Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes, held at Saratoga Race Course near Saratoga Springs, New York, is the oldest major thoroughbred horse race in the United States.
First held in 1864, it was named for William Travers, the New York Racing Association president at the time whose horse Kentucky won the first running of the Stakes. Aside from 1896, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1911, and 1912, it has been held every year since; the 2004 Travers Stakes,won by Birdstone,was the 135th.
The field is limited to three-year-old colts and fillies, and since 1999 the first prize has been $600,000. 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.
