Just a Game Stakes prize money
The Just a Game Stakes is worth $500,000 for the 2021 running . That makes it the 197th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 78th richest in the United States.
Every figure here is the money the race announces, in the currency it announces it in. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
What the Just a Game Stakes is
Grade I · 1 mile (8 furlongs) · Turf · Belmont Park
- Racecourse
- Belmont Park
- Country
- United States
- Grade
- Grade I
- Distance
- 1 mile (8 furlongs)
- Surface
- Turf
- Race type
- Thoroughbred, Flat racing
- Open to
- Fillies & Mares, four-years-old and older
- Direction
- Left-handed
- First run
- 1992
We hold the total fund for the Just a Game Stakes and no separate winner's cheque. What the winner takes is a rule the racecourse sets rather than a national one, and it varies race by race.
Run in 1:32.84 in 2026, the Just a Game Stakes pays $5,386 for every second of the race, which is 139th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 71st in the United States.
Every Just a Game Stakes winner
34 runnings, 1992 to 2026, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Classic Q4 · 1:32.84 | John R. Velazquez | Mark E. Casse | Gary Barber, Blue Crevalle Racing and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners | $500,000 |
| 2025 | Dynamic Pricing (IRE)4 · 1:38.77 | Dylan Davis | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables | $500,000 |
| 2024 | Chili Flag (FR)5 · 1:35.01 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb & Michael E. Kisber | $500,000 |
| 2023 | In Italian (GB)5 · 1:34.00 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | $485,000 |
| 2022 | Regal Glory6 · 1:32.00 | José Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | $480,000 |
| 2021 | Althiqa (GB)4 · 1:33.90 | Mike E. Smith | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin | $500,000 |
| 2020 | Newspaperofrecord (IRE)4 · 1:35.62 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables | $250,000 |
| 2019 | Rushing Fall4 · 1:31.67 | Javier Castellano | Chad C. Brown | e Five Racing Thoroughbreds | $671,000 |
| 2018 | A Raving Beauty (GER)5 · 1:32.14 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Bethlehem Stables | $700,000 |
| 2017 | Antonoe4 · 1:32.12 | Javier Castellano | Chad C. Brown | Juddmonte Farms | $687,000 |
| 2016 | Celestine4 · 1:31.64 | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | James Bryan, Jr | $700,000 |
| 2015 | Tepin4 · 1:35.65 | Julien R. Leparoux | Mark E. Casse | Robert E. Masterson | $700,000 |
| 2014 | Coffee Clique4 · 1:32.52 | Javier Castellano | Brian A. Lynch | Amerman Racing (Jerry & Joan Amerman) | $750,000 |
| 2013 | Stephanie's Kitten4 · 1:36.27 | John R. Velazquez | Wayne M. Catalano | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | $500,000 |
| 2012 | Tapitsfly5 · 1:32.34 | Ramon A. Dominguez | Dale L. Romans | Frank Jones Jr. | $500,000 |
| 2011 | C. S. Silk5 · 1:40.53 | Javier Castellano | Dale L. Romans | William Pacella, Fred Barbara & George Bonomo | $400,000 |
| 2010 | Proviso (GB)5 · 1:34.09 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Juddmonte Farms | $400,000 |
| 2009 | Diamondrella (GB)5 · 1:36.49 | Rajiv Maragh | Angel A. Penna Jr. | Castletop Stable | $400,000 |
| 2008 | Ventura4 · 1:32.75 | Garrett K. Gomez | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | $400,000 |
| 2007 | |My Typhoon (IRE)5 · 1:34.92 | Eddie Castro | William I. Mott | Live Oak Plantation | $294,000 |
| 2006 | Gorella (FR)4 · 1:37.14 | Julien R. Leparoux | Patrick L. Biancone | Martin S. Schwartz | $285,000 |
| 2005 | Sand Springs5 · 1:33.05 | John R. Velazquez | William I. Mott | Sangster Family Stable | $300,000 |
| 2004 | § Intercontinental (GB)4 · 1:33.33 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | $226,333 |
| 2003 | § Mariensky4 · 1:43.28 | José A. Santos | Christophe Clement | Waterville Lake Stable | $214,500 |
| 2002 | Babae (CHI)6 · 1:34.57 | Jorge F. Chavez | Frank A. Alexander | Joseph P. Platt Jr. | $147,200 |
| 2001 | License Fee6 · 1:32.62 | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Winstar Farm | $189,050 |
| 2000 | Perfect Sting4 · 1:34.48 | Jerry D. Bailey | Joe Orseno | Stronach Stables | $165,800 |
| 1999 | Cozy Blues5 · 1:33.33 | Jorge F. Chavez | H. James Bond | Sandy & Joanne Dew | $157,700 |
| 1998 | Witchful Thinking4 · 1:33.45 | Chris McCarron | Niall M. O'Callaghan | Leslie R. Grimm | $157,325 |
| 1997 | Memories of Silver4 · 1:32.90 | Jerry D. Bailey | James J. Toner | Joan & John Phillips | $158,950 |
| 1996 | † Caress5 · 1:33.30 | Robbie Davis | H. Allen Jerkens | Harbor View Farm | $158,150 |
| 1995 | Caress4 · 1:32.53 | Robbie Davis | H. Allen Jerkens | Harbor View Farm | $82,000 |
| 1994 | Elizabeth Bay4 · 1:32.85 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Mohammed Al Maktoum | $55,550 |
| 1992 | Lady Lear5 · 2:15.90 | Gerry Brocklebank | Linda L. Rice | Mark Weiss | $78,900 |
34 of the 34 runnings name the rider, 34 name the trainer and 34 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to. 34 carry the total prize money for that year, converted here the same way the purse above is.
