1981 Grade 1 Stakes Races
Other 1981 Grades Past Years Graded Stakes| Race | Date | Track | Age | Sex | Distance | Surface | Field | Purse | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Fernando Stakes G1 | Jan 18, 1981 | SA | 4 | 9.0 | D | 11 | $119,300 | Doonesbury | |
| Charles Handicap Strub Stakes G1 | Feb 1, 1981 | SA | 4 | 10.0 | D | 10 | $235,000 | Super Moment | |
| La Canada Stakes G1 | Feb 8, 1981 | SA | 4 | F | 9.0 | D | 10 | $142,500 | Summer Siren |
| San Antonio Stakes G1 | Feb 15, 1981 | SA | 4U | 9.0 | D | 5 | $159,200 | Flying Paster | |
| Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap G1 | Feb 22, 1981 | SA | 4U | F | 9.0 | D | 10 | $200,000 | Princess Karenda |
| Gulfstream Park Handicap G1 | Feb 28, 1981 | GP | 3U | 10.0 | D | 9 | $176,750 | Hurry Up Blue | |
| Florida Derby G1 | Mar 6, 1981 | GP | 3 | 9.0 | D | 11 | $226,750 | Lord Avie | |
| Santa Anita Handicap G1 | Mar 8, 1981 | SA | 4U | 10.0 | D | 11 | $418,150 | John Henry | |
| Santa Susana Stakes G1 | Mar 21, 1981 | SA | 3 | F | 8.5 | D | 8 | $138,800 | Nell's Briquette |
| Santa Barbara Handicap G1 | Mar 22, 1981 | SA | 4U | 10.0 | T | 9 | $110,900 | The Very One | |
| Flamingo Stakes G1 | Mar 28, 1981 | HIA | 3 | 9.0 | D | 7 | $178,000 | Tap Shoes | |
| San Luis Rey Stakes G1 | Mar 29, 1981 | SA | 4U | 8.5 | T | 6 | $161,400 | John Henry | |
| Fantasy Stakes G1 | Apr 4, 1981 | OP | 3 | F | 8.5 | D | 9 | $223,150 | Heavenly Cause |
| Widener Handicap G1 | Apr 4, 1981 | HIA | 3U | 10.0 | D | 8 | $155,750 | Land of Eire | |
| Arkansas Derby G1 | Apr 11, 1981 | OP | 3 | 9.0 | D | 9 | $228,600 | Bold Ego | |
| Santa Anita Derby G1 | Apr 12, 1981 | SA | 3 | 9.0 | D | 13 | $270,600 | Splendid Spruce | |
| Wood Memorial Stakes G1 | Apr 18, 1981 | AQU | 3 | 9.0 | D | 6 | $163,800 | Pleasant Colony | |
| San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap G1 | Apr 19, 1981 | SA | 4U | 14.0 | T | 9 | $200,000 | Obraztsovy | |
| Blue Grass Stakes G1 | Apr 23, 1981 | KEE | 3 | 9.0 | D | 11 | $186,975 | Proud Appeal | |
| Top Flight Handicap G1 | Apr 26, 1981 | AQU | 3U | F | 9.0 | D | 5 | $107,800 | Chain Bracelet |
| Kentucky Oaks G1 | May 1, 1981 | CD | 3 | F | 8.5 | D | 6 | $124,000 | Heavenly Cause |
| Kentucky Derby G1 | May 2, 1981 | CD | 3 | 10.0 | D | 21 | $424,700 | Pleasant Colony | |
| Century Handicap G1 | May 3, 1981 | HOL | 3U | 9.0 | T | 8 | $110,900 | Spence Bay | |
| Preakness Stakes G1 | May 16, 1981 | PIM | 3 | 9.5 | D | 13 | $270,800 | Pleasant Colony | |
| Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap G1 | May 17, 1981 | HOL | 3U | 12.0 | T | 7 | $200,000 | John Henry | |
