The Cardinal Stakes is a Listed American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and older over a distance of one and one eighth miles on the turf held annually in November at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event offers a purse of $300,000.

History

The event was named after the official state bird of Kentucky, the Northern cardinal.

The event was inaugurated on 23 November 1974, as the Kentucky Cardinal Stakes as a miles dirt race for three year olds and was won by veterinarian Albert F. Polk Jr's Cut the Talk, who was trained by Ohio native James E. (Jim) Morgan and ridden by Darrell Brown in a time of 1:45.

The event was run for three year olds only one more time in 1975. In the 1976 the conditions of the event were changed to fillies and mares that were three years old or older at a distance of seven furlongs as the Kentucky Cardinal Handicap. In 1982 the event was increased to 1 mile for one year and in 1983 increased again to back its inaugural running distance of miles. In 1987 the event was scheduled on the turf over a distance of miles with the name Cardinal Handicap. The following year the distance of the event increased to miles but it was moved off the turf and onto the main track due to inclement weather.

The American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event as Grade III in 1995. The 2017 edition of the race, won by Tricky Escape, was run on dirt as the turf course was deemed unfit for racing. The race's Grade III status was kept for 2017.

The event has been run in split divisions nine times, the last of which was in 1990.

The event was run as a handicap prior to 2019.

The event was not run in 2020 and 2021.

In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status.

Records Speed record: miles: 1:47.29 – Daisy Devine (2012) miles (dirt): 1:45.20 - Cut the Talk (1974) 7 furlongs (dirt): 1:24.20 - Unreality (1978), Safe Play (1981)

Margins: 10 lengths – Star Fortress (IRE) (2023)

