The Fayette Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt held annually in October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall meeting. It currently offers a purse of $350,000.

History

The event is named for Fayette County, Kentucky, of which the city of Lexington is the county seat.

The inaugural running of the event was on 24 October 1959, closing day of the Keeneland Fall meeting as the Fayette Handicap. The event attracted some fine handicap horses from Kentucky and around the Midwest. The day the event was held the weather was wet and windy and the track was rated as sloppy. The winner H. Edsall Olson & R. Douglas Prewitt's Terra Firma, was a short 4/5 odds-on favorite after earlier in the month setting a new course record for the miles distance in the Charles W. Bidwill Memorial Handicap at Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago.

The following year the event was held on opening day of the Keeneland Fall meeting.

In the 1960s the event was won twice by horses that were imported to the United States by Bruno Ferrari. The 1961 longshot winner Zumbador II was the 1960 Uruguayan Triple Crown winner. The 1966 winner Yumbel was the 1965 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse in Chile.

In 1963 the distance of the event was decreased to miles and the winner Choker equaled the track record of 1:41 winning by two lengths. In 1965 the gallant six-year-old mare Old Hat won by a neck and was later voted as US Champion Older Dirt Female Horse for a second time.

Other fine winners of the event from that era include Thomas F. Devereux's Royal Harmony, who won the event three times straight, 1969–1971. His 1970 victory was noteworthy in that Royal Harmony defeated the 1970 Kentucky Derby winner Dust Commander who was promoted to second after Fast Hilarious was disqualified. The 1972 winner was the only other filly to win the event, Emanuel V. Benjamin III & William G. Clark's Chou Croute. Although Chou Croute was the favorite and won by a neck her outstanding performances during the year landed her US Champion Sprinter honors for 1972.

The event was run in two split divisions in 1976 and 1982.

In 1979 the distance of the event was reverted to the original miles. The same year the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the event to Grade III classification.

The race was contested on turf in 1985 for the only running and was won by 70/1 longshot Wop Wop setting a new course record for the turf distance in 1:51 winning by lengths.

In 1987 the event was upgraded to Grade II status and although currently the event hold that status, between 1997 and 2008 the event held a Grade III classification.

In 1992 the conditions of the event were modified to stakes with allowances and the name was subsequently changed to Fayette Stakes.

In 1997 running Universe ridden by Craig Perret broke down early on while tracking leader Whiskey Wisdom causing Preocity to fall hindering the other three runners. Whiskey Wisdom went on to win easily by twelve lengths which remains to date to be the stakes winning margin record.

The distance of the event was increased to miles in 1998. However, even with Breeders' Cup sponsorship awards the then event was poorly fielded and the distance was reverted to miles after three runnings of the event.

The event was run on Polytrack from 2006 through 2013.

Other notable winners of this event include 1990 Preakness Stakes winner Summer Squall who won the event in 1991 as the 2/5 odds-on favorite defeating his rival Unbridled by three lengths. One month later Unbridled would meet Summer Squall in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs with Unbridled finishing third and Summer Squall ninth.

The 2009 winner of this event, Blame won his first Graded stakes race in a career that would end with him winning the Breeders' Cup Classic the following year and winning US Champion Older Male Horse honors. Blame's sire and 2012 winner Newsdad's sire Arch won this event setting a new track record for the miles distance in 1998.

The 2011 winner of this event, Wise Dan displayed his versatility winning on the polytrack surface and later becoming the US Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2013.

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

Records Speed record: miles: 1:46.80 - Good Command (1987) & Grand Jewel (1993) miles: 1:41.20 - Silver Series (1978) miles: 1:53.87 - Arch (1998)

Margins 12 lengths – Whiskey Wisdom (1997)

Most wins 3 - Royal Harmony (1969, 1970, 1971)

Most wins by a jockey 5 - Don Brumfield (1978, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988)

Most wins by a trainer 4 - Neil J. Howard (1991, 1993, 2004, 2005) 4 - Brad H. Cox (2018, 2022, 2024, 2025)

