Grande Prêmio Bento Gonçalves

The Grande Prêmio Bento Gonçalves is a Group II left-handed flat race for three-year-olds and up in Brazil. It is the most important race in the state of Estado do Rio Grande do Sul.

Disputed over (actually) 2,400 meters, every November at Hipodromo do Cristal.

The Grande Prêmio Bento Gonçalves is the oldest horse race in Brazil, having first been run in 1909.

History
The Grande Prêmio Bento Gonçalves was created to promote horse racing with support from the government. It was first run in 1909 at Prado Riograndense. The 1910 edition was held at Hipódromo Moinhos de Vento, which continued to host the race until 1959 when it was moved to its current location of Hipódromo do Cristal.

The Grande Prêmio Bento Gonçalves is named in honor of General Bento Gonçalves.

Over the years, the Grande Prêmio Bento Gonçalves has been run over multiple distances:


 * 2100 meters: 1909
 * 2400 meters: 1972–
 * 3000 meters: 1959–1971
 * 3100 meters: 1910–1932
 * 3200 meters: 1933–1958

Records
Speed record:


 * 2400 meters (current distance): 2:28.5 – Jack Grandi (1998)
 * 2100 meters: 2:22$1 1/2$ – Aguapehy (1909)
 * 3000 meters: 3:13 – Vizcaino (1962)
 * 3100 meters: 3:21$2⁄5$ – Tic Tac (1919) & Glasgow (1920)
 * 3200 meters: 3:28$2⁄5$ – Estensoro (1958)

Most wins:


 * 3 – El Asteroide (1964, 1965, 1966)
 * 3 – Zirbo (1981, 1982, 1983)
 * 3 – Hiper Gênio (1985, 1986, 1988)
 * 3 – Ilustre Senador (2017, 2018, 2019)
 * 2 – Duroc (1915, 1916)
 * 2 – Pertinaz (1923, 1924)
 * 2 – Chrysanthemo (1927, 1930)
 * 2 – Scorpio (1929, 1931)
 * 2 – Maritain (1937, 1939)
 * 2 – Cravete (1950, 1951)
 * 2 – Lord Antibes (1952, 1953)
 * 2 – Uleanto (1975, 1976)
 * 2 – Hero's Son (2002, 2003)
 * 2 – Starman (2007, 2008)

Jockeys with multiple wins:


 * C. Albernaz (1975, 1976)
 * Jorge Ricardo (2007, 2008)
 * Francisco Leandro (2010, 2012)

Most wins by a trainer:


 * 6 – Paulo Rosa (1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1917, 1939)
 * 5 – Artur Fernandes (1922, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1928)
 * 4 – Antonio P. da Silva (1964, 1965, 1966, 1980)

Most wins by an owner:


 * 4 – Breno Caldas (1958, 1964, 1965, 1966)
 * 3 – Antônio F. Martins (1981, 1982, 1983)
 * 3 – Luis Antonio Pinheiro Machado (1985, 1986, 1988)
 * 3 – Alberto J. Tiellet Miorim (2017, 2018, 2019)

Most wins by a breeder:


 * 6 – Fazenda da Mondesir (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2004, 2005)
 * 4 – Breno Caldas (1958, 1964, 1965, 1966)
 * 4 – Haras São José da Serra (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012)

Results
ƒ designates a filly or mare winner