What the Just a Game Stakes has paid, season by season
Total prize money, 1992 to 2026
The total prize money went from $78,900 in 1992 to $500,000 in 2026, 6.3 times more. Every year is converted at today's rate, so the line is the money the race puts up rather than the money the exchange rate did.
Who wins the Just a Game Stakes more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
Most wins by a jockey
| Horse | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Caress | 2 | 1995, 1996 |
Races worth about the same
Either side of the Just a Game Stakes in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 186 | Beholder Mile StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 187 | Champagne StakesBelmont Park | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 188 | Coaching Club American OaksSaratoga Race Course | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 189 | Diana StakesSaratoga Race Course | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 190 | Forego StakesSaratoga Race Course | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 191 | H. Allen Jerkens Memorial StakesSaratoga Race Course | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 192 | Jaipur StakesBelmont Park | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 193 | Jenny Wiley StakesKeeneland Racecourse | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 194 | Jim Dandy StakesSaratoga Race Course | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 196 | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic StakesBelmont Park | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 198 | Ogden Phipps StakesBelmont Park | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 199 | Ohio DerbyThistledown Racecourse | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 200 | Old Dominion DerbyColonial Downs | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 201 | Personal Ensign StakesSaratoga Race Course | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 202 | Risen Star StakesFair Grounds Race Course | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 203 | Santa Anita DerbySanta Anita Park | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 204 | Secretariat StakesColonial Downs | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 205 | Sunland Park DerbySunland Park Racetrack | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 206 | Test StakesSaratoga Race Course | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 208 | Woody Stephens StakesBelmont Park | United States | $500,000 | $500,000 |
The 20 races closest to the Just a Game Stakes in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.
The rest of the money in the United States
196 races, 78th of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaipur Stakes | Belmont Park | Grade I | $500,000 |
| Jenny Wiley Stakes | Keeneland Racecourse | Grade I | $500,000 |
| Jim Dandy Stakes | Saratoga Race Course | Grade II | $500,000 |
| Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes | Belmont Park | Grade I | $500,000 |
| Ogden Phipps Stakes | Belmont Park | Grade I | $500,000 |
| Ohio Derby | Thistledown Racecourse | Grade III | $500,000 |
| Old Dominion Derby | Colonial Downs | Grade III | $500,000 |
| Personal Ensign Stakes | Saratoga Race Course | Grade I | $500,000 |
Every race in the United States we hold a purse for is on the United States prize money list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total Just a Game Stakes prize money?
$500,000, for the 2021 running.
Where does the Just a Game Stakes rank among the richest races in the world?
197th of 997. 196 races pay more, the nearest of them Beholder Mile Stakes. In the United States it is 78th of 196.
Which horse has won the Just a Game Stakes most often?
Caress, 2 times, in 1995, 1996.
Which jockey has won the Just a Game Stakes most often?
Irad Ortiz Jr., with 4 wins between 2018 and 2024.
When was the Just a Game Stakes first run?
1992. This page holds 34 runnings, from 1992 to 2026.
How far is the Just a Game Stakes?
1 mile (8 furlongs), on turf, at Belmont Park.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money