The Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 race for thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

 horses, aged three and up, run annually in mid August at Saratoga Race Course

Saratoga Race Course

Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...

 in Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...

. A prep for the Breeders' Cup Turf

Breeders' Cup Turf

The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...

, it is set at a distance of one and one-half miles (12 furlong

Furlong

A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....

s) on the turf

Grass

Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...

. A Grade I

Graded stakes race

A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...

 event, the race offers a purse of $500,000.

The Sword Dancer is named for the best three-year-old colt or gelding of 1959, best three-year-old, best handicap horse, and the American Horse of the Year. Sword Dancer was elected to the United States Racing Hall of Fame

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...

 in Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...

 in 1977.

The event was inaugurated at Aqueduct Racetrack

Aqueduct Racetrack

Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...

 in 1975 as a six furlong sprint

Sprint (race)

Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...

 on dirt for three-year-old horses. Beginning in 1977, it was hosted by Belmont Park

Belmont Park

Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...

 then in 1992 was moved to the Saratoga Race Course. Since inception, the Sword Dancer has been contested at various distances:

• 6 furlongs : 1975-1976 (on dirt)
• 8.5 furlongs (1 ¹/16 miles) : 1977-1979
• 12 furlongs (1½ miles) : 1980–present (on turf)

The race has been run as an Invitational Handicap since 1994.

In 2000, nine-year-old John's Call became the oldest horse to win this race.

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1½ miles)

• 2:23.20 - Awad (1997)

Most wins:

• 2 - Majesty's Prince
  Majesty's Prince
  Majesty's Prince was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred at John D. Marsh's farm in Gainesville, Virginia, he was out of the mare Pied Princess, a daughter of 1953 American Horse of the Year and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Tom Fool...
  
   (1983, 1984)
• 2 - El Senor (1989, 1990)
• 2 - With Anticipation (2001, 2002)
• 2 - Grand Couturier (2007, 2008)
• 2 - Telling (2009, 2010)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - John DeWitt Marsh (1983, 1984)
• 2 - Augustin Stable (2001, 2002)
• 2 - Marc Keller (2007, 2008)
• 2 - Alex & JoAnn Lieblong (2009, 2010)

Most wins by a jockey

Jockey

A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

:

• 3 - Angel Cordero, Jr. (1977, 1979, 1990)
• 3 - Jean-Luc Samyn
  Jean-Luc Samyn
  Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...
  
   (1991, 2000, 2003)
• 3 - Pat Day
  Pat Day
  Patrick Alan "Pat" Day is an American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991...
  
   (1997, 2001, 2002)

Most wins by a trainer

Horse trainer

In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

:

• 3 - William I. Mott (1987, 1992, 1996)

