The Regret Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs) on the Turf scheduled annually in mid-June near the end of the Spring Meet at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event offers a purse of $275,000.

History The race is named for Harry Payne Whitney's champion filly Regret, the first filly to win the 1915 Kentucky Derby. In the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th century, she is #71 and in a poll among members of the American Trainers Association, she was voted the third greatest filly in American racing history. Regret was undefeated as a two-year-old, she made her three-year-old debut in the Derby, winning in wire-to-wire fashion.

The race was inaugural running on 16 May 1970 and was run over a distance of 6 furlongs and won by Tree Pigeons ridden by veteran jockey Tommy Barrows in a fast time of 1:10. The Regret Stakes was run at six furlongs for its first twelve runnings (1970–1981). From 1982 to 1987 the race was run at a distance of one mile and from 1988 to 2002 it was run at miles. From 2003 to present it has been run at its current distance of miles.

The event was classified a Grade III event for the first time in 1999.

The event has been run in division four times - in 1974, 1976, 1980 and 1982.

Records Speed record: miles – 1:46.23 - Faithful Departed (2026) miles – 1:42.14 - Packet (1994)

Margins: 7 lengths – Amazing Love (1982) 7 lengths – Red Cross (1975)

Most wins by a jockey 4 - Julien Leparoux (2006, 2008, 2015, 2022)

Most wins by a trainer 4 - William I. Mott (1984, 1986, 1991, 2020)

