One of the most prominent summer races at the Saratoga Race Course is being renamed in honor of a horse racing legend. On Travers Day, Saturday, August 26th, you’ll be able to catch what is now the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial as one of the six Grade 1 races.
The H. Allen Jerkens Memorial is the new name of what was formerly the King’s Bishop; Jerkens was one of the trainers of the horse King’s Bishop, for which the race was originally named.
Jerkens passed away at the age of 85 in 2015 after a nearly 65-year career training thoroughbred racing horses. At the time of his death, Jerkens had trained 3,859 winners for nearly $104 million in earnings – many of these victories came at Saratoga, including Hall of Famer Sky Beauty, Classy Mirage, Kelly Kip, November Snow, and Society Selection.
The racing legend earned himself the title “the Giant Killer,” after triggering some of the biggest upsets in racing history. These upsets included two over 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, with Prove Out in the Woodward at Belmont Park and with Onion in the Whitney at Saratoga.
“Allen Jerkens is a name that is synonymous with all that is great about racing at New York Racing Association tracks,” NYRA President and CEO Chris Kay said in a statement. “It is an honor for NYRA to be able to pay tribute to his accomplishments and contributions with the renaming of the King’s Bishop to the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.”
