{{short description|Harness stakes race for 3-year-old trotters}} {{Infobox horseraces | class = | horse race = Dexter Cup | image = | caption = | location = Freehold, New Jersey, U.S. | inaugurated = 1960 | race type = Harness race for standardbred trotters | website = | distance = 1 mile (1,609 metres or 8 furlongs) | surface = Dirt | track = Freehold Raceway | qualification = 3-year-olds | weight = | purse = | bonuses = }}
The '''Dexter Cup''' is a harness racing event for three-year-old standardbred trotters raced at a distance of one mile. The race was created in 1960.
==History== The Dexter Cup is a stakes race for three-year-old colts and geldings.<ref name="The Star-Ledger. (1991)"/> Its companion race for three-year-old fillies is called the Lady Suffolk.<ref name="Lexington Herald-Leader. (1967)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/684112094/?match=1&terms=Dexter%20Cup|title=Richest Trot—The Dexter Cup|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=February 14, 1967|page=11|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> The Dexter Cup was inaugurated in 1960 at Roosevelt Raceway in Westbury, New York. The inaugural $60,000 Dexter Cup was held on September 17, 1960.<ref name="Democrat and Chronicle. (1960)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/136394910/?match=1&terms=Dexter%20Cup|title=Dexter Purse Added to Card At Roosevelt|newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle|date=January 24, 1960|page=21|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> Named in memory of Dexter, the race honors one of the foremost trotters of the 19th century.<ref name="Daily News. (1968)"/>
The Dexter Cup is traditionally considered the initial leg of the "Big Five" trotting stakes, which also include the Colonial Trot, Yonkers Trot, Hambletonian Stakes, and Kentucky Futurity.<ref name="The New York Times. (1970)">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/06/05/archives/dexter-cup-trot-draws-field-of-11-victory-star-among-those-in.html|title=DEXTER CUP TROT DRAWS FIELD OF 11|date=June 5, 1970|newspaper=The New York Times|page=44|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> It is held annually as the opening stakes event of the Grand Circuit season for three-year-old male trotters eligible to compete in the Hambletonian.<ref name="Horse Race Insider. (2025)">{{cite web|url=https://www.horseraceinsider.com/saturdays-dexter-beings-road-to-hambletonian/|title=ON ROAD TO HAMBLETONIAN|date=May 1, 2025|website=horseraceinsider.com|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
The Dexter Cup was held at the now-defunct Roosevelt Raceway from 1960 to 1987.<ref name="Newsday. (1988)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/705048211/?match=1&terms=Dexter%20Cup|title=Big Goals For 'Goal'|newspaper=Newsday|date=September 18, 1988|page=339|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> At Roosevelt Raceway, The Dexter developed into the richest harness race of all time with a value of $183,463 in 1967.<ref name="Daily News. (1968)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/406644312/?match=1&terms=Dexter%20Cup|title=World's richest trotting race|newspaper=Daily News|date=June 22, 1968|page=145|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> It was relocated to Yonkers Raceway for the 1988 season.<ref name="Newsday. (1988)"/> In November 1991, Freehold Raceway signed a contract with the Hambletonian Society to host the Dexter Cup and the Lady Suffolk trots for the first time in 1992.<ref name="The Star-Ledger. (1991)"/> The closure of Freehold Raceway at the end of 2024 led to the Dexter Cup being reassigned to The Meadowlands Grand Circuit program in 2025.<ref name="Hambletonian Society Inc"/> The format was changed to eliminate eliminations and a final, instead splitting the race into divisions.<ref name="Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment. (2025)">{{cite web|url=https://playmeadowlands.com/news_post/meadowlands-announces-2025-stakes-information-adds-dexter-cup/|title=Meadowlands Announces 2025 Stakes Information, Adds ...|date=January 4, 2025|website=playmeadowlands.com|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
Notable Dexter Cup winners include the world champions Armbro Goal, Joie De Vie, Defiant Yankee, Colt Comfort, Songcan, Lindy's Pride, Nevele Pride, and Carlisle.<ref name="The Star-Ledger. (1991)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1114855957/?match=1&terms=Dexter%20Cup|title=Dexter Cup, Suffolk shift to Freehold|newspaper=The Star-Ledger|date=November 6, 1991|page=77|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref> Five horses have captured both the Dexter Cup and the Hambletonian Stakes: Speedy Scot (1963), Nevele Pride (1968), Lindy's Pride (1969), Armbro Goal (1988), and American Winner (1993).<ref name="U.S. Trotting News. (2025)">{{cite web|url=https://ustrottingnews.com/dexter-cup-signals-start-of-road-to-the-hambletonian-entries-due-tuesday-april-29/|title=Dexter Cup signals start of Road to the Hambletonian|date=April 28, 2025|website=ustrottingnews.com|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
==Distances== The Dexter Cup Trot was originally raced over one mile when inaugurated in 1960.
