The Modesty Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
A Grade III race contested over a distance of miles on turf, it is open to fillies and mares aged four and older. Run in May on Kentucky Oaks day, the event currently offers a purse of $250,000.
Inaugurated in 1942 at the old Washington Park Race Track as a race for three-year-old fillies, the following year it was made open to both fillies and older mares. Until 1951, it was run as the Modesty Stakes. It was raced on dirt from 1942 through 1955, 1958 through 1965, and again in 1996.
It has been run at various distances: 1 mile : 1942, 1944–1946, 1952, 1966 3/4 mile (6 furlongs) : 1947–1951, 1953–1954, 1958–1962 7/8 mile (7 furlongs) : 1943, 1963–1965 miles (8.5 furlongs) : 1955–1957, 1967–1968,1986 miles (9 furlongs) : 1987 miles (9.5 furlongs) : 1980–1985, 1989–present
The race was hosted by Washington Park Race Track from 1942 through 1945 and from 1968 through 1961. Hawthorne Race Course hosted it in 1985. The race was named in honor of Modesty, a filly owned by Edward Corrigan who beat her male counterparts to win the 1884 inaugural running of the American Derby at Washington Park Race Track under African-American U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey, Isaac Burns Murphy.
In 1966, the Modesty Handicap was run in two divisions. There was no race from 1969 through 1979 inclusive, nor in 1988, 1995, 1998 and 1999. In 2022, the event was moved to Churchill Downs after the closure of Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Records Speed record: (at current distance of miles) 1:45.51 – She Feels Pretty (2025)
Most wins: 2 – Sickle's Image (1951, 1954) 2 – Indian Maid (1960, 1961) 2 – Gaily Gaily (1989, 1990)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – Calumet Farm (1948, 1952, 1959)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – René Douglas (2002, 2003, 2008) 3 – Earlie Fires (1982, 1986, 1993)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Harry Trotsek (1953, 1956, 1958) 3 – William I. Mott (1989, 1990, 2005)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer OwnerDistance (Miles) Time2026Kathynmarissa5José OrtizChad BrownMichael Dubb and Michael Caruso1:48.132025She Feels Pretty4John R. VelazquezCherie DeVauxLael Stables (Roy & Gretchen Jackson)1:45.512024Fast as Flight6José OrtizMartin DrexlerTEC Racing1:50.632023Didia5Vincent CheminaudIgnacio Correas IVMerriebelle Stables1:47.462022Bleeker Street4Flavien PratChad BrownPeter Brant1:50.102021Naval Laughter4Sophie DoyleChristopher DavisTwo Hearts Farm, LLC 1:54.58 no race 2020 2019Juliet Foxtrot4Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxJuddmonte Farms1:54.002018Daddys Lil Darling4Brian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth McPeekNormandy Farm1:53.802017Dona Bruja5Declan Cannon Ignacio Correas IVDom Felipe 1:55.752016Faufiler5Jose Valdivia Jr.H. Graham MotionFlaxman Holdings1:56.122015Walk Close4James GrahamChristophe ClementHighland Yard 1:57.082014I'm Already Sexy4Florent GerouxWayne M. CatalanoHit The Board Stables1:57.562013Ausus4James GrahamDaniel C. PeitzShadwell Stable1:53.942012Romacaca6Francisco TorresDanny L. MillerFrank Carl Calabrese1:56.672011Fantasia6Rajiv MaraghJonathan E. SheppardAugustin Stable1:53.802010Tuscan Evening5Rafael BejaranoJerry HollendorferWilliam de Burgh1:55.112009Pure Clan4Julien LeparouxRobert E. HolthusLewis Lakin1:55.272008Communique4René DouglasGeorge R. Arnold IIG. Watts Humphrey Jr.1:58.892007Bridge Game4Jeremy RoseH. Graham MotionElizabeth H. Alexander1:54.622006Chic Dancer5Christopher EmighChristine K. JanksS.D. Brilie