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.
| 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 |
