Topic: Hutcheson Stakes

The Hutcheson Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A Grade II event raced on dirt, it is open to three-year-old horses. Run over a distance of seven and a half furlongs, it currently offers a purse of $150,000.

Inaugurated on March 31, 1954, it was raced at a distance of seven furlongs prior to 2005. The Hutcheson Stakes is one of five races considered as prep races for the Grade 1 Florida Derby. It is considered one of many of the Triple Crown prep races that leads into the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.

Run in mid January, the Hutcheson Stakes is regarded as a preview for horses aiming for a run at the Kentucky Derby. Spectacular Bid captured the Hutcheson on his way to winning the 1979 Derby as did Swale in 1984. The race was named in honor of labor leader William Levi Hutcheson (1874–1953), who served as a member of the Gulfstrem Park Advisory Board. The race was formerly sponsored by Danka Office Imaging Co. of St. Petersburg, Florida from 1975-1997. In 2000, there was a Dead heat for win.