Winners of the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap since 1975

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance (Miles)	Time	Grade
2011	Winchester	6	Cornelio Velasquez Cornelio Velásquez Cornelio H. Velásquez is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He was introduced to horse racing at age fifteen by trainer Carlos Salazar Guardia in his native Panama and enrolled in the national jockey school...	Christophe Clement Christophe Clement Christophe Clement is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in the United States.- Racing background :Christophe Clement initially acquired his training skills from father Miguel, a leading trainer in France, Christophe later worked for the prominent French racing family of trainer Alec Head...	Mr. & Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone	1-1/2	2:26.74	I
2010	Telling	6	Garrett Gomez Garrett K. Gomez Garrett Keith Gomez is an American thoroughbred jockey.-Early career:Gomez learned to ride by watching his father, Louie, who was a jockey at many tracks in the Southwest United States...	Steve Hobby	Alex & JoAnn Lieblong	1-1/2	2:25.29	I
2009	Telling	5	Javier Castellano Javier Castellano Javier Castellano is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Castellano began his riding career in his native Venezuela in 1996 and in June 1997 moved to the United States where rode at race tracks in southern Florida until 2001 when he moved to race on the New York State racing circuit.In...	Steve Hobby	Alex & JoAnn Lieblong	1-1/2	2:25.43	I
2008	Grand Couturier	5	Alan Garcia Alan Garcia (jockey) Alan Garcia is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He was Peru's leading apprentice jockey in 2003 and in that same year he began racing in the United States at the Meadowlands Racetrack where he was also the leading apprentice. His father and grandfather were both jockeys in Peru...	Robert Ribaudo	Marc Keller	1-1/2	2:32.21	I
2007	Grand Couturier	4	Calvin Borel Calvin Borel Calvin H. Borel is an American jockey in thoroughbred horse racing and rode the victorious mount in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, the 2009 Kentucky Derby and the 2010 Kentucky Derby...	Robert Ribaudo	Marc Keller	1-1/2	2:26.59	I
2006	Go Deputy	6	Eibar Coa Eibar Coa Eibar Coa Monteverde is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. A five-time judo champion in his teens, he attended jockey school from 1989 to 1991 then began his professional riding career in 1992...	Todd Pletcher	Wertheimer et Frere Wertheimer et Frère Wertheimer et Frère is a Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding business partnership between brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer of France.The Wertheimer brothers are the owners of the House of Chanel in Paris...	1-1/2	2:26.78	I
2005	King's Drama	5	Jorge Chavez Jorge Chávez Jorge Chávez Dartnell , also known as Géo Chávez, was a Franco – Peruvian aviator. At a young age, he achieved fame for his aeronautical feats...	Robert J. Frankel	Gary A. Tanaka	1-1/2	2:27.38	I
2004	Better Talk Now Better Talk Now Better Talk Now is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Out of the mare Bendita, his damsire Baldski is a son of English Triple Crown Champion Nijinsky...	5	Ramon Dominguez Ramon A. Dominguez Ramon A. Dominguez is an Eclipse Award-winning champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing....	H. Graham Motion H. Graham Motion H. Graham Motion is an American horse trainer, notable for his work with 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Better Talk Now. Motion started out training and winning with his own Thoroughbred horses at age 29, his first win was with Bounding Daisy in March 1993 at Laurel Park...	Bushwood Stables	1-1/2	2:28.49	I
2003	Whitmore's Conn	5	Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...	Randy Schulhofer	Michael & Lynn Shanley	1-1/2	2:28.14	I
2002	With Anticipation	7	Pat Day Pat Day Patrick Alan "Pat" Day is an American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991...	Jonathan Sheppard Jonathan E. Sheppard Jonathan E. Sheppard is a Hall of Fame trainer in American Thoroughbred horse racing....	Augustin Stable	1-1/2	2:24.06	I
2001	With Anticipation	6	Pat Day Pat Day Patrick Alan "Pat" Day is an American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991...	Jonathan Sheppard Jonathan E. Sheppard Jonathan E. Sheppard is a Hall of Fame trainer in American Thoroughbred horse racing....	Augustin Stable	1-1/2	2:26.41	I
2000	John's Call	9	Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...	Thomas H. Voss	Trillium Stable	1-1/2	2:32.17	I
1999	Honor Glide Honor Glide Honor Glide is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Honor Grades, whose grandsire was Northern Dancer and whose damsire was Secretariat, Honor Glide was bred by Bonnie Heath Farm. He was purchased for $31,000 at the 1995 Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale by Robert G...	5	Jose Santos	Christophe Clement Christophe Clement Christophe Clement is a Thoroughbred horse trainer in the United States.- Racing background :Christophe Clement initially acquired his training skills from father Miguel, a leading trainer in France, Christophe later worked for the prominent French racing family of trainer Alec Head...	Robert G. Schaedle	1-1/2	2:28.23	I
