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The Lecomte Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses at a distance of one and one-sixteenths miles on the dirt run annually in mid-January, at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event currently offers a purse of $200,000.

History

Early years - Open era (1943-61)

The event was inaugurated 20 February 1943 as the LeCompte Handicap with handicap conditions for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles. The race was won by Emerson Francis Woodward's Valdina Farms standout Valdina Orphan who started a short priced 2/5 odds-on favorite winning easily by two lengths in a time of 1:51 flat. Three months later Emerson Francis Woodward and his wife Bessie were killed in an accident with a train at a graded crossing in his home state of Texas.

The event was named after the town of Lecompte, Louisiana, which was named but incorrectly spelt after a famous 19th century race horse owned by the Wells family who lived on a plantation south of the town. The horse's name was Lecomte, who is known as the only horse to defeat Lexington. Lecomte's dam was the brilliant Reel.

The event was programmed as a preparatory race for the Fair Grounds signature event for older horses, the New Orleans Handicap which in the era was scheduled one or two weeks after this race with the place getters receiving automatic entry.

In 1945 the event was not held due to World War II. In 1948 the eight-year-old Jack S. L. became the first two time winner of the event. In 1949 the result of the event was a dead heat between My Request and Caillou Rouge. My Request won and would go on and win the New Orleans Handicap. In 1951 Joe W. Brown's four-year-old filly won the event Thelma Berger as part of his two horse entry in event with Riverlane and to date remains the only filly or mare to have won the event. The 1953 winner Smoke Screen also won the New Orleans Handicap.

In 1955 the event was run as the LeComte Handicap with reference to the correct name of the famous horse.

In 1961 one of Fair Grounds' favorite horses Mrs. Joe W. Brown's Tenacious won the event for the third straight time. In 1958 Tenacious finished third as the 11/10 favorite to the two time winner Speed Rouser, but would go on and win the New Orleans Handicap. In 1959 Tenacious set a new track record of 1:43 flat for the 1+1⁄16 miles distance. The 1961 running of the event would be the last time the race was scheduled as an event for older horses.

Three-year-old event (1962 onwards)

In 1962 the conditions of the event were changed that only three-year-olds could enter. The event immediately became a preparatory race for the Louisiana Derby which was held later in the meeting in March. The 1963 winner City Line won the event defeating Lemon Twist by five lengths and setting a new stakes record of 1:422⁄5. City Line would go on and repeat his win in his next start defeating Lemon Twist again by eight lengths in the Louisiana Derby. Mrs. Dorothy Dorsett Brown's two horse entry of Dapper Delegate and Doc Wesley won the event in 1965 starting at the short odds of 1/2. Dapper Delegate would also go on and in a fortnight capture the Louisiana Derby.

The first winner of the LeComte Handicap to make an impact on the American Triple Crown events was Joseph R. Straus's 1972 winner No Le Hace. No Le Hace started as the 6/5 favorite and won by 2+1⁄2 lengths winning his third straight race. No Le Hace would win the Louisiana Derby and the go to Oaklawn Park and win the Arkansas Derby. No Le Hace proceeded in running second at Churchill Downs in the Derby Trial Stakes a week before the Kentucky Derby. In the 1972 Kentucky Derby No Le Hace finished second to Riva Ridge and two weeks later finished second in the 1972 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico to Bee Bee Bee.

A major upset occurred in the 1988 running of the event when Thomas Leavell's Pastourelles defeated the heavily backed 3/10 odds-favorite Risen Star by a length and a quarter. Risen Star would turn the tables on Pastourelles in the Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes and Louisiana Derby. More impressive was Risen Star's campaign in the American Triple Crown events where he won 1988 Preakness Stakes and then the Belmont Stakes by 14+1⁄2 lengths.

In 1991 the distance of the event was decreased to one mile.

In 2003 the American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event as Grade III.

Due to the catastrophic damage caused by of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 the winter meeting was abbreviated and held at Louisiana Downs and the event was not scheduled.

The event was held over a distance of a mile and 40 yards in 2010 and 2011 and was increased to a mile and 70 yards in 2012.