Most wins by an owner 4 - William S. Farish III (1973, 1993, 2004, 2005)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefFayette Stakes2025Hit Show 5Irad Ortiz Jr.Brad H. CoxWathnan Racing miles1:50.39 $348,750III2024Hit Show4Florent Geroux Brad H. CoxWathnan Racing miles1:50.33$350,000II2023O'Connor (CHI)6Tyler GaffalioneSaffie A. Joseph Jr.Michael & Julia C. Iavarone & Fernando Vine Ode miles1:50.61$310,538II2022West Will Power5Joel RosarioBrad H. CoxGary & Mary West miles1:50.68$350,000II2021Independence Hall4Javier CastellanoMichael McCarthyEclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creek Racing Stables, WinStar Farm, Kathleen Verrati & Robert Verrati miles1:50.30$200,000II2020Mr Freeze5Javier CastellanoDale L. RomansJim Bakke & Gerald Isbister miles1:50.71$200,000II2019Tom's d'Etat6Joel RosarioAlbert Stall Jr.G M B Racing miles1:49.17$200,000II2018Leofric5Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxSteve Landers Racing miles1:49.87$200,000II2017The Player4Calvin H. BorelWilliam B. BradleyWilliam B. Bradley & Carl Hurst miles1:48.16$200,000II2016Noble Bird5Julien R. LeparouxMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley miles1:47.75$200,000II2015Race Day4John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherMatthew Schera miles1:47.90$200,000II2014Pick of the Litter4Corey J. LanerieDale L. RomansCrossed Sabres Farm miles1:49.48$200,000II2013Nikki's Sandcastle6David C. KassenRichard Sherman miles1:48.13$200,000II2012Newsdad4Julien R. LeparouxWilliam I. MottJames S. Karp miles1:48.24$150,000II2011Wise Dan4Julien R. LeparouxCharles LoPrestiMorton Fink miles1:48.72$150,000II2010Successful Dan4Julien R. LeparouxCharles LoPrestiMorton Fink miles1:47.09$150,000II2009Blame3Jamie TheriotAlbert Stall Jr.Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider miles1:50.54$150,000II2008Ball Four7Julio A. GarciaDerek GalvinMichael Tabor & Derrick Smith miles1:48.37$150,000III2007Go Between4Miguel MenaWilliam I. MottPeter Vegso miles1:47.97$150,000III2006Eccentric (GB)5Eddie CastroRoger L. AttfieldGary A. Tanaka miles1:49.16$150,000III2005Alumni Hall6Calvin H. BorelNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III, James Elkins & W. Temple Webber Jr. miles1:51.37$150,000III2004Midway Road4Calvin H. BorelNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III miles1:50.39$161,250III2003M B Sea4Craig PerretDale L. RomansMichael J. Bruder miles1:50.30$163,800III2002Tenpins4Craig PerretDonald R. WinfreeJoseph Vitello miles1:51.17$156,122III2001Connected4Marlon St. JulienDavid M. CarrollHelen Alexander & Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust miles1:50.05$166,950III2000Jadada5Shane SellersMitch ShirotaSterling Stud miles1:54.92$214,800III1999Social Charter4Marlon St. JulienPatrick B. ByrneStonerside Stable & Robert E. Sangster miles1:55.28 $212,624III1998Arch3Shane SellersFrank L. BrothersClaiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider miles1:53.87$153,939III1997Whiskey Wisdom4Willie MartinezRoger L. AttfieldKinghaven Farms miles1:48.64$158,304III1996Isitingood5David R. FloresBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram & Terry Henn miles1:50.42$193,725II1995Judge T C4Joe M. JohnsonGary G. HartlageBea & Robert H. Roberts miles1:49.05$168,750II1994Sunny Sunrise7Jeffrey D. CarleBud DelpHarry Meyerhoff miles1:50.18$109,300II1993Grand Jewel3Jerry D. BaileyNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III & William S. Kilroy miles1:46.87$110,700II1992Barkerville4Shane