First run in 1918, the Westchester was originally called the Yorktown Handicap and run at Empire City Race Track before getting a name change to the Westchester in 1940. The race made another change later on in its running when it moved from Jamaica Racetrack to Belmont Park in 1960. A one-mile (8 furlong) race open to horses 4 and up, the Westchester Stakes is a prep race for the Metropolitan Handicap held a month later. Trainers Allen Jerkens and Christophe Clement have the most wins of any trainer at four each with Angel Cordero, Jr.
First run in 1918, the Westchester was originally called the Yorktown Handicap and run at Empire City Race Track before getting a name change to the Westchester in 1940. The race made another change later on in its running when it moved from Jamaica Racetrack to Belmont Park in 1960. A one-mile (8 furlong) race open to horses 4 and up, the Westchester Stakes is a prep race for the Metropolitan Handicap held a month later. Trainers Allen Jerkens and Christophe Clement have the most wins of any trainer at four each with Angel Cordero, Jr. taking the jockey honor with five wins and three owners sharing the all-time leading owners at three each. In 2003, Najran equaled the North American dirt record when he finished the race in 1:32.24. Horses to win the race include Mad Hatter (1920), Dr. Freeland (1931), Stymie (1945), Assault (1946), Iron Ruler (1969), Rubiano (1991-1992), Caixa Electronica (2011), Palace Malice (2014) and Tonalist (2015).