Skip Away Stakes

The Skip Away Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A Grade III event open to horses age four and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of 1 ³⁄₁₆ miles (9.5 furlongs).

Inaugurated as the Broward Handicap, in 2001 Gulfstream Park changed the name to the Skip Away Handicap to honor 1998 American Horse of the Year, Skip Away.

In 2000, the South African-bred Horse Chestnut, 1999 Horse of the Year in his native country, made his American debut in this race, winning going away by five and one-half lengths. Other past winners of note include U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Swaps who won in 1956 and set a new world record for 1 mile, 70 yards with time of 1:39 3/5.

Since inception the race has been run at various distances:

• 1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles : 1987, 1990, 1993–2004
• 1 ¹⁄₈ miles : 1991-1992, 2005–2008
• 1 ³⁄₁₆ miles : 2009

Records

Speed record:

• 1:53.92 - Fort Larned (at current distance of 1 ³⁄₁₆ miles) (2012) (This is also the track record, eclipsing the former track record set by Eddington in 2005 of 1:54.74.)

Most wins:

• 3 - Sir Bear (1998, 1999, 2002)

Winners since 1987

References

• The 2009 Skip Away Handicap at the NTRA