The inaugural running of the Delta Jackpot took place in 2002. Run over a distance of one mile (1.6 km), it carried a purse of $500,000. For the following year, the race was lengthened to 1+1⁄16 miles and the purse was increased to $1 million[1] to make it the second-richest race for two-year-olds in North America behind only the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
The 2005 running of the Delta Jackpot Stakes was cancelled due to Hurricane Rita. The 2017 running was cancelled due to Hurricane Harvey.[2] Delta Downs management discontinued the race after an agreement regarding the race's future could not be reached.[3]
Sponsored by Boyd Gaming, the Delta Jackpot Stakes was run as a graded race for the first time in 2006. It was run on the same day as the Delta Princess Stakes for two-year-old fillies.
The 2007 running of the Delta Jackpot Stakes finished in the race's first dead heat, with Z Humor and Turf War stopping the timer in 1:45.43. As a result of the tie, both horses split $800,000 in purse money.
Due to the 2008 economic downturn, the purse was reduced in the 2008 and 2009 runnings from $1,000,0000 to $750,000. The purse was increased back to $1,000,0000 in 2010.
