Lexington Stakes

The Lexington Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Open to three-year-old horses, the Grade III event is contested on dirt over a distance of 11/16 miles (8.5 furlongs).

It was run as Calumet Purse, an overnight allowance race, from 1973-1983. Renamed the Lexington Stakes in 1984, since 1998 it has been sponsored by Ireland's renowned Coolmore Stud. First run in 1936, it was a six furlong race for two-year-olds during Keeneland's inaugural meeting. Then, it was an 1ΒΌ mile overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up from 1938-1941. A listed race in 1984, it achieved Grade III status in 1986 and was a GII from 1988 through 2010. The race was downgraded to GIII status for 2011 by the American Graded Stakes Committee. It is now considered, along with the Federico Tesio Stakes, to be the final prep for the Kentucky Derby.

Keeneland Race Course Graded Stakes Races

Stakes Race Grade Purse
Transylvania Stakes III $100,000
Ashland Stakes I $400,000
Madison Stakes I $300,000
Maker's Mark Mile Stakes I $300,000
Shakertown Stakes III $100,000
Jenny Wiley Stakes II $200,000
Commonwealth Stakes II $175,000
Blue Grass Stakes I $750,000
Beaumont Stakes II $150,000
Appalachian Stakes III $100,000
Doubledogdare Stakes III $100,000
Ben Ali Stakes III $150,000
Lexington Stakes III $200,000
Bewitch Stakes III $150,000
Elkhorn Stakes II $150,000
Phoenix Stakes III $175,000
Darley Alcibiades Stakes I $400,000
Woodford Stakes III $100,000
Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes II $200,000
First Lady Stakes I $350,000
Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes I $600,000
Dixiana Breeders' Futurity Stakes I $400,000
Bourbon Stakes III $100,000
Juddmonte Spinster Stakes I $500,000
Jessamine Stakes III $150,000
Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes I $400,000
Sycamore Stakes III $100,000
Valley View Stakes III $150,000
Raven Run Stakes II $250,000
Fayette Stakes II $150,000