Beldame Stakes

The Beldame Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. Inaugurated in 1939, it was run as a handicap prior to 1960. The race is held annually near the beginning of October at Belmont Park and currently offers a purse of $400,000.

A Grade I event for most of its history, in 2019 it was downgraded to Grade II.[1]

On August 22, 2009, NYRA announced that the purse for the 2009 Beldame Stakes was increased to $1 million to attract a showdown between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta though ultimately neither horse entered the race.

The race is named for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame mare Beldame who raced between 1903 and 1905. During the 1904 season, she won 12 of 14 starts, beating the best colts of her time, and was voted the Horse of the Year honors.

The first New York bred to win an Eclipse Award, Saratoga Dew, won this race in 1992.

Run at 1+1⁄8 miles since 1990, the Beldame has been set at various distances:

• 1+1⁄16 miles : 1939, 1990
• 1 mile & 1 furlong : 1940–1976
• 1+1⁄8 miles : 1990–present
• 1+1⁄4 miles : 1977–1989