The event was inaugurated on 20 February 1960 as a $3,200 allowance race over the sprinting distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs and was won by Cyrob in a time of 1:05.80.
[4] The winner of the second division, Barb's Delight had finished second in the 1967 Kentucky Derby[5] The following year the distance of the event was increased to 1+1⁄16 miles.
The 1989 winner, Allen E. Paulson's Blushing John went onto be crowned United States Champion Older Male Horse.
The 2017 United States Champion Older Male Horse Gun Runner began his championship campaign with an emphatic 5+3⁄4 length victory as the 1/5on favorite.
† In the 2010 running of the event Win Willy was first past the post and wagering was paid out as the winner, however the horse returned a positive swab for the presence of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs[71] and consequently was disqualified from the prizemoney and was placed eighth (last).