Jeff Ruby Steaks

The Spiral Stakes (known as the Jeff Ruby Steaks [1] -- a homophone of the word Stakes, for commercial reasons) is an American thoroughbred horse race held in late March at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky in the Cincinnati area. The race is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the main track, which is now a synthetic surface at Turfway. It was downgraded to a Grade III race in 2011 by the American Graded Stakes Committee (AGSC).[2]

First run on April 1, 1972, bourbon whiskey maker Jim Beam acquired naming rights sponsorship in 1982 and the race renamed the Jim Beam Spiral Stakes and later just the Jim Beam Stakes. Lane's End Farm took over as sponsor of the race in 2002, and in 2013 it was sponsored by the Horseshoe Casino in Cincinnati. The Spiral Stakes was renamed in 2018 under a three-year agreement with Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment, owner of Jeff Ruby's Steakhouses. As part of the sponsorship, the race is referred to as the Jeff Ruby Steaks (similar to other sporting events named for a product).[1]

In 1984 it was given Grade III status, then, after moving to Turfway Park in 1986, its purse was increased and in 1988 was elevated to a Grade II race. It returned to Grade III status in 2011. With a win in the Kentucky Derby by Animal Kingdom, however, the Grade II status it lost could return soon based on the formula the AGSC uses to grade races.[3]

On March 30, 1991, Hansel set a new track record while winning the Jim Beam Stakes. In 1995, future Hall of Famer Serena's Song became the first filly to win the race. Other horses to win who went on to capture at least one of the American Classic Races includes Summer Squall (1990), Lil E. Tee (1992), Prairie Bayou (1993), and Animal Kingdom (2011).

Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances:

• 1 mile : 1972–1981
• ​1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles : 1982–1987
• ​1 ¹⁄₈ miles : 1988 to present

The race was run in two divisions in 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, and 1980.