The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. It is run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt. The Wood Memorial has been run as a Grade II event since 2017. It was a Grade I race from 1974 (when grading was first introduced) to 1994 and again from 2002 to 2016.
The Wood Memorial is one of the major prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Between 1930 and 2000, eleven winners of the Wood Memorial went on to win the Kentucky Derby (Gallant Fox, Twenty Grand, Johnstown, Count Fleet, Hoop Jr., Assault, Foolish Pleasure, Bold Forbes, Seattle Slew, Pleasant Colony and Fusaichi Pegasus). Four of them also won the Triple Crown. The most famous loser in the Wood Memorial was Secretariat, who finished third in 1973.
The winner of the Wood Memorial has not won the Kentucky Derby since 2000, in part because several became injured in the weeks between the two races. For example, Toby's Corner missed the Derby with lameness in his left hind leg (2011), Eskendereya with a soft tissue injury in his left front leg (2010), I Want Revenge with a ligament injury to his right front ankle (2009) and Buddha with separation of the hoof wall from the laminae of his left front leg (2002). In 2025, both the winner Rodriguez and runner-up Grande were scratched from the Kentucky Derby with foot bruises.
The race was named to honor Eugene D. Wood, a New York State politician and horse racing enthusiast who had been a founder and past president of the old Jamaica Race Course where the race was run until 1960.
From 1925 to 1939, the Wood Memorial was run over a distance of one mile and seventy yards, then at miles from 1940 to 1951, after which it was changed to its present miles. All entrants currently carry a weight of 123 lb.
The race was run in two divisions in 1944, 1945, 1947, 1974, and 1983.
Records In 2005, Bellamy Road set a new stakes record of 1:47.16 at the mile distance in winning by lengths for his owner, George Steinbrenner.
Most wins by a jockey: 9 – Eddie Arcaro (1944, 1945, 1947 (2), 1949, 1950, 1956, 1957, 1958)
Most wins by a trainer: 8 – "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons (1928, 1930, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1955, 1957)
Most wins by an owner: 4 – Greentree Stable (1927, 1931, 1944, 1963) 4 – Wheatley Stable (1928, 1936, 1937, 1957) 4 – Belair Stable (1930, 1938, 1939, 1955) 4 – Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney (1935, 1945, 1947, 1956)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$ Gr.2026 Albus Jamie Torres Riley Mott Pin Oak Stud LLC.1 m 1:51.71$400,000G22025RodriguezMike E. SmithBob BaffertSF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital & Catherine Donovan1 m1:48.15$400,000G22024ResilienceJohn R. VelazquezWilliam I. MottEmily Bushnell & Ric Waldman1 m1:50.28$400,000G22023Lord MilesPaco LopezSaffie A. Joseph Jr.Vegso Racing Stable1 m1:51.17$400,000G22022Mo DonegalJoel RosarioTodd A. PletcherDonegal Racing 1 m1:47.96$400,000G22021BourbonicKendrick CarmoucheTodd A. PletcherCalumet Farm1 m1:54.49$400,000 G22020 No Race2019TacitusJosé OrtizWilliam I. MottJuddmonte Farms Inc.1 m1:51.23$400,000 G22018Vino RossoJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable & St. Elias Stable1 m1:49.79$535,000 G22017Irish War CryRajiv MaraghH. Graham MotionIsabelle de Tomaso1 m1:50.91$400,000 G22016OutworkJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable1 m1:52.92$590,000 G12015FrostedJoel RosarioKiaran McLaughlin Godolphin Racing1 m1:50.31$590,000 G12014Wicked StrongRajiv MaraghJames Jerkens Centennial Farms1 m1:49.31$590,000 G12013VerrazanoJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher Let's Go Stables1 m1:50.27$600,000 G12012GemologistJavier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm1 m1:50.96$600,000 G12011Toby's CornerEddie CastroH. Graham MotionDianne Cotter1 m1:49.93$600,000 G12010EskendereyaJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherZayat Stables1 m1:49.97$450,000 G12009I Want RevengeJoseph TalamoJeff MullinsDavid J. Lanzman & IEAH Stables1 