Woody Stephens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Woody Stephens
Woodford Cephis "Woody" Stephens at Saratoga racetrack, circa August 1995 (approx).
Occupation	Trainer
Born	September 1, 1913 Stanton, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	August 22, 1998 (aged 84)
Career wins	1,937
Major racing wins
Ashland Stakes (1949, 1957, 1959, 1963) Blue Grass Stakes (1949, 1954, 1974) Sanford Stakes (1954, 1971, 1987) Breeders' Futurity Stakes (1954, 1975, 1983, 1987) Withers Stakes (1955, 1987) Ohio Derby (1955, 1979) Woodward Stakes (1955) Kentucky Oaks (1959, 1960, 1963, 1978, 1981) Saratoga Handicap (1959) Washington, D.C. International Stakes (1959, 1960) Arlington Handicap (1960) Aqueduct Handicap (1960, 1973) Metropolitan Handicap (1960, 1982) Saratoga Special Stakes (1961, 1981, 1983) Belmont Futurity Stakes (1962, 1983, 1986) Champagne Stakes (1962, 1983, 1987) Suburban Handicap (1964) Washington Park Handicap (1966) Jim Dandy Stakes (1982, 1985) Adirondack Stakes (1969, 1979, 1984) Spinaway Stakes (1969, 1976, 1979) Gazelle Stakes (1970, 1984) Hopeful Stakes (1970) Arlington Matron Handicap (1972) Florida Derby (1974, 1984) Remsen Stakes (1975, 1977, 1989) Young America Stakes (1983) Saranac Stakes (1975, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988) Alabama Stakes (1978) Wood Memorial Stakes (1978) Test Stakes (1978) American Derby (1979, 1985) Pennsylvania Derby (1979, 1984, 1988) Tropical Park Derby (1984, 1988) Acorn Stakes (1981, 1984, 1986) Diana Handicap (1981) E. P. Taylor Stakes (1981) Hollywood Derby (1981) Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (1983, 1984) Cotillion Handicap (1983) Hempstead Handicap (1983, 1986) Secretariat Stakes (1984) Yellow Ribbon Stakes (1984) Gardenia Stakes (1985, 1988, 1989) Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (1985, 1986) Jockey Club Gold Cup (1986, 1987) Peter Pan Stakes (1986) Haskell Invitational Handicap (1988) Travers Stakes (1988) American Classic Race wins: Kentucky Derby (1974, 1984) Preakness Stakes (1952) Belmont Stakes (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986)
Racing awards
Big Sport of Turfdom Award (1982) Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer (1983)
Honours
Long Island Sports Hall of Fame United States' Racing Hall of Fame (1976) Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park
Significant horses
Blue Man, Traffic Judge, Bald Eagle, Never Bend, Bold Bidder, Danzig, Sensational, De La Rose, Devil's Bag, Conquistador Cielo, Caveat, Swale, Creme Fraiche, Danzig Connection, Forty Niner

Woody Stephens (September 1, 1913 – August 22, 1998) was a famous American Thoroughbred horse trainer. He is a member of the Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Who Was Woody Stephens?

Woodford Cefis Stephens was born in Stanton, Kentucky. His younger brother, William Ward Stephens, also became a successful horse trainer. Woody started his career in horse racing as a jockey when he was 16 years old. After a few years, he decided to switch to training horses instead.

Starting His Training Career

In the late 1930s, Woody Stephens began training horses on his own. He worked with horses from many different owners. Towards the end of the 1950s, a rich owner named Harry Guggenheim hired him. Woody became the main trainer for Guggenheim's Cain Hoy Stable. This was a very successful time for him. He trained several champion horses and won many important races. These included the Kentucky Oaks three times. After ten years with Guggenheim, he started his own stable again in 1966.

Major Achievements in Horse Racing

Woody Stephens' career lasted for seven decades, which is a very long time! He trained eleven horses that won an Eclipse Award. This award is given to the best horses in different categories each year. His horses also won over one hundred Grade 1 stakes races. These are the highest level of horse races.

One of his most famous horses was a colt named Conquistador Cielo. This horse won the 1982 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. Woody Stephens trained horses that won the Kentucky Oaks five times. He also won the Kentucky Derby twice and the Preakness Stakes once.

However, he is most famous for something truly amazing. He won the Belmont Stakes five times in a row! This happened from 1982 to 1986. No other trainer had ever done this before.

Awards and Recognition

Woody Stephens was recognized for his great work. In 1976, he was chosen to be in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. This is a huge honor for anyone in horse racing. In 1983, he won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer. This award means he was the best trainer in the United States that year.

Woody Stephens' Triple Crown Wins

Woody Stephens trained several horses that won parts of the U.S. Triple Crown. These are some of the most important races in horse racing.

• Kentucky Derby:
  • 1974: Cannonade
  • 1984: Swale
• Preakness Stakes:
  • 1952: Blue Man
• Belmont Stakes:
  • 1982: Conquistador Cielo
  • 1983: Caveat
  • 1984: Swale
  • 1985: Creme Fraiche
  • 1986: Danzig Connection

Later Life and Legacy

Woody Stephens lived in Midway, Kentucky, which is where he started working with Thoroughbred horses. He passed away in 1998 in Miami Lakes, Florida. He was almost 85 years old. The Woody Stephens Breeders' Cup Stakes race at Belmont Park is named after him. This shows how important he was to the sport.