In 2013 Oxbow won the event by a stakes record 11+1⁄2 lengths. Later in May Oxbow won the 2013 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. The 2019 winner War of Will also went onto win the 2019 Preakness Stakes.

In 2020 the event's distance was set to the 1+1⁄16 miles distance, last run in 1991.

The event is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Records

Speed record:

• 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:42.40 – City Line (1963)
• 1 mile & 70 yards: 1:42.57 – Vicar's in Trouble (2014)
• 1 mile & 40 yards: 1:39.29 – Fly Cry (1994)
• 1 mile: 1:37.60 – Dixieland Heat (1993)

Margins:

• 11+1⁄2 lengths – Oxbow (2013)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 – Robby Albarado (1998, 2001, 2005, 2012, 2017)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 5 – John B. Theall (1946, 1951, 1959, 1960, 1961)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 - Mr. & Mrs. Joe W. Brown (1951, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1967)

Lecomte Stakes – Louisiana Derby double:

• City Line (1963), Dapper Delegate (1965), No Le Hace (1972), Clev Er Tell (1977), Dixieland Heat (1993), Friesan Fire (2009), International Star (2015)

Winners

Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
ƒ Filly or Mare

See also

• Road to the Kentucky Derby
• List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

1. ^ "LeCompte Handicap Goes To Valdina Orphan, Favorite; Moscow II Earns Second And Yankee Dandy Runs Third (1943 Le Compte Handicap – race 7: held 20 February 1943)". Baltimore Sun. The Associated Press. 21 February 1943. p. 27. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
2. "E. F. Woodward, Valdina Farms Owner, Passes; Wife Killed in Accident, Breeder Succumbs To Injuries". Miami News. The Associated Press. 24 May 1943. p. 15. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
3. "Lecomte: The short life but long legacy of a Louisiana racing hero". Brisnet. 2019-01-15. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
4. ^ "LECOMTE STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Database. 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
5. ^ "Feature Ends in Deadheat; Caillou Rouge & My Request Run Tie At Fair Grounds (1949 Le Compte Handicap – race 7: held 5 March 1949)". Baltimore Sun. The Associated Press. 6 March 1949. p. 34. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
6. ^ "Thelma Berger Wins $10,000 Added LeCompte; Victor Pays $7.60 For $2; Little Flower Runs Second And Riverlane Third (1951 Le Compte Handicap – race 7: held 10 February 1951)". Baltimore Sun. The Associated Press. 11 February 1951. p. 33. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
7. ^ "Fairground feature won by Spur On (1955 Lecomte Handicap – race 7: held 19 February 1955)". Chicago Tribune. The Associated Press. 20 February 1955. p. 48. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
8. ^ Thomas, Ben (24 February 1963). "City Line Beats Lemon Twist By Five Lengths in LeComte (1963 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 23 February 1963)". Lexington Leader. p. 13. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
9. "City Line Captures Louisiana Derby By 8 Lengths Over Lemon Twist (1963 Louisiana Derby – race 9: held 9 March 1963)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 10 March 1963. p. 40. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
10. ^ "Dapper Delegate Gets Easy Win (1965 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 27 February 1965)". The Tennessean. The Associated Press. 28 February 1965. p. 50. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
11. "Three Length Winner; Dapper Delegate Grabs Louisiana Derby Laurels (1965 Louisiana Derby – race 9: held 13 March 1965)". Lafayette Daily Advertiser. The Associated Press. 14 March 1965. p. 18. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
12. ^ "Explodent explodes to win Swift Stakes; No Le Hace scores (1972 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 4 March 1972)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 5 March 1972. p. 46. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
13. ^ "Pastourelles wins Lecomte by a length (1988 Lecomte Handicap – race 10: held 6 February 1988)". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 7 February 1988. p. 41. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
14. ^ "Lecomte Stakes (Gr. 3)". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
15. Deckard, Leslie (29 September 2005). "Delta Downs' Race Meeting in Question". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
16. ^ "2013 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
17. "Distances Extended For Derby Preps at Fair Grounds", Blood-horse, retrieved 16 January 2020
18. "2024 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 13)". Equibase. 21 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
19. "2023 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 14)". Equibase. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
20. "2022 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 14)". Equibase. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
21. "2021 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 13)". Equibase. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
22. "2020 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 13)". Equibase. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
23. "2019 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 12)". Equibase. 19 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
24. "2018 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
25. "2017 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
26. "2016 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
27. "2015 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
28. "2014 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
29. "2012 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
30. "2011 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
31. "2010 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