m1:49.49$450,000 G12008Tale of EkatiEdgar PradoBarclay TaggCharles E. Fipke1 m1:52.35$450,000 G12007Nobiz Like ShobizCornelio VelásquezBarclay TaggElizabeth J. Valando1 m1:49.46$450,000 G12006 Bob and JohnGarrett GomezBob BaffertStonerside Stable1 m1:51.54$450,000 G12005 Bellamy RoadJavier CastellanoNick ZitoKinsman Stable1 m1:47.16$450,000 G12004 TapitRamon A. DominguezMichael W. DickinsonRonald Winchell1 m1:49.60$450,000 G12003 Empire MakerJerry BaileyRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1 m1:48.60$450,000 G12002 BuddhaPat DayH. James BondGary & Mary West1 m1:48.60$450,000 G12001 CongareeVictor EspinozaBob BaffertStonerside Stable1 m1:47.80$450,000 G22000 Fusaichi PegasusKent DesormeauxNeil D. DrysdaleFusao Sekiguchi1 m1:47.80$450,000 G21999 AdonisJorge ChavezNick ZitoParaneck Stable1 m1:47.60$360,000 G21998 Coronado's QuestRobbie DavisClaude R. McGaughey IIIStuart S. Janney III1 m1:47.40$300,000 G21997 Captain BodgitAlex SolisGary CapuanoTeam Valor1 m1:48.20$300,000 G21996 Unbridled's SongMike E. SmithJames T. RyersonParaneck Stable1 m1:49.80$300,000 G21995 Talkin ManShane SellersRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms1 m1:49.20$300,000 G21994 IrgunGary StevensSteven W. YoungBrandon & Marianne Chase1 m1:49.00$300,000 G11993 Storm TowerRick WilsonBenjamin W. Perkins Jr.Char-Mari Stable1 m1:48.40$300,000 G11992 Devil His DueMike E. SmithH. Allen JerkensLion Crest Stable1 m1:49.20$300,000 G11991 Cahill RoadCraig PerretScotty SchulhoferFrances A. Genter1 m1:48.40$300,000 G11990 Thirty Six RedMike E. SmithNick ZitoB. Giles Brophy1 m1:50.40$362,400 G11989 Easy GoerPat DayClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1 m1:50.60$340,800 G11988 Private TermsChris AntleyCharles HadryLocust Hill Farm1 m1:47.20$359,400 G11987 GulchJosé A. SantosLeRoy JolleyPeter M. Brant1 m1:49.00$354,300 G11986 Broad BrushVincent Bracciale Jr.Richard W. SmallRobert E. Meyerhoff1 m1:50.60$178,500 G11985 Eternal PrinceRichard MiglioreJohn J. Lenzini Jr.Brian J. Hurst1 m1:48.80$177,900 G11984Leroy S.Jean CruguetJan NerudJohn A. Nerud1 m1:51.40$180,000 G11983-2 Bounding BasqueGregg McCarronWoody SedlacekJacques Wimpfheimer1 m1:51.00$100,980G11983-1Slew o' GoldEddie MapleSidney Watters Jr.Equusequity Stable1 m1:51.40$101,700G11982Air Forbes WonÁngel Cordero Jr.Frank LaBoccettaEdward Anchel1 m1:51.00$105,120 G11981 Pleasant ColonyJeffrey FellJohn P. CampoBuckland Farm1 m1:49.60$98,280 G11980 Plugged NickleBuck ThornburgThomas J. KellyJohn M. Schiff1 m1:50.80$87,300 G11979 Instrument LandingÁngel Cordero Jr.David A. WhiteleyPen-Y-Bryn Farm1 m1:49.20$85,650 G11978 Believe ItEddie MapleWoody StephensHickory Tree Stable1 m1:49.80$65,490 G11977 Seattle SlewJean CruguetWilliam H. Turner Jr.Karen L. Taylor1 m1:49.60$66,180 G21976 Bold ForbesÁngel Cordero Jr.Laz BarreraE. Rodriguez Tizol1 m1:47.40$67,560 G11975 Foolish PleasureJacinto VásquezLeRoy JolleyJohn L. Greer1 m1:48.80$72,840 G11974-2Rube The GreatMiguel A. RiveraPancho MartinSigmund Sommer1 m1:49.60$69,660 G11974-1Flip SalÁngel Cordero Jr.Stephen A. DiMauroSalvatore Tufano1 m1:51.40$69,360G11973 Angle LightJacinto VásquezLucien LaurinEdwin Whittaker1 m1:49.80$68,940 G11972 Upper CaseRon TurcotteLucien LaurinMeadow Stable1 m1:49.00$71,040 1971 Good BehavingChuck BaltazarJohn P. CampoNeil Hellman1 m1:49.80$67,320 1970 PersonalityEddie BelmonteJohn W. JacobsEthel D. Jacobs1 m1:49.40$76,570 1969 DikeJorge VelásquezLucien LaurinClaiborne Farm1 m1:49.60$72,085 1968 Dancer's ImageBobby UsseryLou Cavalaris Jr.Peter D. Fuller1 m1:49.00$73,775 1967 DamascusBill ShoemakerFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Edith W. Bancroft1 m1:49.60$73,060 1966 AmberoidWilliam BolandLucien LaurinReginald N. Webster1 m1:49.60$74,425 1965 Flag RaiserBobby UsseryHirsch JacobsIsidor Bieber1 m1:50.20$60,222 1964 QuadrangleBill HartackJ. Elliott BurchRokeby Stable1 m1:50.20$58,013 1963 No RobberyJohn L. RotzJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 m1:49.20$59,020 1962 Admiral's VoyageBraulio BaezaCharles R. ParkeFred W. Hooper1 m1:49.20$59,703 1961 GlobemasterJohn