The Travers Stakes is America’s oldest thoroughbred horse race, and is often dubbed “The Midsummer Derby.” Indeed over the years many notable horses have ran in the Travers Stakes, making it a premier even in American racing.

It was first run in 1864 and it is named after William R. Travers, the one time president of Saratoga’s Racing Association. Except for a few years when the country was at war, the Travers has been run every year.

The Travers has been run over four different distances from 1 1/8 to 1 3/4 miles. Currently and most often it is the same as the Kentucky Derby distance, 1 1/4 miles and it is open to any three year old colt or filly. General Assembly holds the Travers record at two minutes flat. General Assembly was a handsome son of the great Secretariat (he never ran in the Travers). Unfortunately for the brilliantly fast General Assembly, he was born into a year that also included the great Spectacular Bid, so even with his sensational Travers victory, he was destined to be forgotten.

Famous winners of the Travers include recent stars like Easy Goer, Thunder Gulch and Holy Bull, but it also includes many of racing’s elite; Man o’ War, Whirlaway, Native Dancer, Damascus and Buckpasser. The first filly to win the Belmont Stakes, Ruthless, also took the Travers that same year.

Every year the winner of the Travers is given a replica of the Man o’ War cup that was designed by Tiffany and Company. Will Street Sense take the cup home this year? Or maybe, Sightseeing?

25 years ago- After winning the Belmont in smashing fashion, Conquistador Cielo was the toast of New York. He added the Dwyer and the Jim Dandy to his resume and seemed destined to follow suite in the Travers. They don’t call Saratoga the graveyard of favorites for nothing though, and Canadian superstar, Runaway Groom soundly beat all three winners of the 1982 Triple Crown races. Conquistador Cielo could never shake loose in the race, and tired in the stretch. He never raced again, but was voted Horse of the Year nonetheless, since it was a year marred by tragedy and devoid of any true superstars.

For more on Travers history, take a look at Travers Stakes 1957.