Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Grade I race | |
|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup | |
 |
|
| Location | Keeneland Race Course Lexington, Kentucky  |
| Inaugurated | 1984 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Keeneland |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs) |
| Track | Grass, left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-old fillies |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $500,000 |
The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup is an American Thoroughbred horse race race for three-year-old fillies held annually since 1984 at Keeneland Race Course near Lexington, Kentucky. Run at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf, the Grade I race currently offers a purse of $500,000. It is an important prep race to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
The race was inaugurated on October 11, 1984, in honor of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who attended the Keeneland races, during her private visit to Central Kentucky, and who presented a trophy on that date.
Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances:
- 1984 - 1 1/16 miles on dirt
- 1985-1989 - 1 1/16 miles on turf
- 1990-present - 1 1/8 miles on turf
The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup was a Listed race in 1984 and 1985, a Grade III race in 1986 and 1987, and a Grade II race from 1988 through 1990 after which it became a Grade I event.
[edit] Records
Time record: (at current 1⅛ miles distance)
- 1:45.80 - Memories of Silver (1996)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 - Henryk de Kwiatkowski (1985, 1986)
- 2 - Darby Dan Farm (1988, 1990)
- 2 - Stronach Stables (1999, 2000)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 2 - Jerry D. Bailey (1987, 1990)
- 2 - Julie Krone (1992, 1994)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 - John M. Veitch (1987, 1988, 1990)
[edit] Winners of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 2007 | Bit of Whimsy | Javier Castellano | Barclay Tagg | Joyce B. Young and Gerald McManis | 1:48.73 |
| 2006 | Vacare | Carlos Marquez, Jr. | Chris M. Block | Lothenbach Stables, Inc. | 1:48.42 |
| 2005 | Sweet Talker | Rafael Bejarano | Helen Pitts | Eliah & Lisa Kahn | 1:51.20 |
| 2004 | Ticker Tape | Kent Desormeaux | James M. Cassidy | Jim Ford Inc. et al | 1:51.35 |
| 2003 | Film Maker | Edgar Prado | H. Graham Motion | Courtlandt Farm | 1:47.82 |
| 2002 | Riskaverse | Mark Guidry | Patrick J. Kelly | Fox Ridge Farm | 1:49.84 |
| 2001 | Affluent | Ed Delahoussaye | Ron McAnally | Janis R. Whitham | 1:50.03 |
| 2000 | Collect The Cash | Shane Sellers | Joseph F. Orseno | Stronach Stables | 1:47.80 |
| 1999 | Perfect Sting | Pat Day | Joseph F. Orseno | Stronach Stables | 1:50.60 |
| 1998 | Tenski | Richard Migliore | Linda L. Rice | Richard L. Golden | 1:48.60 |
| 1997 | Ryafan | Alex Solis | John H. M. Gosden | Juddmonte Farms | 1:46.60 |
| 1996 | Memories of Silver | Robbie Davis | James J. Toner | Joan G. & John Phillips | 1:45.80 |
| 1995 | Perfect Arc | John Velazquez | Angel Penna, Jr. | Brazil Stables | 1:49.80 |
| 1994 | Danish | Julie Krone | Christophe Clement | Harry McCalmont | 1:48.80 |
| 1993 | Tribulation | Jean-Luc Samyn | James J. Toner | J. Phillips/A. Seelbinder | 1:53.60 |
| 1992 | Captive Miss | Julie Krone | Philip M. Serpe | Zeke Minassian | 1:48.60 |
| 1991 | La Gueriere | Brian Peck | A. Peter Perkins | Wimborne Farm | 1:49.80 |
| 1990 | Plenty of Grace | Jerry D. Bailey | John M. Veitch | Darby Dan Farm | 1:51.40 |
| 1989 | Coolawin | Jose Velez, Jr. | Carl A. Nafzger | James B. Tafel | 1:43.20 |
| 1988 | Love You by Heart | Randy Romero | John M. Veitch | Darby Dan Farm | 1:44.80 |
| 1987 | Graceful Darby | Jerry D. Bailey | John M. Veitch | James W. Phillips | 1:47.20 |
| 1986 | Lotka | Walter Guerra | Woody Stephens | Henryk de Kwiatkowski | 1:50.00 |
| 1985 | Contredance | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Henryk de Kwiatkowski | 1:47.00 |
| 1984 | Sintra | Keith Allen | Steven Penrod | Cherry Valley Farm | 1:43.40 |
