Athenia Stakes

The Athenia Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to fillies and mares, age three and older, it is contested on turf at a distance of a mile and a sixteenth (8.5 furlongs).

The Athenia Stakes is named in honor of Hal Price Headley's filly who won the 1946 Ladies Handicap.

Historical notes

From its inception in 1978 through 1982, the Athenia was restricted to three-year-old fillies.

The race was hosted by Aqueduct Racetrack in 1982, 1998–2000 and 2002-2004.

It was run on dirt in 1979 and again in 1990 and was raced in two divisions in 1982 and 2001.

Since inception it has been contested at various distances:

•  1 ¹⁄₄ miles : 1978-1981
•  1 ³⁄₈ miles : 1982-1993
• 1 mile : 1996
•  1 ¹⁄₈ miles : 1997
•  1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles : 1998–present

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of  1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles)

• 1:39.94 - Pianist (2013)

Most wins:

• 2 - Babae (2001, 2002)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Rokeby Stables (1983, 1988)
• 2 - Harbor View Farm (1994, 1995)
• 2 - Joseph Platt, Jr. (2001, 2002)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 6 - Jorge F. Chavez (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 - Christophe Clement (1993, 2009, 2011, 2015)
• 3 - Woody Stephens (1978, 1979, 1981)
• 3 - H. Allen Jerkens (1994, 1995, 2005)

Winners

References

• The 2009 Athenia Stakes at the NTRA