The historic Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes is a key supporting race during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. You can learn all about this famous horse race named after the principal borough of New York City.

What is the Manhattan Handicap?

Known as the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes for sponsorship reasons, the Manhattan Handicap, or simply the Manhattan, this is a Grade I thoroughbred race for horses aged four-years and older. While its regular home of Belmont Park undergoes renovation until 2026, the 2024 and 2025 editions are at Saratoga Race Course in Upstate New York.

With a total prize purse of $1,000,000 and run as part of the Belmont Stakes schedule since 1994, the Manhattan is a big race. It is a handicap, rather than a conditions event. This means that the official handicapper of race organizers, the NYRA, determines the weights each horse carries on the track. Saturday, June 8 is the date of this year’s edition.

Manhattan Stakes History

The Manhattan Handicap was first run in 1867. Originally held at Jerome Park Racetrack, it had to move after 1894 when that course closed.

Morris Park Racecourse became the next home of the Manhattan, where it remained until 1904, when that racetrack also closed down. It was in 1905 that it came to Belmont Park, which has been the permanent home ever since.

The exceptions were the 1959 and 1961 races being held at Aqueduct, which was also the venue between 1963 to 1967. Since then, the Manhattan has remained at Belmont Park. The upcoming switch to Saratoga marking the first time that it has not been held in the metropolitan area of New York City.

From the first running of the Manhattan until 1970, the race was run on dirt. After the switch to turf, it returned to the dirt on occasion in 1977, 1979 and 1988.

There was no Manhattan held in 1897 and between the years of 1909 to 1913. In 1971, 1972, 1975 and 1977, the size of the fields saw the race split between two divisions.

Various Race Distances

From 1978 onwards, the race has been run over a mile-and-a-quarter (2,000m). This was the original length of the race in 1867, through to 1896.

At various periods outside the above years, the Manhattan has been run over differing lengths. The shortest distance was just six furlongs (1,200m), while the longest was one mile and five furlongs (2,600m).

Over the current distance of 2km, the speed record stands at 1:57.79, which was set by Paradise Creek in 1994. At Saratoga, the race will have a slighter shorter trip of 9.5 furlongs (1,900m).

A number of horses have won the Manhattan more than once. Bolingbroke holds the record for the most wins with three, having triumphed in 1940, 1942 and 1943.

Jerry D. Bailey is the most successful jockey with five wins (1986, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005). Chad Brown holds the record for being the trainer with the most winners (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).

Recent Manhattan Stakes Winners

In order to gain some perspective on the Manhattan Stakes 2024, it can be useful to look back at past editions of the race. Here are the winners since 2014.

Manhattan Stakes 2024 Picks

There are eighth runners in the 2024 edition of the Manhattan taking place until Saturday, June 8. This includes transatlantic raiders from Ireland and the UK. We asked our pro handicappers for their picks and predictions below.

They did the business with Measured Time, one of the recommended top 3 finish bets, winning this race for British trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick.

2024 Manhattan Stakes Post Position Draw

With a field of eight competing in the Manhattan this year after a late scratching, the post position draw made on Monday, June 3 proved key. Horse racing fans and bettors using Belmont Stakes betting sites now know which horses jumps from which gates. Here is the draw in full:

1. I’m Very Busy (122lbs) – 9-2
2. Ohana Honour (118lbs) – 15-1
3. Kertez (122lbs) – 20-1 SCRATCHED
4. Strong Quality (118lbs) – 15-1
5. Program Trading (124lbs) – 5-2
6. Al Riffa (118lbs) – 6-1
7. Nations Pride (124lbs) – 9-2
8. Far Bridge (124lbs) – 10-1
9. Measured Time (124lbs) – 7-2

Manhattan Handicap Stakes Past Performances & Stats

The first place to start when analysing the recent editions of the Manhattan are the performances of horses from Chad Brown’s barn.

He has saddled eight winners in total. They have all come within the last twelve years, with seven of those victories falling within the last decade.

Over the last ten years, Brown has not only trained seven winners of the Manhattan, but also six horses which finished second. It’s a hugely impressive record.

The 2023 race finally saw a different barn triumph, following Brown’s horses having won every Manhattan between 2019 and 2022. Todd Pletcher’s Up To The Mark was the winner. The only other trainer to have won the Manhattan over the last ten years is Graham Motion in 2017 and 2018.

Irad Ortiz, the winning jockey in 2023, has four victories in total, with the other three coming on horses trained by Brown. Given their records, it makes sense to look out for any horse that is ridden by that jockey or representing that barn.

The only other rider to have won the Manhattan more than once over the last ten years is Javier Castellano. His victories both came at the start of this period however, in 2014 and 2016.

Over the last ten editions of the Manhattan, the favorite havs won on four occasions. This includes three of the five most recent races, with the favored horse finishing third in 2022 and second in 2020.

When it comes to post positions, you might want to keep an eye on the horse in gate 4. That spot has made the show in each of the last four years. Gate 8 has also been successful, with two wins and one placed finish within the last five years.

FAQs

When is the Manhattan Stakes?

The Manhattan takes place Saturday, June 8 2024 on Belmont Stakes day. In the past, it has been the race immediately before the Belmont Stakes.

What do previous Manhattan Stakes results tell us?

If you look back over the last twelve years of the Manhattan, you will see that eight of the winners represented trainer Chad Brown. When it comes to jockeys, Irad Ortiz has been successful, with four wins in the last nine years. Three favorites have won in the last five years.

Where can I bet on the Manhattan Handicap?

Any bookmaker that covers US horse racing will provide betting on the Manhattan. Check out our recommended racebooks at Belmont Stakes Betting Sites and choose one of our favored bookies. 

Who is top trainer in Manhattan Stakes history?

Chad Brown is the most successful trainer in the history of the Manhattan. His horses have won the race eight times in total (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).