32. "2009 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 10 January 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
33. "2008 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 12 January 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
34. "2007 LeComte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 January 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
35. "2005 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 January 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
36. "2004 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 24 January 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
37. "2003 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 25 January 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
38. "2002 LeComte Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 26 January 2002. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
39. "2001 Lecomte Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 January 2001. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
40. "2000 Lecomte Handicap Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 January 2000. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
41. "1999 Lecomte Handicap Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 30 January 1999. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
42. "1998 Lecomte Handicap Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 31 January 1998. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
43. "1997 Lecomte Handicap Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 February 1997. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
44. "1996 Lecomte Handicap Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 3 February 1996. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
45. "1995 Lecomte Handicap Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 4 February 1995. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
46. "1994 Lecomte Handicap Black Type - (race 10)". Equibase. 13 February 1994. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
47. "1993 Lecomte Handicap Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 February 1993. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
48. "1992 Lecomte Handicap Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 February 1992. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
49. "1991 Lecomte Handicap Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 27 January 1991. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
50. "Martha's Buck wins Lecomte Handicap (1990 Lecomte Handicap – race 10: held 3 February 1990)". Palm Beach Post. The Associated Press. 4 February 1990. p. 497. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
51. "Thoroughbred Racing Roundup and Race Results (1989 Lecomte Handicap – race 10: held 4 February 1989)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 5 February 1989. p. 497. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
52. "Racing Result (1987 Lecomte Handicap – race 10: held 7 February 1987)". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Associated Press. 8 February 1987. p. 51. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
53. "Racing Result (1986 Lecomte Handicap – race 10: held 16 February 1986)". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Associated Press. 17 February 1986. p. 59. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
54. "Longshot Encolure wins at Fairgrounds (1985 Lecomte Handicap – race 10: held 23 February 1985)". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 24 February 1985. p. 7. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
55. "...; Silent King's surge wins Lecomte (1984 Lecomte Handicap – race 10: held 18 February 1984)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 19 February 1984. p. 53. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
56. "Pewter Grey, Explosive Wagon score upsets (1983 Lecomte Handicap – race 10: held 19 February 1983)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 20 February 1983. p. 58. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
57. "Racing Round Up: Fair Grounds (1982 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 20 February 1982)". Lexington Herald. The Associated Press. 21 February 1982. p. 39. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
58. "Law Me Comes Off Pace, Wins LeComte Handicap (1981 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 21 February 1981)". The Tennessean. The Associated Press. 22 February 1981. p. 39. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
59. "Horse Racing: Withholding, Beau's Eagle triumph (1980 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 17 February 1980)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 18 February 1980. p. 28. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
60. "Fuego Seguro wins feature (1979 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 18 February 1979)". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 19 February 1979. p. 34. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
61. "Dragon Tamer wins feature (1978 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 19 February 1978)". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 20 February 1978. p. 24. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
62. "It's Replant in San Jacinto; Clev Er Tell wins Lecomte (1977 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 19 February 1977)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 20 February 1977. p. 38. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
63. "Horse Racing: Fair Grounds (1976 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 21 February 1976)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 22 February 1976. p. 38. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
64. "Horse Racing: Fair Grounds (1975 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 8 February 1975)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 9 February 1975. p. 44. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
