The Madison Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older, over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the spring meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $650,000.

History

The race is named for Madison County, the largest county in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky.

The event was inaugurated on 10 April 2002 and was won by the favorite Victory Ride by one length in a time of 1:23.

In 2005 the event was upgraded from a Listed race to Grade III status, then in 2006 to Grade II. In 2009 it became a Grade I event.

From 2006 to 2014, it was contested on a Polytrack artificial dirt surface. After the spring meet of 2014, the Polytrack was replaced by a new dirt surface.

Between 2004 and 2012 the name of the event carried its sponsor, Vinery, a local Thoroughbred breeding operation near the Lexington area.

Records Speed record 1.21:32 – Dr. Zic (2010)

Margins lengths – Dubai Escapade (2006)

Most wins by a jockey 3 – Edgar Prado (2002, 2006, 2007)

Most wins by an owner 2 – Juddmonte Farms (2008, 2017)

Most wins by a trainer 3 – Chad C. Brown (2017, 2020, 2023)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026Eclatanat4Irad Ortiz Jr.Brad H. CoxStonestreet Stables 7 furlongs1:21.84$629,357I2025Positano Sunset 5Julien LeparouxIan R. WilkesSix Column Stables, Randall L. Bloch, John Seiler & David Hall7 furlongs1:23.39$623,338 I2024Alva Starr 4Tyler GaffalioneBrett A. BrinkmanP. Dale Ladner7 furlongs1:23.36$591,050I2023Goodnight Olive5Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownFirst Row Partners & Team Hanley7 furlongs1:23.12$580,000I2022Just One Time 4Flavien PratBrad H. CoxWarrior's Reward & Commonwealth New Era Racing7 furlongs1:22.79$439,850I2021Kimari 4Joel RosarioWesley A. WardTen Broeck Farm 7 furlongs1:21.53$300,000I2020Guarana4José L. OrtizChad C. BrownThree Chimneys Farm & Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings Inc7 furlongs1:21.70$250,000I2019Spiced Perfection5Javier CastellanoPeter L. MillerCarl Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable & Peter Deutsch7 furlongs1:23.49$300,000I2018Finley'sluckycharm5Brian Hernandez Jr.W. Bret CalhounCarl R. Moore Management 7 furlongs1:22.82$300,000I2017Paulassilverlining5José L. OrtizChad C. BrownJuddmonte Farms7 furlongs1:23.68$300,000I2016Sheer Drama6Joe BravoDavid FawkesHarold L. Queen7 furlongs1:22.07$300,000I2015Princess Violet4Junior AlvaradoLinda L. RiceBarry K. Schwartz7 furlongs1:22.73$350,000I2014Judy the Beauty5John R. VelazquezWesley A. WardWesley A. Ward7 furlongs1:22.86$300,000I2013Last Full Measure5Corey NakataniPhilip J. OliverSt. George Farm Racing 7 furlongs1:23.32$300,000I2012Groupie Doll4Rajiv MaraghWilliam B. BradleyFred & William Bradley, Carl Hurst & Brent Burns 7 furlongs1:23.76$300,000I2011Shotgun Gulch4Garrett K. GomezC. R. TroutC. R. Trout7 furlongs1:24.14$300,000I2010Dr. Zic4Kent J. DesormeauxJoan ScottDerby Lane Farm, Tom, Jim, Farrell, Marette & Joan Scott 7 furlongs1:21.32$300,000I2009Informed Decision4John R. VelazquezAugustin Stable7 furlongs1:21.64$300,000I2008Ventura4Garrett K. GomezRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms7 furlongs1:22.06$200,000II2007Mary Delaney4Edgar S. PradoEddie KenneallyFergus Galvin7 furlongs1:22.24$200,000II2006Dubai Escapade4Edgar S. PradoEoin G. HartyDarley Racing7 furlongs1:22.34$200,000II2005Madcap Escapade4Jerry D. BaileyFrank L. BrothersW. Bruce Lunsford7 furlongs1:23.33$200,000III2004Ema Bovary (CHI)5Larry D. RossRichard T. Beal Jr. & Lana Ramsey-Brog7 furlongs1:23.41$175,000 Listed 2003A New Twist4Pat DayJohn C. KimmelLucille Conover & George Bolton7 furlongs1:24.32$132,769 Listed 2002Victory Ride4Edgar S. PradoGeorge R. Arnold IIG. Watts & Louise Ireland Humphrey7 furlongs1:23.70$111,300 Listed

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2021 Keeneland Media Guide

References