Whirlaway Stakes

The Whirlaway Stakes is a race for Thoroughbred horses held in February at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Whirlaway Stakes is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles (8.5 furlongs) on the dirt. It is an ungraded event offering a purse of $100,000 added. The Whirlaway is the second of four two-turn races for 3-year-olds run in New York prior to the Kentucky Derby.[1]

Whirlaway Stakes

Ungraded stakes race
Location	Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York
Inaugurated	1980
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.nyra.com/index_aqueduct.html
Race information
Distance	​1 1⁄6 miles (8.5 furlongs)
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Three-years-old
Purse	$100,000

The Whirlaway is named in honor of Whirlaway, the firth Triple Crown of Horse Racing winner in 1941. Called "Mr. Longtail" for obvious reasons, he was a thrilling closer and a huge crowd pleaser. Like Silky Sullivan, many of his races were won by last-minute come-from-behind efforts.