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Blue Grass Stakes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Grade 1 Race | ||
|---|---|---|
| Blue Grass Stakes | ||
 |
||
| Location | Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky, USA | |
| Inaugurated: | 1911 | |
| Race type | Thoroughbred | |
| Website: | Blue Grass Stakes at the NTRA | |
| Race information | ||
| Distance | 1⅛ miles (9 Furlongs) | |
| Track | Polytrack, Left-handed | |
| Qualification | 3-year-old American-bred | |
| Weight | 123 lbs (55.8 kg) | |
| Purse | US$750,000. | |
The Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in mid April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky.
It was named for the Bluegrass region of Kentucky, characterized by grass having bluish-green culms, which is known as the "heart" of the thoroughbred racing industry.
First run at the Kentucky Association track in Lexington in 1911, the Blue Grass has, from its inception, served as an important prep for the Kentucky Derby. At the Association track, the Blue Grass was staged from 1911 through 1914 and from 1919 through 1926. The race was revived at Keeneland in the spring of 1937. In 1943-1944, the Blue Grass was renewed as a part of the Keeneland-at-Churchill Downs meeting. In 1945, the Blue Grass was run as part of the Churchill Downs meeting. Today it is part of the Keeneland program.
The race is run at a distance of one and one-eighth miles for a purse of $750,000.
Fastest Time: (at Current Distance of 1⅛ miles)
- 1:47.20 - Skip Away (1996)
Most wins by an owner:
- 6 - Calumet Farm (1938, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1968, 1978)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 6 - Bill Shoemaker (1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1982)
Most wins by a trainer: (tied)
- 3 - Ben A. Jones (1943, 1947, 1948)
- 3 - Woody Stephens (1949, 1954, 1974)
- 3 - LeRoy Jolley (1962, 1976, 1977),
- 3 - Nick Zito (1991, 1998, 2004)
* 1951 – The race was made up of two heats. Sonic won the second heat but was disqualified and placed fourth.