THE now Burger King Superstakes is 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 local-bred horses in the land.

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 seven times, more than any other jockey.

Five non-Jamaican riders have won the Superstakes: Ranjit Kissoon from Trinidad and Tobago on Baree Bahim 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.