Most wins by an owner 2 - Leslie Combs II (1971, 1977) 2 - Golden Chance Farm (1974, 1976) 2 - Hiram Polk, Jr. (1984, 1991)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026Faithful Departed Jose Ortiz Grant ForsterFrank Ferrogine, Richard Rendina, Nick Coniglio & Greywood Farms miles1:46.23$272,500III2025Fionn Florent GerouxBrad CoxMichael Lee, George Messina miles1:47.29$272,500III2024Pin Up Betty Luis SaezMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles1:50.70$272,500III2023Mission of Joy Tyler GaffalioneH. Graham MotionRyZan Sun Racing & Madaket Stables miles1:49.05$205,000III2022WalkathonJulien R. LeparouxIan R. WilkesWhitham Thoroughbreds miles1:49.26$195,000III2021Gam's Mission Adam BeschizzaCherie DeVauxLazy F Ranch miles1:51.02$150,000III2020Harvey's Lil Goil Martin GarciaWilliam I. MottEstate of Harvey A. Clarke & Paul Braverman miles1:47.70$100,000III2019Hard LegacyJulien R. LeparouxNorm W. CasseMarylou Whitney Stables miles1:48.22$150,000III2018Beyond BlameFlorent GerouxBrad H. CoxPop-A-Top miles1:48.94$100,000III2017Sweeping PaddyLuis SaezDale L. RomansWilliam Pacella, Frank L. Jones, Jr., Frank Shoop miles1:47.62$100,000III2016Auntie JoyBrian Hernandez Jr.Brendan P. WalshSanford Robertson miles1:49.24$100,000III2015Julien R. LeparouxChris M. BlockDarrell & Sadie Brommer miles1:51.88$100,000III2014‡ Aurelia's BelleJohn R. VelazquezWayne M. CatalanoJames F. Miller miles1:48.02$100,000III2013Kitten's DumplingsJoel RosarioMichael J. MakerKen and Sarah Ramsey miles1:48.41$100,000III2012Centre CourtJavier CastellanoGeorge R. Arnold IIG. Watts Humphrey Jr. & Louise Ireland Humphrey (Trust) miles1:48.25$114,200III2011Bizzy CarolineManoel R. CruzKenneth G. McPeekRunnymeade Farm miles1:49.73$138,125III2010CaminadoraCorey NakataniTodd A. PletcherStarlight Partners miles1:52.04$145,250III2009KeertanaRobby AlbaradoThomas F. ProctorBarbara Hunter miles1:52.02$200,000III2008Pure ClanJulien R. LeparouxRobert E. HolthusLewis Lakin, IEAH Stable & Pegasus Holding Group Stables miles1:49.86$217,000III2007Good Mood (IRE)Edgar S. PradoPatrick L. BianconeFlying Zee Stable miles1:47.57$228,600III2006Julien R. LeparouxPatrick L. BianconeMartin S. Schwartz miles1:47.31$229,000III2005Rich in SpiritGary L. StevensThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farm miles1:49.76$225,000III2004Sister StarBrice BlancKenneth G. McPeekJohn & Julie Marker miles1:51.40$221,800III2003Sand SpringsMark GuidryAnthony L. ReinstedlerWillmott Stables miles1:48.78$231,000III2002Distant Valley (GB)Jerry D. BaileyNiall M. O'CallaghanGary A. Tanaka miles1:42.71$169,050III2001Casual FeatLarry MelanconSteven C. PenrodHidaway Farm miles1:42.75$167,250III2000SolvigPat DayCarl A. NafzgerBentley Smith Revocable Trust miles1:42.95$168,450III1999Nani RoseShane SellersPatrick B. ByrneStonerside Stable miles1:42.40$168,450III1998Formal TangoAlbert Stall Jr.David J. Hulkewicz miles1:48.73$170,850Listed 1997Starry DreamerWillie MartinezClaude R. McGaughey IIIH. Joseph Allen miles1:42.77$111,900Listed 1996Daylight ComeCurt C. BourqueDaniel J. VellaFrank Stronach miles1:45.72$85,425Listed 1995Christmas GiftCharles R. Woods Jr.Mark A. HennigEdward P. Evans miles1:45.00$83,400Listed 1994PacketJoe M. JohnsonGary G. HartlageUpson Downs Farm & Patricia Lenihan miles1:42.14$83,925Listed 1993Lovat's LadyBrian Dale PeckA. Peter PerkinsWimborne Farm & Abigail Kawananakoa miles1:42.95$56,300Listed 1992Tiney ToastShawn Phillip PaytonD. Wayne LukasDelwin Locke miles1:44.40$57,600Listed 1991Maria BalastiereAaron GryderWilliam I. MottDavid Richardson & Hiram Polk, Jr. miles1:44.40$54,950Listed 1990Secret AdviceBrent E. BartramW. Elliott WaldenGolden Oak Farm miles1:44.40$55,100 1990 Regret Stakes - Race 9: held 26 May 1990 1989Justice Will ComeSteve H. BassHerbert K. StevensMrs. James H. Gallagher miles1:46.20$56,450 1989 Regret Stakes - Race 9: held 1 July 1989 1988Lets Do LunchK. Keith AllenLouis M. GoldfineRichard Duchossois miles1:45.60$70,550 1988 Regret Stakes - Race 9: held 28 May 1988 1987JonowoMichael McDowellBurk Kessinger Jr.Richard Leniham1 mile1:39.20$57,100 1987 Regret Stakes - Race 9: held 7 June 1987 1986Rosemont RiskPat DayWilliam I. MottRosemont Farm1 mile1:36.80$38,600 1985Weekend DelightJames McKnightNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish1 mile1:35.60$32,350 1985 Regret Stakes - Race 10: held 18 May 1985 1984Mrs. RevereLarry MelanconWilliam I. MottHiram Polk, Jr.1 mile1:36.60$33,025 1983Rosy SpectreJames McKnightEduardo IndaTom E. Gentry1 mile1:37.80$30,675 1983 Regret Stakes - Race 9: held 21 May 1983 1982Amazing LoveLarry MelanconA. J. Foyt IIIA. J. Foyt, Jr.1 mile1:37.00$29,675 1982 Regret Stakes Division 1 - Race 6: held 17 May 1982Sefa's BeautyMark S. SellersLarry D. EdwardsFarid Sefa1 mile1:37.60$29,450 1982 Regret Stakes Division 2 - Race 8: held 17 May 19821981ContrefaireThomas BarrowRobert S. DuBoisHerbert H. Hill6 furlongs1:11.60$25,700 1980No No NonaMelvin Arthur HollandTimothy J. WalkerJohn Oxley6 furlongs1:12.00$24,563 1980 Regret Stakes Division 1 - Race 7: held 17 May 1980Forever CordialRichard DePassJohn T. Ward Jr.Carl Swan6 furlongs1:12.00$23,692 1980 Regret Stakes Division 2 - Race 8: held 17 May 19801979Fearless DameRichard DePassStanley M. RieserRobert Courtney6 furlongs1:10.80$24,300 1979 Regret Stakes - Race 8: held 19 May 1979 1978Unconscious DollC. C. Green6 furlongs1:10.60$22,850 1978 Regret Stakes - Race 8: held 20 May 1978 1977†§ Shady LouEddie DelahoussayeRichard J. FischerLeslie Combs II6 furlongs1:10.60$22,350 1976Carmelita GibbsRobert BreenDoug M. Davis Jr.Don Sucher6 furlongs1:12.80$22,313 1976 Regret Stakes Division 1 - Race 6: held 18 May 1976Confort ZoneJulio C. EspinozaWilliam E. AdamsGolden Chance Farm6 furlongs1:12.80$21,713 1976 Regret Stakes Division 2 - Race 8: held 18 May 19761975Red CrossDon Brumfield Charles R. Werstler Dixiana Stable6 furlongs1:09.60$23,450 1974 ClemannaJulio C. Espinoza William E. Adams Golden Chance Farm6 furlongs1:11.20$22,7131974 Regret Stakes Division 1 - Race 7: held 18 May 1974 Mary DuganJames McKnightJohnnie Johnson, Jr.Jackson, Trick, Bayne6 furlongs1:10.40$23,3131974 Regret Stakes Division 2 - Race 8: held 18 May 1974 1973Juke JointWeston Soirez Anthony L. Basile Bwamazon Farm 6 furlongs1:11.80$23,9001973 Regret Stakes - Race 8: held 18 May 1973 1972Nalees FollyRobert Breen Stanley M. Rieser Mr. S. Fairman, Jr.6 furlongs1:11.80$23,1751972 Regret Stakes - Race 8: held 20 May 1972 1971Peninsula Princess Mike Mangello Richard J. FischerLeslie Combs II6 furlongs1:11.20$24,2751971 Regret Stakes - Race 8: held 15 May 1971 1970Three PigeonsThomas BarrowPatrick B. Devereux, Sr.John W. Greathouse6 furlongs1:10.80$23,675Inaugural 1970 Regret Stakes - Race 8: held 17 May 1975

Legend:

Notes:

† In 1977, Time for Pleasure won but was disqualified after laying in the stretch and was placed second.

‡ In 2014, A Little Bit Sassy won but was disqualified for interfering with Kiss Moon and was placed fourth. Aurelia's Belle who finished second was declared the winner.

§ Ran as part of an entry

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References