L. RotzThomas J. KellyLeonard P. Sasso1 m1:50.20$56,062 1960 Francis S.Bill ShoemakerBurley ParkeHarbor View Farm1 m1:50.20$60,465 1959 Manassa MaulerRay BroussardPancho MartinEmil Dolce1 m1:49.60$55,915 1958 Jewel's RewardEddie ArcaroIvan H. ParkeMaine Chance Farm1 m1:50.20$37,575 1957 Bold RulerEddie ArcaroJim FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1 m1:48.80$40,800 1956 Head ManEddie ArcaroSylvester VeitchCornelius V. Whitney1 m1:50.20$42,400 1955 NashuaTed AtkinsonJim FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 m1:50.60$75,100 1954 CorrelationBill ShoemakerNoble ThreewittRobert S. Lytle1 m1:50.00$86,000 1953 Native DancerEric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1 m1:50.60$87,000 1952 Master FiddleDave GormanSol RutchickMyhelen Stable1 m1:52.40$45,200 1951 RepetoirePete McLean Albert JensenNora A. Mikell1 m1:44.40$35,250 1950 Hill PrinceEddie ArcaroCasey HayesChristopher Chenery1 m1:43.60$34,500 1949 OlympiaEddie ArcaroIvan H. ParkeFred W. Hooper1 m1:45.00$31,850 1948 My RequestDouglas DodsonJames P. ConwayFlorence Whitaker1 m1:46.20$34,600 1947-2PhalanxEddie ArcaroSylvester VeitchCornelis V. Whitney1 m1:43.80$31,325 1947-1I WillEddie ArcaroSidney JacobsJaclyn Stable1 m1:45.00$31,625 1946 AssaultWarren MehrtensMax HirschKing Ranch1 m1:46.60$22,600 1945-2JeepArnold KirklandLydell T. RuffCornelius V. Whitney1 m1:45.80$18,945 1945-1Hoop Jr.Eddie ArcaroIvan H. ParkeFred W. Hooper1 m1:45.00$18,945 1944-2Lucky DrawJohnny LongdenBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1 m1:46.20$20,1151944-1Stir UpEddie ArcaroJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 m1:44.20$19,625 1943Count FleetJohnny LongdenDon CameronFannie Hertz1 m1:43.00$20,150 1942 RequestedWayne D. WrightBlackie McCooleFlorence Whitaker1 m1:45.20$22,900 1941 Market WiseDon MeadeGeorge W. CarrollLouis Tufano1 m1:45.60$16,650 1940 DitLeon HaasMax HirschW. Arnold Hanger1 m1:45.80$19,225 1939 JohnstownJames StoutJim FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1m, 70 yds1:42.00$17,675 1938 Fighting FoxJames StoutJim FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1m, 70 yds1:43.00$17,450 1937 MelodistJohnny LongdenJim FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1m, 70 yds1:42.80$19,150 1936 TeufelEddie LitzenbergerJim FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1m, 70 yds1:43.20$10,775 1935 TodayRaymond WorkmanThomas J. HealeyCornelius V. Whitney1m, 70 yds1:42.80$11,350 1934 High QuestDominick BellizziRobert A. Smith Brookmeade Stable1m, 70 yds1:43.80$3,990 1933 Mr. KhayyamPete WallsMatthew P. BradyCatawba Farm (Madelaine H. Austin)1m, 70 yds1:42.60$3,760 1932 UniverseLinus McAteeJoseph BauerThomas M. Cassidy1m, 70 yds1:43.00$10,400 1931 Twenty GrandCharley KurtsingerJames G. Rowe Jr.Greentree Stable1m, 70 yds1:42.60$10,200 1930Gallant FoxEarl SandeJim FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1m, 70 yds1:43.60$10,150 1929EssareMack GarnerJoe JohnsonJacques Stable1m, 70 yds1:44.00$11,000 1928 DistractionDanny McAuliffeSunny Jim FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1m, 70 yds1:46.00$11,300 1927 SaxonGeorge EllisJames G. Rowe Sr.Greentree Stable1m, 70 yds1:43.60$9,005 1926 PompeyBennie BreuningWilliam H. KarrickWilliam R. Coe1m, 70 yds1:42.00$8,700 1925 BackboneIvan H. ParkeJames G. Rowe Sr.Harry Payne Whitney1m, 70 yds1:43.40$7,600
Notes: In 1956, Golf Ace won but was disqualified and placed 2nd. In 1962, Admiral's Voyage and Sunrise County finished in a dead heat. However, Sunrise County, was disqualified and placed 2nd. Leroy S. (1984), Cahill Road (1991), Irgun (1994), Coronado's Quest (1998), Buddha (2002), I Want Revenge (2009), Eskendereya (2010), Toby's Corner (2011), and Lord Miles (2023) are recent horses to win the Wood Memorial Stakes, but not run in the Kentucky Derby.TVG Trackside Live, April 6th, 2006 edition.
See also Wood Memorial Stakes "top three finishers" and starters
References
History of the Wood Memorial Stakes at the NYRA
External links Ten Things You Should Know About the Wood Memorial at Hello Race Fans!