==Locations== *1960–1987: Roosevelt Raceway, Westbury, New York, U.S. *1988–1991: Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S. *1992–2024: Freehold Raceway, Freehold, New Jersey, U.S. *2025–present: The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.
==Records== ; Most wins by a driver: * 4 – Stanley Dancer (1964, 1968, 1971, 1986) ; Most wins by a trainer: * 3 – Ake Svanstedt (2016, 2021, 2023) ; Stakes record (1 mile): * 1:53.4 – Hard Seven (2025)
==Dexter Cup winners== {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Winner !! Driver !! Trainer !! Owner !! Time !! Notes |- | 1960 || Quick Song || Ralph N. Baldwin || Ralph N. Baldwin || Castleton Farm || 2:10 2/5 || World trotting record |- | 1961 || Matastar || Harry Pownall || — || Arden Homestead Stable || 2:10 1/5 || World trotting record |- | 1962 || Lord Gordon || John Patterson || John Patterson || Leonard J. Buck/Allwood Stable || — || |- | 1963 || Speedy Scot || Ralph N. Baldwin || Ralph N. Baldwin || Castleton Farm || — || |- | 1964 || Dartmouth || Stanley Dancer || — || Castleton Farm || 2:08 4/5 || — |- | 1965 || Armbro Flight || Joe O'Brien || Joe O'Brien || Elgin, Ted, and Charles Armstrong || 2:03 3/5 || $39,943 |- | 1966 || Carlisle || Billy Haughton || — || — || — || |- | 1967 || Flamboyant || Billy Haughton || — || — || 2:04 3/5 || $91,731 |- | 1968 || Nevele Pride || Stanley Dancer || Stanley Dancer || Nevele Acres & Louis Resnick || 2:02 2/5 || |- | 1969 || Lindy's Pride || Howard Beissinger || Howard Beissinger || Frank and Tom Antonacci (Lindy Farms) || 2:00 3/5 || |- | 1970 || Marlu Pride || Hervé Filion || Hervé Filion || August J. Portanova || 2:01 2/5 || Stakes record |- | 1971 || Quick Pride || Stanley Dancer || Stanley Dancer || Florida Stables || 2:03 || $53,843 |- | 1972 || Songcan || George Sholty || Don Prussack || Nevele Acres & Don Hy Stable, Inc. || 2:02 4/5 || — |- | 1973 || Knightly Way || Johnny Simpson Jr. || Johnny Simpson Jr. || Clarence Gaines || 2:01.3 || — |- | 1974 || Surge Hanover || William Wellwood || William Wellwood || William Wellwood || 2:03 4/5 || $56,190 |- | 1975 || Songflori || Delvin Miller || Delvin Miller || Del Miller, John Simpson Jr., & the Messenger Stables || — || |- | 1976 || Soothsayer || Delvin Miller || Mike Crocco || Mike Crocco || 2:02 4/5 || $83,145 |- | 1977 || Cold Comfort || Peter Haughton || Billy Haughton || H.P.H. Stable || — || $83,328; First father-son team to win<ref name="Messenger-Press. (1995)">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/445320350/?match=1&terms=Dexter%20Cup|title=Super Wally runs away with Freehold's Dexter Cup Trot|newspaper=Messenger-Press|date=May 18, 1995|page=15|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
|- | 1978 || Brisco Hanover || Jim Miller || Jim Miller || — || Mel Barr || — |- | 1979 || Chiola Hanover || Jimmy Allen || Bill Vaughn || Michael & Allan Chasanoff || 2:02 2/5 || $87,613 |- | 1980 || Nevele Impulse || Dick Macomber || Dick Macomber || Hans Enggren || 2:02 2/5 || — |- | 1981 || Defiant Yankee || Howard Beissinger || — || — || 2:01 || Track record tie |- | 1982 || Mystic Park || Frank O'Mara || Frank O'Mara || — || 2:01 2/5 || $82,073 |- | 1983 || Joie De Vie || Buddy Gilmour || Ned Martin || — || 2:01 4/5 || $131,695 |- | 1984 || Speed Merchant || Anthony Quartarolo || Anthony Quartarolo || — || 1:59 2/5 || Track record tie |- | 1985 || Master Willie || Sören Nordin || — || — || 2:00 || — |- | 1986 || Mangrove || Stanley Dancer || — || — || 2:00 2/5 || — |- | 1987 || Crowns Best || John Campbell || — || — || — || $83,981 |- | 1988 || Armbro Goal || John Campbell || Jan Johnson || Jimmy Plate || 1:54 4/5 || $110,683 |- | 1990 || Royal Troubadour || Carl Allen || Carl Allen || Carl Allen || 1:58.3 || Stakes record |- | 1991 || Crowns Invitation || Michel Lachance || Jerry