SellersFrank L. BrothersDon Millar miles1:48.43$114,000IIFayette Handicap 1991Summer Squall4Pat DayNeil J. HowardDogwood Stable miles1:48.84$107,400II1990Lac Ouimet7Randy RomeroThomas J. SkiffingtonVirginia Kraft Payson miles1:47.20$108,050II1989Drapeau Tricolore4James E. BruinD. Wayne LukasWildenstein Stable miles1:48.20$110,300II1988Homebuilder4Don Brumfield Ryehill Farm (Jim & Eleanor Ryan) miles1:51.20$105,100II1987Good Command4Don BrumfieldGary F. JonesPrestonwood Farm miles1:46.80$113,725II1986Harham's Sizzler7Randall A. MeierLouis M. GoldfineHarold M. Florsheim miles1:49.20$58,525III1985Wop Wop3Darrell Ellis FosterJohn T. Ward Jr.Abner C. Hiler Jr. miles1:51.40$56,200III1984Star Choice5James McKnightCarl A. NafzgerFrances A. Genter miles1:47.40$56,400III1983Cad5Don BrumfieldDavid C. KassenTed Smith & Bill Marko miles1:48.80$53,325IIIFrost King5Robin PlattsWilliam MarkoDouble Eagle Stable1982Rivalero3Randy RomeroFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Joe W. & Dorothy D. Brown miles1:50.20$56,862IIIEl Baba6Don BrumfieldDewey P. SmithCalumet Farm1:50.40$59,2121981Ironworks3Pat DayCharles R. WerstlerDixiana Stable miles1:49.20$63,250III1980Hurry Up Blue3Gerland GallitanoJoseph M. BolleroRussell L. Reineman miles1:49.00$59,000III1979Architect 3Stanley SpencerHarvey L. VanierCarl Lauer miles1:49.60$56,375III1978†Silver Series4Don BrumfieldPeter M. HowePillar Farm miles1:41.20$31,950 1977Bob's Dusty3Richard dePassWilliam E. AdamsRobert N. Lehmann miles1:42.80$28,300 1976Silver Badge5Garth PattersonGeorge T. PooleCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney miles1:44.60$27,662 §Yamanin4Garth PattersonGeorge T. PooleHajime Doi1:43.20$27,5371975Warbucks5Jimmy NicholsDon CombsEdward E. Elzemeyer miles1:44.40$28,200 1974Jesta Dream Away4Anthony Rini James E. MorganGeorge A. Zimmerman & Edwin J. Zwiesler miles1:41.60$27,875 1973§Chateauvira5Gerland GallitanoDel W. CarrollWilliam S. Farish III miles1:42.80$29,375 1972ƒChou Croute4John L. Rotz Bob G. Dunham Emanuel V. Benjamin III & William G. Clark miles1:44.00$29,0751971 Royal Harmony 7 David E. Whited Pat B. Devereux Sr. Thomas F. Devereux miles1:42.60$29,850 1970 Royal Harmony 6 Earl J. Knapp Pat B. Devereux Sr. Thomas F. Devereux miles1:42.80$27,425 1969 Royal Harmony 5 Mickey Solomone Pat B. Devereux Sr. Thomas F. Devereux miles1:42.60$28,550 1968Yorkville4 David E. Whited John M. HartEdward J. Grosfield miles1:42.00$28,250 1967Swoonaway6Billy Phelps S. Bryant Ott E. Gay Drake miles1:42.60$29,250 1966Yumbel (CHI)5Hector PilarAlbert FilicomoWalnut Hill Farm (Bruno Ferrari) miles1:43.60$28,500 1965ƒOld Hat6Robert GallimoreCharles C. NormanStanley Conrad miles1:42.80$28,200 1964Swoonen4Kenny KnappWillard L. ProctorJ. Graham Brown miles1:42.00$28,600 1963Choker3Kenneth ChurchJoe KramerLouis Lee Haggin II miles1:41.40$18,100 1962Blue Croon4Norman CoxDouglas Davis Jr. W. Richard Henderson miles1:48.80$17,350 19614Ray BroussardLeo SierraBruno Ferrari miles1:47.60$16,750 1960§Little Fitz5William A. PeakeRobert C. SteeleJohn C. Hauer miles1:49.60$17,7001959Terra Firma4Kenneth ChurchR. Douglas PrewittH. Edsall Olson & R. Douglas Prewitt miles1:51.40$17,100

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

ƒ Filly or Mare

† In the 1978 running of the event 1978 Buckfinder finished first but was disqualified for impeding Silver Series in the stretch run and set back to second.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links Keeneland Media Guide

References