| Grade 1 race | |
 139th Travers Stakes logo (2008) | |
| Location | Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1864 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Website | NYRA / Travers |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄4 miles (10 Furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | 3-year-olds |
| Weight | Colt/Gelding: 126 lb (57 kg) Filly: 121 lb (55 kg) |
| Purse | US$1,250,000[1] |
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is nicknamed the "Midsummer Derby"[2] and is the third-ranked race for American three-year-olds according to international classifications, behind only the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.[3] First held in 1864, it is the oldest stakes race in the United States specifically for 3-year-olds,[4] and was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers. The race was not run in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1911, and 1912. From 1943-5, it was run at Belmont Park instead of Saratoga due to the war.
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 purse was increased to $1,000,000 in 1999 and then to $1,250,000 in 2014. The purse for the 2015 renewal was increased to $1,600,000 due to the presence of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.[1]
From 2018 until 2022 the Travers Stakes was sponsored by Jim McIngvale under the name of retired stallion Runhappy.[5]
The 155th Travers Stakes will be run on Saturday, August 24, 2024.[6]
- ^ a b "Travers Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "Arrogate captures Travers Stakes, 'Mid-summer Derby,' in record time". USA Today. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "The world's top 100 races" (PDF). ifhaonline.org. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ Moore, Natalie (July 9, 2020). "It's True (We Think): The Travers Stakes Has to Be the Oldest...Something". Saratoga Living.
- ^ "Runhappy Named Title Sponsor of Travers". thoroughbreddailynews.com. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Runhappy Travers | NYRA".