1998	Cetewayo	4	John Velazquez	Michael Dickinson	John A. Chandler	1-1/2	2:29.56	I
1997	Awad	7	Pat Day Pat Day Patrick Alan "Pat" Day is an American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991...	David G. Donk	Ryehill Farm	1-1/2	2:23.20	I
1996	Broadway Flyer	5	Mike E. Smith	William I. Mott	Sultan & Bienstock	1-1/2	2:32.08	I
1995	Kiri's Clown	6	Mike Luzzi Mike Luzzi Michael Jude Luzzi is an American jockey. He grew up near Delaware Park Racetrack where his grandfather, trainer Buddy Raines, had a major role in raising him and his brother John who also became a jockey...	Philip G. Johnson	Cobble View Stable	1-1/2	2:25.08	I
1994	Alex The Great	5	Pat Valenzuela Pat Valenzuela Patrick Angel Valenzuela is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born into a racing family, his father plus three of his uncles, including Ismael Valenzuela, were jockeys. He rode his first career winner on November 10, 1978, at Sunland Park Racetrack in Sunland Park, New Mexico...	Rodney Rash Rodney Rash Rodney R. Rash was an American trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses.Born in Frederick, Maryland, Rash grew up on a dairy farm and was exposed to the sights and sounds of Thoroughbred horse racing when he helped his father deliver hay to horse farms and racetracks...	Vistas Stables	1-1/2	2:28.66	I
1993	Spectacular Tide	4	Julie Krone Julie Krone Julie Krone , is a retired American jockey. In 1993, she became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she captured the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair...	Stanley M. Hough Stanley M. Hough Stanley M. Hough Stanley M. Hough Stanley M. Hough (born February 20, 1948 in Palatine, Illinois is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. The son of Chicago-based Thoroughbred owner/trainer Joseph Hough, he embarked on a training career of his own in 1969....	Royal Lines Stable	1-1/2	2:30.39	I
1992	Fraise Fraise Fraise was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1992 Breeders' Cup Turf. Bred by Allen E. Paulson, he was sired by Strawberry Road, the 1983 Australian Horse of the Year which Paulson acquired in 1986...	4	Jerry Bailey	William I. Mott	Madeleine Paulson Madeleine A. Pickens Madeleine A. Pickens is an American businesswoman who owns in Rancho Santa Fe, California .She is also a Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder and an animal welfare activist and philanthropist who has earned a black belt in the martial art of Taekwondo.Born Madeleine Baker of an English father...	1-1/2	2:25.88	I
1991	Dr. Root	4	Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...	Vincent L. Blengs	Barry K. Schwartz Barry K. Schwartz Barry K. Schwartz is an American businessman, Thoroughbred racehorse owner, and a former horse racing industry executive. The son of a grocer who was murdered when Barry was twenty-one-years old, Schwartz grew up in a one-bedroom apartment in The Bronx...	1-1/2	2:25.43	I
1990	El Senor	6	Angel Cordero, Jr.	William W. Wright William W. Wright William Westwood Wright was an American politician from New York.-Life:He married Mary L...	William W. Wright	1-1/2	2:28.00	I
1989	El Senor	5	Herb McCauley Herb McCauley W. Herbert McCauley is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey who has been called "one of the most talented and aggressive riders of his generation" by John Piesen, an odds-maker for the New York Post and the Daily Racing Form. While still a small boy, Herb McCauley began riding horses on...	William W. Wright William W. Wright William Westwood Wright was an American politician from New York.-Life:He married Mary L...	Frances W. Luro	1-1/2	2:27.00	I
1988	Anka Germania	6	Craig Perret Craig Perret Craig Perret is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding horses at age five and by seven was riding quarter horses in match races...	Tom Skiffington	Fernwood Stable	1-1/2	2:32.20	I
1987	Theatrical Theatrical (horse) Theatrical is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1987 Breeders' Cup Turf and is a successful sire.A son of Nureyev, who in turn was sired by Northern Dancer, out of the mare Tree Of Knowledge who won the 1974 Hollywood Gold Cup, Theatrical was bred by Bertram & Diana Firestone at...	5	Randy Romero Randy Romero Randy Paul Romero is a Hall of Fame jockey in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing, Born into a family involved with horses, his father Lloyd J...	William I. Mott	Bertram R. Firestone	1-1/2	2:26.00	I
1986	Southern Sultan	5	Robbie Davis Robbie Davis Robbie Glen Davis is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Early life:Davis grew up in a single parent household forced onto welfare, something that would impact him for the rest of his life....	Ross Pearce	Buckland Farm	1-1/2	2:39.60	I
1985	Tri For Size	4	Robert Thibeau, Jr.	Michael Sedlacek	Rory Green Stable	1-1/2	2:33.20	I
