The Blue Hen Stakes at Delaware Park Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...

  for two-year-old fillies

Filly

A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....

 held annually in early October at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton, Delaware

Stanton, Delaware

Stanton is an unincorporated community in New Castle County, Delaware, United States, near the confluence of the Red Clay and White Clay Creeks. It is located in the southern end of Mill Creek Hundred.-History:...

. An non-graded

Graded stakes race

A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...

 stakes event raced on dirt, since 2004 it has been contested at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles (8.5 furlong

Furlong

A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....

s).

The Blue Hen is named for the horse breeding

Horse breeding

Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...

 term "Blue Hen," meaning a mare

Mare (horse)

A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...

 who has proved herself exceptional in producing high quality foal

Foal

A foal is an equine, particularly a horse, that is one year old or younger. More specific terms are colt for a male foal and filly for a female foal, but these terms are used until the horse is age three or four. When the foal is nursing from its dam , it may also be called a suckling...

s, almost regardless of which stallion

Stallion (horse)

A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...

 might be the sire. These sons and daughters would also have an impact on the breed. An example of the highest sort of Blue Hen mare would be La Troienne

La Troienne

La Troienne, was one of the most famous and influential Thoroughbred broodmares in twentieth century America. She produced 10 winners while at stud....

.

In 1965 and 1971, the race was run in two divisions.

Winners since 2000

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance (F Furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries.... )	Time
2010	Summer Laugh	Fernando Jara Fernando Jara Fernando Jara is thoroughbred horse racing jockey in the United States. Aboard Jazil he won the 2006 Belmont Stakes...	Todd Pletcher Todd Pletcher Todd Pletcher is a leading American thoroughbred horse trainer. He has won four consecutive Eclipse Awards as outstanding Trainer of the Year, while topping the leader board in purse earnings in 2004, 2005, and 2006. His horse Super Saver won the 2010 Kentucky Derby, the first of his 24 horses...	Edward P. Evans	8.5 F	1:46.5
2009	Ms Vanenzza	Joseph Rocco, Jr.	Juan C. Vazquez	Florence Patitucci	8.5 F	1:45.74
2008	Bon Jovi Girl	Jose Caraballo	Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. "Tim" Ritchey is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is best known as the trainer of Afleet Alex, a 2005 winner of two American Classic Races, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes....	Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. "Tim" Ritchey is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is best known as the trainer of Afleet Alex, a 2005 winner of two American Classic Races, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes....  & Chuck Zacney	8.5 F	1:46.10
2007	Saki To Me	Abel Castellano, Jr.	Edmond D. Gaudet	Morris Bailey	8.5 F	1:48.83
2006	Miss Goodnight	Stewart Elliott Stewart Elliott Stewart Elliott is an American thoroughbred jockey.Elliott grew up in horse racing; his father was a jockey for many years, his mother rode show horses and was a riding instructor, and his uncle owns a racing stable in Canada...	Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. "Tim" Ritchey is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is best known as the trainer of Afleet Alex, a 2005 winner of two American Classic Races, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes....	CJZ Racing Stable	8.5 F	1:46.63
2005	Love Locket	Christopher DeCarlo	Todd A. Pletcher	Michael Tabor Michael Tabor Michael B. Tabor is a businessman and owner of Thoroughbred racehorses.-Thoroughbred racing career:...	8.5 F	1:47.37
2004	Buzz Song	Christopher DeCarlo	Todd A. Pletcher	Bonnie & Sy Baskin	8.5 F	1:45.99
2003	Vogue Girl	Robby Albarado Robby Albarado Robby J. Albarado is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding at the age of 12 at bush tracks in his native Louisiana and after turning professional, earned his first win at Evangeline Downs in 1990...	Allen Iwinski	Stan Stefanski	8 F	1:38.81
2002	Heirloom Diamond	Jeremy Rose Jeremy Rose Jeremy Rose is an American Thoroughbred racehorse jockey. He began his career as a professional rider at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware and in 2001 was his breakout year and he was voted the United States' Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.In 2005, Rose guided Afleet Alex, to...	Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. "Tim" Ritchey is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is best known as the trainer of Afleet Alex, a 2005 winner of two American Classic Races, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes....	S J B Jr. Stable	8 F	1:41.79
2001	Treasure Coast Gem	Jeremy Rose Jeremy Rose Jeremy Rose is an American Thoroughbred racehorse jockey. He began his career as a professional rider at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware and in 2001 was his breakout year and he was voted the United States' Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.In 2005, Rose guided Afleet Alex, to...	Francis Campitelli	James H. McCaul	8 F	1:39.93
2000	Xtra Heat Xtra Heat Xtra Heat is a retired American Thoroughbred Champion filly racehorse. She was owned by Kenneth Taylor, Harry Deitchman, and her trainer, John Salzman, Sr....	Mark T. Johnston	John E. Salzman, Sr.	K. Taylor/H. Deitchman/J. Salzman	6 F	1:11.80