Ltd. Partnership1:57.482005Noisettes5Cornelio VelásquezWilliam I. MottHaras Santa Maria Aras S.A.1:57.302004Bedanken5Donald PettingerDonnie K. Von HemelPin Oak Stable LLC1:57.002003Owsley5René DouglasRandy SchulhoferArthur B. Hancock III1:55.062002England's Legend5René DouglasChristophe ClementEdouard de Rothschild1:55.692001Ioya Two6Mark GuidryChris M. BlockTeam Block1:55.472000Wade For Me5Christopher EmighHarvey L. VanierNancy A. Vanier1:57.061999 no race 1998 no race 1997War Thief5Shane SellersClinton StuartLane Thoroughbreds1:57.471996Belle of Cozzene4Donald PettingerSteve HobbyB. & J. Smicklas1:58.241995 no race 1994Assert Oneself4Willie MartinezMike ChambersThree Sisters Stable1:56.011993Hero's Love5Earlie Fires Daniel J. Vella Frank Stronach1:55.311992Tango Charlie3Abner G. Sorrows Jr.Kenneth HoffmanT. Canonie Jr.1:58.791991Lady Shirl4Shane SellersP. Noel HickeyIrish Acres Farm1:56.531990Gaily Gaily7Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Diana M. Firestone1:55.401989Gaily Gaily6Julie KroneWilliam I. Mott Diana M. Firestone1:58.201988 no race 1987 Spruce Luck6Don BrumfieldDoug Tribert C. Kenimer1:51.601986Zenobia Empress5Earlie FiresJoseph M. BolleroR. Fortune Jr.1:44.001985Kapalua Butterfly4Darrel McHargueHarvey L. VanierTom Gentry1:55.001984Jay's Sue5Pat DayJerry CalvinC. P. Blake2:01.201983Dana Calqui5Frank Lovato Jr.Stephen L. DiMauroDogwood Farm2:01.401982Office Wife5Earlie Fires Willard C. FreemanHelen Hertz Hexter1:58.201981Innocent Victim3Roger CoxGeorge J. GetzLen Friedman & Philip Teinowitz1:59.001980Allison's Gal4Michael MorganSteve MorguelanAdrienne Krumhorn2:01.201969-1979 no race 1968Ludham4Jacinto VásquezFrank I. WrightHappy Hill Farm1:44.401967Amerivan5Ron TurcotteJoseph H. Pierce Jr.William S. Woodside1:46.201966Margarethen4Jimmy NicholsCharles P. SanbornErnest H. Woods11:37.401966Treasure Chest3John BeebeJoseph H. Pierce Jr.David Shaer11:37.201965Isaduchess4Kenny Knapp Edward I. Kelly Sr.Brookfield Farm1:23.201964Alecee5Walter BlumJohn J. Gavin Jr.Forest H. Lindsay1:23.001963Hushaby4Bill HartackChuck R. WerstlerMary V. Fisher1:23.001962Goldflower4Herberto HinojosaChuck R. WerstlerMary V. Fisher1:10.401961Indian Maid5Johnny SellersHoward C. HoffmanMary D. Keim1:09.801960Indian Maid4John L. RotzElmer Heubeck Jr.Mary D. Keim1:09.601959A. Glitter4Chris RogersHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm1:10.001958Melody Mine3Richard L. BarnettHarry TrotsekHasty House Farm (Allie E. & Billie Reuben)1:10.801957 Grecian Ayr4Larry Gilligan Jimmy Wallace Agoura Stock Farm1:43.601956Queen Hopeful5John Adams Harry TrotsekHasty House Farm1:44.801955Insouciant3Billie Fisk Howard WellsDr. Eslie Asbury1:43.401954Sickle's Image6Douglas DodsonClarence HartwickClarence Hartwick1:10.001953Bella Figura4Don Wagner Harry Trotsek Brownell Combs1:10.201952Real Delight3Eddie ArcaroBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1:35.601951Sickle's Image3Charles Swain Clarence HartwickClarence Hartwick1:10.801950Myrtle Charm4Glen Lasswell Tom SmithMaine Chance Farm1:10.001949No Strings3Fred Smith Howard C. HoffmanMrs. John Marsch1:10.001948Bewitch3Hedley Woodhouse Horace A. JonesCalumet Farm1:10.201947Sea Snack4Manuel N. Gonzalez James A. HealeyChristiana Stables1:11.601946Athene3Warren MehrtensMax HirschEdward Lasker1:36.001945War Date3John AdamsTom SmithMaine Chance Farm11:38.801944Gold Princess5Jesse HigleyDavid V. McClureDavid V. McClure11:39.401943Burgoo Maid3George Burns Homer C. PardueRuth Sidell1:27.401942Lotopoise3Steve Brooks Kenneth OsborneHal Price Headley11:37.80
References
The Modesty Handicap at Pedigree Query