Riordan || Lou Guida || 1:54 4/5 || — |- | 1992 || McCluckey || Jack Moiseyev || Joe Holloway || — || 2:00 3/5 || — |- | 1993 || American Winner || Ron Pierce || Per Eriksson || — || — || — |- | 1994 || Mr Lavec || Jimmy Takter || Jimmy Takter || — || 1:58.2 || Stakes record |- | 1995 || Super Wally || Rod Allen || Ed Perry || Loren Houston || — || — |- | 1996 || Armbro Ogen || Jack Moiseyev || Brett Pelling || Brett Pelling & Peter & Gail McCann || — || $75,872.50 |- | 1997 || Armbro Plato || Ray Schnittker || Ray Schnittker || Ray Schnittker, Seal Stable, Earl Scheelar, & Ron Kelkenberg || 1:58 4/5 || — |- | 1998 || Trade Balance || Ron Pierce || — || — || 2:02.2 || — |- | 1999 || Pearsall Hanover || Mickey McNichol || — || Wildenstein Stable || 1:59 || $79,575 |- | 2000 || Ambro Trick || Ray Schnittker || Paul Doherty || Ray Schnittker, Seal Stable, Earl Schleer, & Kelks Inc. || 1:57 4/5 || Stakes record |- | 2001 || SJ's Caviar || Robert Blanton Jr. || Belinda Blanton || Solomon, Bartling and Kosmos Horse Breeders || 1:56 1/5 || Stakes record |- | 2002 || Trainforthefuture || Michel Lachance || Robert Macintosh || — || 1:59.1 || — |- | 2003 || CR V Eight || Catello Manzi || Lars Nordin || — || 1:59.1 || — |- | 2004 || Beissinger Hanover || Michel Lachance || Ron Gurfein || — || 1:57 1/5 || — |- | 2005 || Lindy Five Hundred || George Brennan || Paul Doherty || Jones For President, KR Breeding, and Edward Pachula || 1:59.1 || — |- | 2006 || A Rod || George Brennan || Paul Doherty || Earl Schleer, the Kelk family, & Ray Schnittker || 1:58.1 || — |- | 2007 || Manfinity || George Brennan || Larry Rathbone || — || 1:58.2 || — |- | 2008 || Holiday Credit || Ron Pierce || Jimmy Takter || — || 1:56.3 || — |- | 2009 || Anders Bluestone || Tim Tetrick || Jimmy Takter || — || 1:55.3 || Stakes record |- | 2010 || Flex The Muscle || David Miller || Ray Schnittker || — || 1:56.2 || Schnittker's fifth victory |- | 2011 || Ice Machine || David Miller || Charlie Norris || — || 1:57.3 || — |- | 2012 || Not Afraid || Ron Pierce || Jimmy Takter || — || 1:55.4 || — |- | 2013 || Celebrity Maserati || Tom Jackson || Susanne Strandqvist || — || 1:58.3 || — |- | 2014 || Sumatra || Brian Sears || Tom Fanning || — || 1:57.4 || — |- | 2015 || Habitat || Yannick Gingras || Ron Burke || — || 1:56.4 || — |- | 2016 || Dante || Ake Svanstadt || Ake Svanstedt || Courant AB of Sweden || 1:59.4 || — |- | 2017 || Lord Cromwell || John Campbell || Ed Hart || Carolyn & Irv Atherton || 1:55 || Stakes record |- | 2018 || Lindy's Big Bang || David Miller || Richard Norman || — || 1:56.1 || — |- | 2019 || Osterc || Yannick Gingras || Per Engblom || Christina Takter || 1:57.0 || — |- |- bgcolor="#eeeeee" |align=center|2020 | colspan="8" align="center" | '''No races''' |- | 2021 || Incommunicado || Yannick Gingras || Ake Svanstedt || Knutsson Trotting Inc., Little E LLC, Arthur Geiger, & David Stolz || 1:56 3/5 || — |- | 2022 || Brave By Design || Joe Bongiorno || Jennifer Bongiorno || Brave By Design Stable || 1:57.2 || — |- | 2023 || Khaosan Road || Scott Zeron || Ake Svanstedt || Knutsson Trotting Inc. & Little E LLC || 1:57.4 || — |- | 2024 || Sir Pinocchio || Jason Bartlett || Ed Hart || Carolyn & Irv Atherton || 1:56.2 || — |- | 2025 || Hard Seven || Todd McCarthy || Nancy Takter || Let It Ride Stables, Maurice Chodash, & Boca Racing LLC || 1:53.4 ||<ref name="Hambletonian Society Inc">{{cite web|url=https://www.hambletonian.com/highlights/dextercup|title=Dexter Cup|website=hambletonian.com|access-date=2026-03-26}}</ref>
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==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Harness races in the United States Category:Harness races for three-year-old trotters Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1960 Category:1960 establishments in New York (state)