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WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL NAME OF THE JEFF RUBY STEAKS?

WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL NAME OF THE JEFF RUBY STEAKS?
3/12/2020

 

 

The Jeff Ruby Steaks is named for its sponsor under a 3-year agreement which began in 2018. The sponsor, Jeff Ruby, is an iconic restaurateur that built a brand of 7 steak houses in 3 states (Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee). The first, the Precinct-1981) was in Cincinnati, Ohio. Over the years he has been an avid supporter and advertiser in Thoroughbred racing. Many top flight jockeys ride with his name on the legs of their white riding pants. Part of the agreement to sponsor the race required it be named a “Steak race”, rather than a “stake race” after Rudy’s famous steak restaurants. The race was won in 2019 by Somelikeithotbrown and in 2018 by Blended Citizen. Before it was coined the Jeff Ruby Steaks it was won by Animal Kingdom (2011), Hard Spun (2007), Flower Alley (2005) and Prairie Bayou (1993). During those years the race was known as the Spiral Stakes for most of the years since its beginning in 1972. Although it did have just the name Jim Beam Stakes, dropping the name Spiral, in the late 1990s.