Matt Winn Stakes

The Matt Winn Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of $1 1/16$ miles on the dirt at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $400,000. It is usually run in mid-June but in 2020 was moved up to mid-May.

History
The race was inaugurated in 2002 in honor Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs's Col. Matt Winn, who served as president and general manager of the historic track from 1902 to 1949. Known by the media as "Mr. Derby," Winn is credited with building the Kentucky Derby into America's greatest race and one of the world's great sports events. The inaugural running was over a distance of six furlongs.

In 2009 the distance was set at 7 furlongs. In 2011, it was changed to its current $1 1/16$ miles.

In 2011 the event was upgraded to Grade III status.

In 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the event was rescheduled to May 23 from its normal date in mid-June. The race was added to the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby as a result of the rescheduling of that race.

In 2023 the event was moved to Ellis Park after Churchill Downs closed their spring meeting earlier due to a spate of injuries. The distance of the event was increased to $1 1/16$ miles.

Records
Speed Record:
 * $1 1/8$ miles: 1:41.12 – Gun Runner (2016)
 * $1 1/16$ miles: 1:49.59 – Disarm (2023)

Margins:
 * $1 1/8$ lengths – Neck 'n Neck (2012)


 * Most wins by a jockey
 * 3 – Florent Geroux (2016, 2021, 2022)


 * Most wins by a trainer
 * 6 – Steve Asmussen (2003, 2005, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2023)

Most wins by an Owner
 * 3 – Winchell Thoroughbreds (2014, 2016, 2023)