Pan American Stakes
The Pan American Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses that are four years or older held over a distance of one and one-half miles (twelve furlongs) on the turf usually scheduled annually in late March as an under card event on Florida Derby day at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000. History The inaugural running of the event was on Pan American Day, 14 April 1962, as the Pan American Handicap over one and one-eighth miles distance on the dirt and was easily won by Brae Burn Farm's talented six year old mare Shirley Jones who was ridden by Larry Gilligan defeating nine other starters in a time of 1:51 by five lengths. The event was inspired to be an attraction for horses from both North and South America and this seemed to be a success as in the first eleven runnings of the event four winners were bred in Argentina and one in Chile. Until 1971 the event was held on the last day of the Gulfstream Park Meeting which would be in mid-April and thus the event would be scheduled close to the Pan American Day