The Maker's Mark Mile Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for horses age four years old and older over a distance of one mile on the turf held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the spring meeting.
History
The event was inaugurated as the Fort Harrod Stakes on 13 April 1989 and was run over distance of about miles the won by the seven year old Yankee Affair who set a course record in winning the event in a time of 1:43. The following year the event was decreased to the current distance of one mile.
The Fort Harrod Stakes was named after the fort which was named after James Harrod, who led an early party of settlers into Kentucky in the 1770s.
In 1997 the Maker's Mark distillery located not far from Lexington, began their sponsorship of the event and Keeneland's administration renamed the event to the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes. In 2010 the event was once again renamed to a bourbon distilled by Maker's Mark – Maker's 46 Mile Stakes.
The event was classified a Grade III in 1991 and was upgraded to Grade II race in 2000. In 2008 the event reached as a Grade I status confirming the quality that had competed in previous years and continues to attract.
Several class horses who have won this event in the spring have continued to prove their dominance. The 1991 winner, Opening Verse continued on to win the Breeders' Cup Mile that year. Several others including Artie Schiller in 2005, 2006 US Champion Male Turf Horse Miesque's Approval and Kip Deville in 2007 have also performed this feat. Twice American Horse of the Year (2012, 2013) Wise Dan also won Breeders' Cup Mile in 2013 and also captured this event the following year for the second time.
Miss Temple City is the only mare to have won this event in 2016.
Records
Speed record 1:33.46 – Chez Pierre (FR) (2023)
Margins lengths – Get Stormy (2011)
Most wins 2 – Wise Dan (2013, 2014) 2 – Kip Deville (2007, 2008)
Most wins by a jockey 4 – Javier Castellano (2011, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Most wins by an owner 2 – Allen E. Paulson (1991, 1993) 2 – Gainsborough Farm (1999, 2002) 2 – IEAH Stables, Pegasus Holding Group Stables, J. Roberts & A. & S. Cohen (2007, 2008) 2 – Morton Fink (2013, 2014) 2 – Gary Barber (2018, 2020) 2 – Charles E. Fipke (2004, 2022)
Most wins by a trainer 3 – Roger L. Attfield (1992, 2004, 2022) 3 - Chad C. Brown (2021, 2025, 2026)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefMaker's Mark Mile Stakes2026Zulu Kingdom (IRE)4Flavien PratChad C. BrownMadaket Stables , Michael Dubb, William Strauss & Michael J. Caruso1 mile1:34.90$506,263 I2025Carl Spackler (IRE)5Flavien PratChad C. Browne Five Racing Thoroughbreds 1 mile1:36.56 $552,013I2024 Master of The Seas6William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin 1 mile1:37.10 $517,775 I2023Chez Pierre (FR)5Flavien PratArnaud DelacourLael Stables1 mile1:33.46$518,575I2022Shirl's Speight5Luis SaezRoger L. AttfieldCharles E. Fipke1 mile1:35.93$577,000I2021 Raging Bull (FR) 6Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownPeter M. Brant1 mile1:33.86$300,000I2020 War of Will4Tyler GaffalioneMark E. CasseGary Barber1 mile1:34.55$300,000IMaker's 46 Mile Stakes2019Delta Prince6Javier CastellanoJames A. JerkensStronach Stables1 mile1:35.97$300,000I20187Julien R. LeparouxBrian A. LynchTerry Hamilton1 mile1:34.71$300,000I2017American Patriot4Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm1 mile1:34.70$300,000I2016† Miss Temple City4Drayden Van DykeH. Graham MotionSagamore Farm, The Club Racing & Needle In A Haystack 1 mile1:34.09$300,000I2015Jack Milton5Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherGary Barber1 mile1:36.30$300,000I2014Wise Dan7John R. VelazquezCharles LoPrestiMorton Fink1 mile1:34.91$300,000I2013Wise Dan6Jose LezcanoCharles LoPrestiMorton Fink1 mile1:36.37$300,000I2012Data Link4Alex O. SolisStuart S. Janney III1 mile1:34.31$300,000IMaker's Mark Mile Stakes2011Get Stormy5Javier CastellanoThomas M. BushSullimar Stable1 mile1:37.31$300,000I2010Karelian8Julien R. LeparouxGeorge R. Arnold IIGreen Lantern Stables1 mile1:34.33$300,000I2009Mr. Sidney5Kent J. DesormeauxWilliam I. MottCircle E Racing1 mile1:41.84$300,000I2008Kip Deville5Cornelio VelásquezRichard E. Dutrow Jr.IEAH Stables, Pegasus Holding Group Stables, J. Roberts & A. & S. Cohen1 mile1:36.78$300,000I2007Kip Deville4Edgar S. PradoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.IEAH Stables, Pegasus Holding Group Stables, J. Roberts & A. & S. Cohen1 mile1:35.51$250,000II2006Miesque's Approval7Eddie CastroMartin D. WolfsonLive Oak Plantation1 mile1:34.06$250,000II2005Artie Schiller4Edgar S. PradoJames A. JerkensTimber Bay Farm & Mrs. Thomas J. Walsh1 mile1:34.09$250,000II2004Perfect Soul (IRE)6Edgar S. PradoRoger L. AttfieldCharles E. Fipke1 mile1:33.54$200,000II2003Royal Spy5Robby AlbaradoThomas M. AmossDr. K. K. Jayaraman & Dr. V. Devi Jayaraman1 mile1:35.82$200,000II20025Neil D. DrysdaleGainsborough Farm1 mile1:35.02$200,000II2001North East Bound5José A. Vélez Jr.William W. PerryJulian DeMarco & Richard J. DiSano1 mile1:34.44$226,600II2000Conserve4Shane SellersFrank L. BrothersClaiborne Farm1 mile1:35.00$170,850II1999Soviet Line (IRE)9John R. VelazquezMark A. HennigGainsborough Farm1 mile1:35.20$110,800III1998Lasting Approval4Robby AlbaradoDiane L. Perkins Wimborne Farm 1 mile1:35.40$113,000III1997Influent6Jean-Luc SamynHoward M. TesherRichard Kumble & Michael Becker1 mile1:34.40$112,800IIIFort Harrod Stakes1996Tejano Run4Jerry D. BaileyKenneth G. McPeekRoy K. Monroe1 mile1:35.00$113,900III1995Dove Hunt4José A. SantosNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III1 mile1:35.80$85,800III1994First and Only7Tracy J. HebertWalter M. Bindner Jr.Mason Rudd1 mile1:36.60$81,750III1993Ganges5Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson1 mile1:35.40$85,050III1992Shudanz (CAN)4Craig PerretRoger L. AttfieldKinghaven Farms & R. Richardson1 mile1:36.40$85,050III1991Opening Verse5Jerry D. BaileyRichard J. LundyAllen E. Paulson1 mile1:36.00$81,750III1990Charlie Barley4Robin PlattsGrant D. PearceKing Caledon Farms1 mile1:35.80$56,600 1989Yankee Affair7Randy RomeroHenry L. CampbellJu Ju Gen Stable1:43.60$56,450
Notes:
† Filly or Mare
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References