The now TALAWAH Superstakes still remains one of the most sought after races on the local calendar. Run over 2,000 metres or 10 furlongs, the Superstakes is a weight for age contest which always features the best horses in the land.

Here are some facts and figures about the Superstakes.

The first Superstakes was run in 1978 when the Kenneth Mattis trained Legal Light won with Winston Griffiths.

The first filly to win the Superstakes was Mento Maid also trained by Mattis in 1979.

Griffiths has won the Superstakes eight times more than any other jockey.

Five non-Jamaican riders have won the Superstakes: Ranjit Kissoon from Trinidad and Tobago on Baree Bahin in 1986; Jorge Campines from Panama on Poorlittlerichgirl in 1991; Brian Harding from Trinidad who won it twice in 1996 and 1997 on Adoring Groom and My Friend Rich; Roger Moore from Panama on Menudo in 1999; and Dick Cardenas on Mark My Word in 2010.

The longest-winning streak in the Superstakes belongs to Menudo who won the event four consecutive times from 1999 – 2002. Menudo was trained by Richard Azan.

Two horses, Warfare in 1984 and My Friend Rich in 1997, share the fastest recorded time for the Superstakes – 2:02.3 minutes. The time done by Warfare remains the track record for 2,000 metres in Jamaica.

Legal Light holds the distinction of winning the Superstakes (1981) with the heaviest impost – 127 lbs, while the filly Mento Maid carried the least weight of all the Superstakes winners to victory – 112 lb in 1979.

Trainer Richard Azan holds, the record for the most wins in the Superstakes. Azan has won the race eight times, starting with Dorval in 1995, followed by Menudo 1999-2002 and Mark My Word 2010-2012.

The Superstakes was not run in 1988 because of Hurricane Gilbert which badly damaged Caymanas Park.

THE SUPERSTAKES (GRI)(INVITATIONAL)

(FORMERLY THE RED STRIPE SUPERSTAKES)

(A1 & Lower (Native-Bred -Weight-For-Age)

(1 1/4 Miles 1978-2012)

TRACK & STAKES RECORD: 2:02:3 WARFARE 57 kg 4YO (M McFarlene – PJ Scully) Nov. 10, 1984

*** BLACK-TYPE RACE ***

YEAR HORSES OWNERS TRAINERS JOCKEYS TIME WGT

1978 Legal Light Jack D Ashenheim Kenneth Mattis Winston Griffiths 2:04:1 126

1979 Mento Maid Lloyd Gilzene Kenneth Mattis Derrick Ramgeet 2:08:2 112

1980 Thunderbird Los Teques Syndicate Howard McKenzie Fitzroy Glispie 2:07:0 121

1981 Legal Light Jack D Ashenheim Kenneth Mattis Fitzroy Glispie 2:06:2 127

1982 KazHoshay A Chin Fat et al Philip Feanny Emilio Rodriquez 2:04:3 115

1983 Sir Howard Arevlis & Associates Philip Hart Glenford Jones 2:04:2 119

1984 Warfare Basil & Richard McLeod Peter-John Scully Michael McFarlene 2:02:3 126

1985 D’s A Legend Dennis Howell & Steve Bryan Kenneth Mattis Winston Griffiths 2:06:3 119

1986 *Baree Bahin (TRI) Mohammed Y Ali Eric Durrant Ranjit Kissoon 2:08:1 114

1987 Prince Consort Albert G Lee & Hylton Dallas Philip Feanny Winston Griffiths 2:03:2 126

1988 (NO RACE)

1989 The Viceroy The Roman Syndicate Philip Feanny Winston Griffiths 2:06:3 119

1990 The Viceroy The Roman Syndicate Philip Feanny Winston Griffiths 2:08:1 126

1991 Poorlittlerichgirl Gee Bee Gregory Bucknor Jorge Campines 2:06:3 116

1992 The Viceroy The Roman Syndicate Philip Feanny George HoSang 2:05:3 126

1993 Vestia Philip Feanny, Ivan Clark & Dr Clifford Bradford Philip Feanny Percival Williams 2:03:3 115

1994 Restless Babe Charles O. Williams Andrew Nunes Andrew Ramgeet 2:09:0 121

1995 Dorval Richard Azan Richard Azan George HoSang 2:06:2 119

1996 *Adoring Groom (TRI) A Poon Tip Joseph Hadeed Brian Harding 2:06:4 119

1997** My Friend Rich (BDOS) Challenor Jones John O’Brien Brian Harding 2:02:3 126

1998 Terremoto Elias Haloute Anthony Nunes Charles Hussey 2:07:1 119

1999 Menudo Richard Azan Richard Azan Roger Moore 2:07:0 119

2000 Menudo Richard Azan Richard Azan Andrew Ramgeet 2:06:2 126

2001 Menudo Richard Azan Richard Azan Andrew Ramgeet 2:05:4 126

2002 Menudo Richard Azan Richard Azan Andrew Ramgeet 2:07:1 126

2003 Pittacus Elias Haloute& Edmond Lam Anthony Nunes Shane Ellis 2:07:0 119

2004 Distinctly Irish Hamark Farms Philip Feanny Winston Griffiths 2:07:1 119

2005 Miracle Man Joseph Duany Allan Williams Allen Maragh 2:04:3 119

2006 Miracle Man Joseph Duany Allan Williams Allen Maragh 2:06:0 119

2007 Major Mayer TYS Racing Stables Michael McIntosh Richard Mitchell 2:06:2 126

2008 Ad Infinitum Elias Haloute Anthony Nunes Dane Nelson 2:07:2 125

2009 Hombre Wessel Burnett Noel Ennevor Andre Martin 2:07:1 126

2010 Mark My Word Elite Bloodstock Ltd Richard Azan Dick Cardenas 2:05:1 119

2011 Mark My Word Elite Bloodstock Ltd Richard Azan Omar Walker 2:08:0 126

2012 Mark My Word Elite Bloodstock Ltd Richard Azan Winston Griffiths O.D 2:07:1 126

2013

** PW’S Choice past the post first but was disqualified