65. "Horse Racing: Fair Grounds (1974 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 16 February 1974)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 17 February 1974. p. 44. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
66. "Vodika Stretch Winner at NO (1973 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 17 February 1973)". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 18 February 1973. p. 52. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
67. "Horse Racing: Fair Grounds (1971 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 6 March 1971)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 7 March 1971. p. 46. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
68. "Horse Racing: Fair Grounds (1970 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 12 February 1970)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 22 February 1970. p. 47. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
69. "Area Racng Roundup; Foolish Prince Wins; Six Mark Goes Lame (1969 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 1 March 1969)". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 2 March 1969. p. 11. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
70. "Port Digger Claims Win In LeComte (1968 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 24 February 1968)". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 25 February 1968. p. 46. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
71. "Grand Premiere Scores in LeComte 'Cap (1967 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 25 February 1967)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 26 February 1967. p. 46. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
72. "Sails Pride Is Winner in Lecomte (1966 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 26 February 1966)". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 27 February 1966. p. 21. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
73. "Favorite Wins At Fair Grounds (1964 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 29 February 1964)". Baltimore Sun. The Associated Press. 1 March 1964. p. 46. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
74. "Treasury Note Wins; 3-Year-Old Runs First At New Orleans (1962 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 17 February 1963)". The Commercial Appeal. United Press International. 18 February 1962. p. 79. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
75. "New Orleans Race Won By Tenacious (1961 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 12 February 1961)". Chattanooga Daily Times. The Associated Press. 12 February 1961. p. 45. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
76. "LeComte 'Cap To Tenacious (1960 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 13 February 1960)". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. The Associated Press. 14 February 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
77. "Tenacious Breaks New Orleans Mark (1959 Lecomte Handicap – race 9: held 14 February 1959)". The Boston Globe. United Press International. 15 February 1959. p. 56. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
78. "Speed Rouser Has Le Comte Victory (1958 Lecomte Handicap – race 8: held 15 February 1958)". Lafayette Daily Advertiser. The Associated Press. 16 February 1958. p. 13. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
79. "Mud-Loving Speed Rouser Wins LeComte Handicap (1957 Lecomte Handicap – race 8: held 16 February 1957)". Lexington Leader. The Associated Press. 17 February 1957. p. 9. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
80. "LeComte Won By Galdar (1956 Lecomte Handicap – race 7: held 18 February 1956)". Central New Jersey Home News. The Associated Press. 19 February 1956. p. 13. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
81. "New Orleans; Futuresque Is Winner Of Lecompte Handicap (1954 Lecompte Handicap – race 7: held 20 February 1954)". Shreveport Times. The Associated Press. 21 February 1954. p. 24. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
82. "Smoke Screen Captures F. G. Feature (1953 Lecompte Handicap – race 7: held 20 February 1953)". Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 21 February 1953. p. 33. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
83. "False Takes Feature Race; Beats Light Broom By 2 Lengths at Fair Grounds (1952 Lecompte Handicap – race 7: held 16 February 1952)". Baltimore Sun. The Associated Press. 17 February 1952. p. 37. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
84. "John's Joy Captures $10,000 Added LeCompte Handicap ; Blue Thanks Runs Second; Victor, $4 Choice, Scores By Length And Half (1950 Le Compte Handicap – race 7: held 25 February 1950)". Baltimore Sun. The Associated Press. 26 February 1950. p. 28. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
85. "Jack S L Wins Feature Race; Jobstown Falls As 3 Horses Collide At Fair Grounds (1948 Le Compte Handicap – race 6: held 26 February 1948)". Baltimore Sun. The Associated Press. 27 February 1948. p. 22. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
86. "Jack S L Wins LeCompte 'Cap; Earshot Finishes Second In Race At Fair Grounds (1947 Le Compte Handicap – race 6: held 15 February 1947)". Baltimore Sun. The Associated Press. 16 February 1947. p. 30. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
87. "King Dorsett Wins Easily; Beats Bold Salue by Three Lengths At Fair Grounds (1946 Le Compte Handicap – race 7: held 23 February 1946)". Baltimore Sun. The Associated Press. 24 February 1946. p. 28. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
88. "First Fiddle Wins Handicap; Takes $3,500 Le Compte In New Orleans Purse Warmup (1944 Le Compte Handicap – race 7: held 15 February 1944)". Baltimore Sun. The Associated Press. 16 February 1944. p. 11. Retrieved 8 January 2022.

• Fair Grounds Race Course
• Triple Crown Prep Races
• Graded stakes races in the United States
• Horse races in New Orleans
• Flat horse races for three-year-olds
• Recurring sporting events established in 1943
• 1943 establishments in Louisiana
• Grade 3 stakes races in the United States