Inaugurated in 1984 and run on Belmont Park’s turf track in early June, the Jaipur Invitational Stakes is a $400,000 Grade 1 sprint race over six furlongs for all those aged four years old and over.

Named for Jaipur, the champion three-year-old of 1962 who won the Belmont Stakes around this track, it carries enough prestige in its own right but now that a Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint race exists it also provides an early-season stepping stone for such horses to get to the championships in November in their favoured conditions.

Won no less than six times by superstar jockey Jerry Bailey, the Jaipur has been taken by lightning-quick types such as Fourstardave, Elusive Quality, Channel Maker and twice by Disco Partner. The first two named won the race when it was a Grade III over seven furlongs, however.