Bourbon Stakes

The Bourbon Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the first part of October at the Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Contested on turf at a distance of 1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles (8.5 furlongs), it is open to two-year-old horses. Elevated to Grade III status for 2008, the race currently offers a current purse of $250,000. Since 2005, the race has been sponsored by Labrot & Graham Distillery's Woodford Reserve.

Inaugurated in 1991 as the Hopemont Stakes, the name was changed for the 2003 race. It was run in two divisions in 1998.

The race was previously part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, when the winner automatically qualified for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles)

• 1:42 2/5 - Gateman (1999)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Klaravich Stables & W. H. Lawrence (2011, 2012)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 3 - Pat Day (1991, 1998, 1999)
• 3 - Craig Perret (1996, 1997, 2004)
• 3 - Julien R. Leparoux (2010, 2012, 2015)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 3 - Todd A. Pletcher (2006, 2008, 2009)
• 2 - Peter M. Vestal (1996, 1997)
• 2 - Hal R. Wiggins (1998, 2002)
• 2 - W. Elliott Walden (1999, 2001)

Winners