Lundy Allen E. Paulson1:53.20$700,000II1988 Bet Twice4 Craig Perret Warren A. Croll Jr. Blanche P. Levy1:54.20$710,0001959–87Race not held1958 Vertex4 Sam Boulmetis Sr. Joseph F. Piarulli J. J. Brunetti/F. A. Piarulli2:00.60$60,0001957 Promised Land3 Bill Hartack Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs1:57.40$60,0001956 Summer Tan4 Dave Erb Sherrill W. Ward Mrs. J. W. Galbreath1:56.60$60,0001955 Sailor II3 Hedley Woodhouse Preston M. Burch Isabel Dodge Sloane1:57.60$66,5001954 Helioscope‡3 Sam Boulmetis Sr. Howard Hausner William G. Helis Jr.1:59.00$60,0001953 Tom Fool4 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable1:55.80$50,0001952 General Staff4 Glen Lasswell Jimmy McGee Larry MacPhail1:57.40$41,5001951 Bryan G.4 Ovie Scurlock Casey Hayes Meadow Stable1:57.40$41,5001950 One Hitter4 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable1:58.60$25,0001949 Capot4 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable1:56.80$25,0001948 †Citation 3Eddie Arcaro Horace A. JonesCalumet Farm1:59.80$25,0001947 Fervent3 Albert Snider Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1:58.40$41,5001946 Assault3Eddie Arcaro Max HirschKing Ranch1:57.00$41,5001945 Armed4Douglas Dodson Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1:58.80$41,5001944 Twilight Tear3Douglas Dodson Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm1:56.60$41,5001943 Shut Out4Eddie Arcaro John M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable2:00.20$41,5001942 †Whirlaway 4 George Woolf Ben A. JonesCalumet Farm2:00.40$16,5001941 Market Wise3Wendell Eads George W. CarrollLouis Tufano1:58.80$16,5001940 Challedon4George Woolf Don CameronBranncastle Farm2:03.20$16,5001939 Challedon3Eddie Arcaro Louis SchaeferBranncastle Farm1:59.00$16,5001938 Seabiscuit5George Woolf Tom SmithCharles S. Howard1:56.60$25,0001937 War Admiral‡3Charley KurtsingerGeorge ConwayGlen Riddle Farm1:58.80$10,000

Notes: ‡ For 3-yr-olds in 1937 and 1954 † Won by Walkovers in 1942 and 1948

See also Pimlico Special "top three finishers" and starters Preakness Stakes Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Pimlico Race Course List of graded stakes at Pimlico Race Course

References

Official website for the Pimlico Special The Pimlico Special at Pedigree Query War Admiral Wins the First Pimlico Special, 1937