Northern Dancer Stakes of sires in the second half of the 20th century. Northern Dancer Stakes The Northern Dancer Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid-June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Named in honor of the horse, Northern Dancer, the Grade III stakes for three-year-olds is run on dirt over a distance of 8.5 furlongs ( miles). The race currently offers a purse of $150,000. Canadian-bred and owned honoree Northern Dancer (1961–1990) won the 1964 Kentucky Derby in record time on the Churchill Downs track. He went on to win the Preakness Stakes and Queen's Plate. Retired from
Ack Ack Handicap (Churchill Downs) Ack Ack Handicap (Churchill Downs) The Ack Ack Handicap is a Grade III race for Thoroughbred horses run annually during the first week of November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Open to horses aged three and up, it is contested at a distance of 8 furlongs (one mile) on the dirt. Since inception in 1991, the Ack Ack Handicap has been contested at three different distances: The race is named for the great Ack Ack, inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Horse of the Year in 1971, as well as