Walnut Hall Cup
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 | |
| Location | Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. (inaugural) |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1897 |
| Race type | Harness race for standardbred trotters |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (1,609 metres or 8 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt/Clay |
| Track | The Red Mile (inaugural) |
| Qualification | 2:17 class (1897; inaugural) 2-year-old trotters (present) |
The Walnut Hall Cup was a harness racing event for standardbred trotters. The inaugural race took place at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1897.
In April 1897, the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders' Association's board of directors established its annual fixed program of events and added the Walnut Hall Farm Cup as a new stakes feature. Lamon V. Harkness, then owner and operator of the Walnut Hall stock farm, presented the owner of the winning trotters an inscribed sterling silver cup trophy worth $500.[1] The original cup, crafted by Tiffanys, stood 10 inches high and 11 inches across the handles, with an inside diameter of more than seven inches. It featured three large handles, a heavy carved base, and a gold-lined interior. One side read "Walnut Hall Farm Cup" in raised letters, and the other side was left for the winner's inscription.[2] A purse of $2,500 was offered by the association.[1] The first Walnut Hall Cup was held at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 12, 1897. The first horse to win was The Monk, driven by Edward Geers, winning three of four closely contested heats.[3]
Early on, eligibility for the Walnut Hall Cup was defined by time classes that progressively evolved over time. The eligibility of the inaugural race was for the 2:17 class of trotters.[1] By 1911, the Walnut Hall Cup was, alongside the Transylvania, considered the most highly prized aged race sponsored by the association.[4] The all-aged event formed part of the Lexington Grand Circuit program and became the secondary feature to the Kentucky Futurity at the Kentucky Trotting Horse Breeders Association track.
After the death of L. V. Larkness in 1915, the silver trophy continued to be awarded by Walnut Hall Farm, then operated by his estate.[5] Larkness's son-in-law, Dr. Odgen M. Edwards Jr., who became head of Walnut Hall Farm, went on to donate the trophy.[6] The Walnut Hall Farm tradition was later continued by its owners Katherine and H. Willis Nichols Jr.
The first Walnut Hall-bred winner of the race came in 1921, when Lon McDonald drove Jeanette Rankin.[7]
The Walnut Hall Cup became one of Lexington's oldest features.[8] The historic race developed into an event for two-year-old trotting colts ahead of the 1970 Grand Circuit program, and by the mid-1980s it was an important stepping stone toward the Breeders Crown.
It was eventually featured as the Walnut Hall Limited Cup alongside the Bluegrass Stakes program for two-year-old colt trotters and filly pacers at the Red Mile.[9]
Distances
When introduced in 1897, the Walnut Hall Cup was run over a distance of one mile.
Locations
- 1897–2000s: The Red Mile, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.