The race was named in honor of the 1991 Maryland-bred "Horse of the Year, Wide Country.
The streak began in the final months of 1990 when the chestnut filly won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes over a muddy race track after losing a shoe.
Wide Country shipped to Belmont Park and Meadowlands during that campaign and placed second in graded stakes company in both cases.
Trained by Robert W. Camac, she captured three straight Maryland stakes races on her way to state-bred championship honors.
She retired with a record of 20 wins or placings in 26 starts for career earnings of $881,221.