Most wins: no horse with more than one win

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Helen C. Alexander (1988, 1992, 2009)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Pat Day (1983, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1995)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 – William I. Mott (1985, 1987, 1995, 1997, 2008, 2011)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefCardinal Stakes2025Proctor Street4Tyler GaffalioneBrendan P. WalshPatricia L. Moseley miles1:49.65$289,665Listed2024Duvet Day (IRE) 4Flavien Prat Michael W. McCarthy Jane Bacharach, William DeBurgh & Richard Schatz miles1:48.79$265,000III2023Star Fortress (IRE)4Luis SaezCherie DeVauxJohn D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services miles1:51.10$267,500III2022Dalika (GER)6Brian Hernandez Jr.Albert Stall Jr.Bal Mar Equine miles1:50.61$268,500III2020–2021Race not held2019Kallio 4Tyler GaffalioneBrendan P. Walsh Madaket Stables, Tim & Anna Cambron, Bradley Thoroughbreds miles1:55.07$175,000IIICardinal Handicap2018English Affair 5Corey J. LanerieGeorge R. Arnold II Calumet Farm miles1:50.41$100,000III2017Tricky Escape 4Christopher P. DeCarloLynn A. Ashby Jon A. Marshall miles1:53.85$100,000III2016Cash Control 5Shaun BridgmohanBrad H. CoxRichard & Bertram Klein miles1:49.39$100,000III2015Button Down (GB) 4Paco LopezJosie Carroll Greenwood Lodge Farm miles1:56.19$100,000III2014Strike Charmer 4Chris LanderosDavid M. Carroll Courtlandt Farms miles1:49.97$119,700III2013Abaco 5Rosie Napravnik Phipps Stable miles1:50.85$112,800III2012Daisy Devine 4Calvin H. BorelAndrew McKeever James M. Miller miles1:47.29$111,500III2011Deluxe 4Julien R. LeparouxWilliam I. Mott Juddmonte Farms miles1:50.53$109,900III2010Askbut I Won'ttell 4Shaun BridgmohanChris M. Block Team Block & Rich Ege miles1:50.41$109,900III2009Acoma 4Jesus Lopez CastanonDavid M. CarrollHelen C. Alexander & Helen K. Groves miles1:50.02$111,700III2008Indescribable 4Kent J. DesormeauxWilliam I. Mott Courtlandt Farms miles1:55.77$113,400III2007Criminologist 4John R. VelazquezClaude R. McGaughey IIIStuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable miles1:51.06$164,550III2006Sabellina 5Julien R. LeparouxCharles Simon Jay A. Lieberman miles1:49.96$171,750III2005Sundrop (JPN) 4Mark GuidrySaeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing miles1:50.10$175,050III2004Aud 4Brice BlancAnthony L. Reinstedler Willmott Stables miles1:53.94$173,550III2003Riskaverse 4Cornelio VelasquezPatrick J. Kelly Fox Ridge Farm miles1:50.53$175,200III2002Quick Tip 4Robby AlbaradoNeil J. Howard William S. Farish III miles1:51.08$173,100III2001Watch 4Craig PerretFrank L. Brothers Claiborne Farm miles1:49.12$169,350III2000Illiquidity 4Jon CourtPatrick B. Byrne Stonerside Stable miles1:49.72$176,100III1999Pratella 4Brian Dale PeckBurk Kessinger Jr.Bruce Barton & Alvin D. Haynes miles1:48.88$171,450III1998B. A. Valentine 5Jorge F. ChavezDale L. Romans Alberta Butner miles1:48.62$180,150III1997Colcon 4Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. Mott Cavallix miles1:51.89$175,650III1996 4Larry Melancon Niall M. O'Callaghan Stonerside Stable miles1:47.81$117,500III1995Apolda 4Pat DayWilliam I. Mott Allen E. Paulson miles1:49.59$116,200III1994Bold Ruritana (CAN) 4Pat DayJames E. Day Minshall Farms miles1:48.25$117,500 Listed 1993River Ball (ARG) 4James ParsleyThomas Kurt Arnemann Thomas & Jurgen K Arnemann miles1:55.79$115,300 Listed 1992Auto Dial 4Shane SellersFrank L. Brothers Helen C. Alexander miles1:52.04$110,000 Listed 1991Christiecat 4Angel Cordero Jr.Patrick J. Kelly Fox Ridge Farm miles1:51.10$115,400Listed 1990Dance for Lucy 4Dave PennaSheldon Wolfe Alex Schmidt miles1:51.80$60,425 Lady in Silver 4Pat DayFlint S. Schulhofer Morven Stud 1:51.40 $59,6751989Townsend Lass 4K. Keith AllenMark A. Rimer Richard Kaster & Bruce Dresdner miles1:52.00$88,050 1988Top Corsage 5Pat ValenzuelaJerry M. Fanning Helen C. Alexander miles1:52.40$56,650 1987 4Pat DayWilliam I. Mott Mrs. Diana Firestone miles1:46.20$57,600 1986Oriental 4K. Keith AllenJack Van Berg Robert Kruger, Robert Snell & William Thimigan miles1:45.80$47,775Kentucky Cardinal Stakes1985Mrs. Revere 4Larry MelanconWilliam I. Mott Dr. Hiram Polk & David Richardson miles1:48.20$33,682 Mr. T.'s Tune 4K. Keith AllenCarl A. Nafzger Warren Terry 1:47.20$34,182 1984Electric Fanny 3Julio C. EspinozaHarvey L. Vanier GM Breeding Farms miles1:48.00$32,725 1983Charge My Account 4Pat DayClaude R. McGaughey III Cooper Hartley (Lessee) miles1:47.20$29,800 Kentucky Cardinal Handicap1982Betty Money 3Bernon SaylerRonnie G. Warren Russell Michael Jr. 1 mile1:38.80$31,988 Promising Native 3Sam MapleRonnie G. Warren Ronnie G. Warren et al. 1:39.60$31,112 1981Knights Beauty 4Emmett N. SylvesterWilliam J. Forster 7 furlongs1:24.80$31,950 Safe Play 3 Stanley Spencer Harvey L. Vanier Carl Lauer & Nancy Vanier 1:24.20 $29,075 1980Vite View 4Don BrumfieldMichael B. Ball Mira Ball 7 furlongs1:24.80$28,000 Champagne Ginny 3Don Brumfield Ray Metcalf Elkcam Stable 1:24.60$27,850 1979Impetuous Gal (CAN) 4Earlie FiresJoseph M. Bollero Edward A. Cox Jr. 7 furlongs1:24.60$27,850 Gap Axe 4 Don Brumfield David Kassen Andrew Adams 1:24.80$29,3501978Love to Tell 3Eddie DelahoussayeJames E. Morgan James Crutcher 7 furlongs1:24.40$27,512 Unreality 4 Lane Suire Ralph Irwin Karil Vangeloff 1:24.20$27,762 1977Likely Exchange 3James McKnightThomas H. Stevens Sr. Mrs. Pamela Stark Humphrey 7 furlongs1:24.80$22,575 Famed Princess 4 Concepcion Ledezma Harry Trotsek Mrs. Bobby Russell & Ed Seltzer 1:24.80 $22,825 1976Hope of Glory 4Don BrumfieldTed McClain Donald McKellar 7 furlongs1:25.00$22,563 Vivacious Meg 4 Bobby Breen Doug Dodson Eagle Mountain Farm 1:25.40 $22,563Kentucky Cardinal Stakes1975Visier 3Rene Riera Jr. Richard J. Fischer Juliette Combs Trapp miles1:45.80$26,500 1974Cut the Talk 3Darrell BrownJames E. Morgan Albert F. Polk Jr. miles1:45.20$22,075

Legend:

Notes:

† In the 1996, running Bail Out Becky was first past the post by lengths but was disqualified for interference as the horse turned into the straight bumping the eventual second-place finisher Miss Caerleona. Miss Caerleona was declared the winner and Bail Out Becky placed second.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

External links Churchill Downs Media Guide - $175,000 Cardinal (Grade III)