1984	Majesty's Prince Majesty's Prince Majesty's Prince was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred at John D. Marsh's farm in Gainesville, Virginia, he was out of the mare Pied Princess, a daughter of 1953 American Horse of the Year and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Tom Fool...	5	Eddie Maple Eddie Maple Edward Retz "Eddie" Maple is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. One of eight brothers and sisters, he was an older brother to jockey Sam Maple who won more than 2,500 races. He began riding horses at age 12 and won his first race as a professional at 17...	Joseph B. Cantey	John DeWitt Marsh	1-1/2	2:31.00	I
1983	Majesty's Prince Majesty's Prince Majesty's Prince was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred at John D. Marsh's farm in Gainesville, Virginia, he was out of the mare Pied Princess, a daughter of 1953 American Horse of the Year and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Tom Fool...	4	Eddie Maple Eddie Maple Edward Retz "Eddie" Maple is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. One of eight brothers and sisters, he was an older brother to jockey Sam Maple who won more than 2,500 races. He began riding horses at age 12 and won his first race as a professional at 17...	Joseph B. Cantey	John DeWitt Marsh	1-1/2	2:34.40	II
1982	Lemhi Gold Lemhi Gold Lemhi Gold was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Bred and raced by Eugene, Oregon lumberman Aaron U. Jones and his wife, Marie, he was sired by Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, Vaguely Noble, who also sired the superstar filly, Dahlia...	4	Chris McCarron Chris McCarron Christopher John "Chris" McCarron is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He is currently working as a racing analyst for TVG Network....	Lazaro S. Barrera	Aaron U. Jones	1-1/2	2:26.00	II
1981	John Henry John Henry (horse) John Henry was an American Thoroughbred race horse who had 39 wins, with $6,591,860 in earnings. He was twice voted the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year in 1981 and 1984, with his 1981 selection is the only one whereby the victor received all votes cast for that award. John Henry was also...	6	Bill Shoemaker	Lefty Nickerson Victor J. Nickerson Victor J. "Lefty" Nickerson was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. He embarked on a career as a professional trainer in 1953, working primarily at racetracks in the Northeastern United States...	Dotsam Stable	1-1/2	2:26.80	III
1980	Tiller	6	Ruben Hernandez	David A. Whiteley David A. Whiteley David A. Whiteley is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer who trained three Champions and who in 1979 won the third leg of the U.S. Triple Crown.The son of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Frank Y...	William Haggin Perry William Haggin Perry William Haggin Perry was a prominent owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses. He was the son of Henry Pierrepont Perry, a Wall Street broker, and Edith Lounsbery, the daughter of Richard P...	1-1/2	2:25.20
1979	Darby Creek Road	4	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Howard M. Tesher Howard M. Tesher Howard M. Tesher Howard M. Tesher Howard M. Tesher (born c. 1935 in Miami, Florida is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer. A journalism graduate from the University of Florida, he began his career training Thoroughbreds in 1961. Among his numerous important wins, Tesher won the 1986...	H. Joseph Allen H. Joseph Allen H. Joseph Allen is an American businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder.A graduate of the University of Michigan, Allen is a partner with his cousin Peter M. Brant in the privately owned newsprint company, Brant-Allen Industries, Inc...	1-1/16	1:41.60
1978	True Colors	4	Michael Venezia	Willard C. Freeman	Robert Billips	1-1/16	1:41.00
1977	Effervescing Effervescing (horse) Effervescing is an American thoroughbred stallion racehorse. Bred by Ogden Phipps, he was a son of the French sire Le Fabuleux whose other significant progeny included American multiple Grade I winner, The Bart and Dauphin Fabuleux, the 1984 Canadian Horse of the Year. He was out of the American...	4	Angel Cordero, Jr.	John W. Russell	Ogden Phipps Ogden Phipps Ogden Phipps was an American stockbroker, court tennis champion and Hall of Fame member, thoroughbred horse racing executive and owner/breeder, and an art collector and philanthropist...	1-1/16	1:39.60
1976	Arabian Law	3	Jacinto Vasquez Jacinto Vásquez Jacinto Vásquez is a retired Hall of Fame thoroughbred jockey. He rode two Kentucky Derby winners, Foolish Pleasure in 1975 and Genuine Risk in 1980, but may be best known as the regular jockey for the great filly Ruffian.-Biography:...	David A. Whiteley David A. Whiteley David A. Whiteley is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer who trained three Champions and who in 1979 won the third leg of the U.S. Triple Crown.The son of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Frank Y...	Lazy F Ranch	6 fur.	1:10.60
1975	Gallant Bob	3	Gerard Gallitano	Joseph Marquette	Robert Horton	6 fur.	1:09.60

• In 1987, Theatrical was awarded first place following the disqualification of Dance of Life.