Transylvania Stakes
Encyclopedia
The Transylvania Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race
run annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course
near Lexington, Kentucky
. The Grade III
event is the first race of the year in Kentucky for three-year-olds and is contested on turf
over a distance of one mile (8 furlong
s). It currently offers a purse of $150,000.
The Transylvania Stakes is named for the local Transylvania University
and was first run in 1989. It was a listed race until it earned Grade III status in 2003.
In 2008, 2009 and 2010, the race was run at a distance of one and one-sixteenth mile.
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...
run annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course
Keeneland
Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial...
near Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. The Grade III
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...
event is the first race of the year in Kentucky for three-year-olds and is contested on turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
over a distance of one mile (8 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). It currently offers a purse of $150,000.
The Transylvania Stakes is named for the local Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
and was first run in 1989. It was a listed race until it earned Grade III status in 2003.
In 2008, 2009 and 2010, the race was run at a distance of one and one-sixteenth mile.
Past winners
- 2011 - Air Support (1:41.99) (Rajiv MaraghRajiv MaraghRajiv Maragh is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. An Indo-Jamaican, he is the son of a jockey who rode in Jamaica before relocating to Florida where he began a career as a horse trainer....
) - 2010 - Nordic Truce (1:41.31) (Julien LeparouxJulien LeparouxJulien R. Leparoux is a Champion jockey currently racing in the United States.Leparoux, grew up in a racing family, the son of a jockey turned assistant trainer. He worked at the Chantilly Racecourse as a stable hand and in January 2003 emigrated to California to work as an exercise rider for...
) - 2009 - Stormalory (1:45.73) (Julien LeparouxJulien LeparouxJulien R. Leparoux is a Champion jockey currently racing in the United States.Leparoux, grew up in a racing family, the son of a jockey turned assistant trainer. He worked at the Chantilly Racecourse as a stable hand and in January 2003 emigrated to California to work as an exercise rider for...
) - 2008‡- Boss Lafitte (1:44.43)
- 2007 - Marcavelly (1:36.98)
- 2006 - Chin High (1:37.87)
- 2005 - Chattahoochee War (1:35.28)
- 2004 - Timo (1:36.52)
- 2003 - White Cat (1:34.98)
- 2002 - Flying Dash (1:35.69)
- 2001 - Baptize (1:35.28)
- 2000 - Field cat (1:35.19)
- 1999 - Good Night (1:35.00)
- 1998 - Dog Watch (1:34.65)
- 1997 - Near The Bank (1:36.53)
- 1996 - More Royal (1:35.92)
- Race changes from 8.5 furlongs to 8 furlongs
- 1995 - Crimson Guard (1:44.04)
- 1994 - Star of Manila (1:42.87)
- 1993 - Proud Shot (1:44.17) (Mulitple Grade I winner, Awad, came in third.)
- 1992 - Casino Magistrate (1:46.62)
- 1991 - Eastern Dude (1:42 4/5)
- 1990 - IzvestiaIzvestia (horse)Izvestia was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Canadian Triple Crown in 1990. A descendant of Nearco, his damsire Personality was the 1970 Co-American Horse of the Year. Owned and bred by Kinghaven Farms, the colt began racing in the United States, winning two Graded stakes races at the...
(1:43 4/5) (CanadianCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Horse of the Year & Triple Crown winner.) - 1989 - Shy Tom (1:50)
- ‡ In 2008, the race was run off the turf, but retained its GIII status.