| Acorn Stakes G1 | May 23, 1981 | BEL | 3 | F | 8.0 | D | 7 | $84,750 | Heavenly Cause |
| Californian Stakes G1 | May 25, 1981 | HOL | 3U | 9.0 | D | 12 | $342,600 | Eleven Stitches | |
| Metropolitan Handicap G1 | May 25, 1981 | BEL | 3U | 8.0 | D | 7 | $142,750 | Fappiano | |
| Mother Goose Stakes G1 | Jun 5, 1981 | BEL | 3 | F | 9.0 | D | 8 | $111,200 | Wayward Lass |
| Belmont Stakes G1 | Jun 6, 1981 | BEL | 3 | 12.0 | D | 11 | $284,300 | Summing | |
| Arlington Classic G1 | Jun 13, 1981 | ARL | 3 | 9.0 | D | 11 | $140,000 | Fairway Phantom | |
| Hollywood Gold Cup G1 | Jun 14, 1981 | HOL | 3U | 10.0 | D | 10 | $500,000 | Eleven Stitches | |
| Hollywood Oaks G1 | Jun 27, 1981 | HOL | 3 | F | 9.0 | D | 7 | $109,100 | Past Forgetting |
| Coaching Club American Oaks G1 | Jun 27, 1981 | BEL | 3 | F | 12.0 | D | 6 | $136,250 | Wayward Lass |
| Suburban Handicap G1 | Jul 4, 1981 | BEL | 3U | 10.0 | D | 8 | $167,700 | Temperence Hill | |
| American Derby G1 | Jul 11, 1981 | ARL | 3 | 10.0 | D | 11 | $140,000 | Pocket Zipper | |
| Vanity Handicap G1 | Jul 12, 1981 | HOL | 3U | F | 9.0 | D | 7 | $200,000 | Track Robbery |
| Brooklyn Handicap G1 | Jul 18, 1981 | BEL | 3U | 12.0 | D | 10 | $230,500 | Hechizado | |
| Swaps Stakes G1 | Jul 19, 1981 | HOL | 3 | 10.0 | D | 7 | $217,000 | Noble Nashua | |
| Sunset Handicap G1 | Jul 20, 1981 | HOL | 3U | 12.0 | T | 11 | $226,050 | Galaxy Libra | |
| United Nations Handicap G1 | Jul 24, 1981 | ATL | 3U | 9.5 | T | 9 | $150,000 | Key to Content | |
| Sorority Stakes G1 | Jul 25, 1981 | MTH | 2 | F | 6.0 | D | 14 | $160,120 | Apalachee Honey |
| Haskell Invitational Handicap G1 | Aug 1, 1981 | MTH | 3 | 9.0 | D | 6 | $200,000 | Five Star Flight | |
| Whitney Handicap G1 | Aug 1, 1981 | SAR | 3U | 9.0 | D | 8 | $175,500 | Fio Rito | |
| Alabama Stakes G1 | Aug 8, 1981 | SAR | 3 | F | 10.0 | D | 6 | $110,000 | Prismatical |
| Sapling Stakes G1 | Aug 8, 1981 | MTH | 2 | 6.0 | D | 9 | $157,985 | Out of Hock | |
| Monmouth Handicap G1 | Aug 15, 1981 | MTH | 3U | 9.0 | D | 10 | $284,300 | Amber Pass | |
| Travers Stakes G1 | Aug 15, 1981 | SAR | 3 | 10.0 | D | 10 | $226,000 | Willow Hour | |
| Hopeful Stakes G1 | Aug 22, 1981 | SAR | 2 | 6.5 | D | 8 | $85,650 | Timely Writer | |
| Delaware Handicap G1 | Aug 23, 1981 | DEL | 3U | F | 10.0 | D | 10 | $115,500 | Relaxing |
| Spinaway Stakes G1 | Aug 23, 1981 | SAR | 2 | F | 6.0 | D | 10 | $88,200 | Before Dawn |
| Arlington-Washington Futurity G1 | Aug 29, 1981 | ARL | 2 | A | 7.0 | D | 15 | $508,975 | Lets DonÂt Fight |
| Woodward Stakes G1 | Sep 5, 1981 | BEL | 3U | 9.0 | D | 9 | $229,000 | Pleasant Colony | |
| Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes G1 | Sep 5, 1981 | ARL | 2 | F | 7.0 | D | 15 | $216,330 | Milingo |
| Maskette Stakes G1 | Sep 6, 1981 | BEL | 3U | F | 8.0 | D | 5 | $108,800 | Jameela |
| Futurity Stakes G1 | Sep 12, 1981 | BEL | 2 | 7.0 | D | 8 | $172,675 | Irish Martini | |
| Arlington Handicap G1 | Sep 12, 1981 | ARL | 3U | 12.0 | T | 8 | $120,100 | Spruce Needles | |
| Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap G1 | Sep 19, 1981 | BEL | 3U | 10.0 | D | 8 | $400,000 | Noble Nashua | |
| Matron Stakes G1 | Sep 19, 1981 | BEL | 2 | 7.0 | D | 9 | $135,350 | Before Dawn | |
| Ruffian Handicap G1 | Sep 27, 1981 | BEL | 3U | F | 9.0 | D | 4 | $161,700 | Relaxing |
| Man O' War Stakes G1 | Oct 3, 1981 | BEL | 3U | 11.0 | T | 6 | $165,300 | Galaxy Libra | |
| Frizette Stakes G1 | Oct 4, 1981 | BEL | 2 | F | 8.0 | D | 12 | $118,200 | Proud Lou |
| Champagne Stakes G1 | Oct 10, 1981 | BEL | 2 | 8.0 | D | 13 | $150,250 | Timely Writer | |
| Jockey Club Gold Cup G1 | Oct 10, 1981 | BEL | 3U | 12.0 | D | 11 | $568,000 | John Henry | |
| Beldame Stakes G1 | Oct 11, 1981 | BEL | 3U | F | 10.0 | D | 7 | $218,500 | Love Sign |
| Vosburgh Stakes G1 | Oct 17, 1981 | AQU | 3U | 7.0 | D | 8 | $113,200 | Guilty Conscience | |
| Rothmans International Stakes G1 | Oct 18, 1981 | WO | 3U | 13.0 | T | 14 | $308,750 | Open Call | |
| Turf Classic G1 | Oct 24, 1981 | AQU | 3U | 12.0 | T | 9 | $300,000 | April Run | |
| Laurel Futurity G1 | Oct 24, 1981 | LRL | 2 | 8.5 | D | 8 | $191,150 | Deputy Minister | |
| Selima Stakes G1 | Oct 31, 1981 | LRL | 2 | F | 8.5 | D | 6 | $210,835 | Snow Plow |
| Norfolk Stakes G1 | Oct 31, 1981 | SA | 2 | 8.5 | D | 9 | $234,650 | Stalwart | |
| Spinster Stakes G1 | Oct 31, 1981 | KEE | 3U | F | 9.0 | D | 7 | $164,700 | Glorious Song |
| Yellow Ribbon Invitational Stakes G1 | Nov 1, 1981 | SA | 3U | F | 10.0 | T | 11 | $300,000 | Queen to Conquer |
| Ladies Handicap G1 | Nov 1, 1981 | AQU | 3U | F | 10.0 | D | 8 | $110,400 | Jameela |
| Young America Stakes G1 | Nov 5, 1981 | M | 2 | 8.5 | D | 14 | $282,750 | Deputy Minister | |
| Oak Leaf Stakes G1 | Nov 7, 1981 | SA | 2 | F | 8.5 | D | 9 | $240,650 | Header Card |
| Washington D. C. International G1 | Nov 7, 1981 | LRL | 3U | 12.0 | T | 10 | $250,000 | Providential II | |
| Oak Tree Invitational Handicap G1 | Nov 8, 1981 | SA | 3U | 12.0 | T | 7 | $300,000 | John Henry | |
| Remsen Stakes G1 | Nov 14, 1981 | AQU | 2 | 9.0 | D | 11 | $172,500 | Laser Light | |
| Hollywood Derby G1 | Nov 15, 1981 | HOL | 3 | 9.0 | T | 8 | $113,700 | Silveyville | |
| Demoiselle Stakes G1 | Nov 15, 1981 | AQU | 2 | F | 9.0 | D | 8 | $83,700 | Snow Plow |