Flashback: Back in the day, which races were the richest?

With the second running of the $20 million Saudi Cup rapidly approaching, it’s fun to think back on races that — at one time or another — have held the title of “richest horse race.”

In recent years, the Saudi Cup, Dubai World Cup and Pegasus World Cup have waged battle for top international honors. Prior to their emergence, the Breeders’ Cup Classic held the world title for many years, and it currently ranks as the richest race in North America.

But dig further back into history, and you might be surprised at some of the races that have held the North American title. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and recall a handful of them:

The American Derby

Last run in 2019 as a 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 turf race, the American Derby once ranked among the richest and most prestigious dirt races in the nation. A bevy of champions and classic winners visited the winner’s circle from the 1930s through 1960s, including Triple Crown champions Whirlaway and Citation.

But arguably the most historic renewal came in 1926, when Boot to Boot beat Preakness winner Display and Kentucky Oaks winner Black Maria in the first North American race to carry a purse over $100,000. The purse was so ambitious for its time that the check for the winner’s share bounced upon first presentation.

The Santa Anita Maturity

Known as the Strub Stakes when last contested in 2014, the Santa Anita Maturity was once an important early-season Grade 1 test for 4-year-olds racing 1 1/4 miles. Kentucky Derby winners Ponder, Determine, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid and Alysheba all claimed top honors, but the 1951 renewal — the first North American race to offer a purse over $200,000 — was ironically less memorable as Great Circle (a capable if not standout campaigner) beat a field featuring two-time champion mare Bed o’ Roses.

The Arlington-Washington Futurity

COVID-19 prompted the cancellation of the 2020 Arlington-Washington Futurity, an unfortunate development considering how prestigious the race used to be. The 1962 renewal offered a record purse of $357,250, and the resulting field was worthy of the prize. Future Preakness (and American Derby) winner Candy Spots battled to victory by half a length over eventual champion 2-year-old and Kentucky Derby runner-up Never Bend.

Hollywood Gold Cup

In 1979, the title of North America’s richest horse race returned to California for the Hollywood Gold Cup, which became the first to offer a purse of $500,000. This high-profile milestone was celebrated in suitable fashion by Triple Crown winner Affirmed, who carried 132 pounds to victory in the track-record time of 1:58.40 for 1 1/4 miles.

Million-dollar horse races are commonplace these days, so it’s easy to forget how the 1981 Arlington Million was the first to reach the milestone with its historic seven-figure purse. The inaugural running of the 1 1/4-mile turf test was a thriller, as heavy favorite John Henry — in the midst of a Horse of the Year campaign — rallied from out of the clouds to catch The Bart in the shadow of the wire. NBC Sports famously called The Bart as the winner before heading to a commercial break; only after they returned did viewers learn how John Henry had actually snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Keeler Johnson is a writer, videographer, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. You can follow him on Twitter at @J_Keelerman.