Jim McKay Turf Sprint
Introduction The '''Jim McKay Turf Sprint''' is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and up over a distance of five furlongs on the turf held  as part of the undercard for the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes annually during the third week of May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The race offers a purse of $100,000.The Jim McKay Turf Sprint is the lead off leg of the '''Mid Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships''' Sprint Turf Division or '''MATCh Races.''' MATCh is a series of five races in five separate thoroughbred divisions run throughout four Mid-Atlantic States including; Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park Racecourse in Maryland; Delaware Park Racetrack in Delaware; Parx, Philadelphia Park and Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania and Monmouth Park in New Jersey.
Race name The race was named in honor of James Kenneth McManus (1921-2008), better known by his professional name of '''Jim McKay''', was an American television sports journalist. McKay is best known for hosting ABC's ''Wide World of Sports'' (1961–1998). McKay covered a wide variety of special events, including horse races such as the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, golf events such as the British Open, and the Indianapolis 500.
History The Jim McKay Turf Sprint was first run in 2006 as the Baltimore Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. In 2007, it ran as the Baltimore City Turf Sprint and in 2008 the race was known as the Old Mutual Turf Sprint. The stakes record is held by Heros Reward, who won the race in 2007 in a time of :55.90 over five furlongs.
Records  Ben's Cat wins the 2016 Jim McKay Turf Sprint'''Speed record: '''* 5 furlongs - 55 4/5 - Hero's Reward  (2007) '''Most wins by a horse:'''* 5 - Ben's Cat (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016)'''Most wins by a jockey:'''* 3 - Julian Pimentel (2013, 2014 & 2015)'''Most wins by a trainer:'''* 5 - King T. Leatherbury  (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016)'''Most wins by an owner:'''* 5 - The Jim Stable    (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016)
Winners of the Jim McKay Turf Sprint since 2006  Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade2022Carotari6Luis SaezBrian A. LynchWilliam A. Branch5 fur.56.52$100,0002021 Firecrow5 Joel Rosario Ron Moquett Robert LaPuenta5 fur.55.30$100,0002020 Hollis5 Gabriel Saez John Alexander Ortiz WSS Racing, LLC5 fur.59.61$100,0002019 Completed Pass5 Victor Carrasco Claudio Gonzalez Robert D. Bone5 fur.57.35$100,0002018 Imprimis 4 Irad Ortiz Joseph Orseno Breeze Easy, LLC5 fur.1:03.81$100,0002017 Richard's Boy5 Paco Lopez Peter Miller Rockingham Ranch5 fur.56.20$100,0002016 Ben's Cat10 Trevor McCarthy King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable 5 fur.56.10$100,0002015 Ben's Cat9 Julian Pimentel King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable 5 fur.56.04$100,0002014 Ben's Cat8 Julian Pimentel King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable 5 fur.57.75$100,0002013 Ben's Cat7 Julian Pimentel King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable 5 fur.56.18$100,0002012 Fidlers Patriot6 John Velazquez George Weaver J. Olson & Hill Stable5 fur.56.12$100,0002011 Ben's Cat5 Jeremy Rose King T. Leatherbury The Jim Stable 5 fur.59.71	$75,0002010 Central City4 Julien Leparoux Ronnie W. Werner Preston Stable LLC5 fur.56.18$70,0002009 Mr. Nightlinger5 Jamie Theriot William B. Calhoun Martin Racing Stable5 fur.56.29$100,0002008 Heros Reward6 Javier Castellano Dale Capuano Rob Ry Farm5 fur.59.19$100,0002007 Heros Reward5 Edgar Prado Dale Capuano Rob Ry Farm5 fur.55.90$100,0002006 My Lord7 Rosie Napravnik Ann W. Merryman David A. Ross5 fur.57.40$100,000
See also * Jim McKay Turf Sprint top three finishers* Pimlico Race Course* List of graded stakes at Pimlico Race Course
References