The Royal Heroine Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older, over a distance of one mile on the turf held annually in April at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
History The event was named in honor of the great Champion filly, Royal Heroine, who won the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Mile at Hollywood Park Racetrack in North American record time.
The event was inaugurated on 12 December 1986 as the Royal Heroine Handicap held at Hollywood Park Racetrack for three year old fillies over the miles distance and was won by Mary Jones Bradley's Miraculous who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens and trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Charles E. Whittingham in a time of 1:41.
After an absence of 11 years, the event was renewed on 18 July 1998 as the Royal Heroine Stakes over the one mile distance with conditions for fillies and mares, three years old and older and was won by French bred mare Tuzla who won by a neck defeating the favorite Sonja's Faith (IRE) and four other runners in a time of 1:34.33. The following year, Tuzla would start the favorite and repeat winning by three-quarters of a length.
In 2001 the event was upgraded to a Grade III event.
In 2006 with the influx of sponsorship dollars from CashCall the events purse was raised to $750,000 and renamed to the CashCall Mile Stakes.
In 2007 the event was upgraded to a Grade II event and was an invitational event which reflected in the name. The sponsorship of CashCall ended in 2009 and the event was changed to the Royal Heroine Mile Stakes.
In 2014 with the closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack the event was moved to Santa Anita Park and scheduled in June. The conditions of the event in 2016 changed so that three year old fillies were not included.
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Santa Anita closed their track and the event was cancelled
In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status.
Records Speed record: 1 mile: 1:33.33 – Dance in the Mood (JPN) (2006)
Margins: lengths – Vasilika (2019)
Most wins: 2 – Tuzla (FR) (1998, 1999)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – David Milch (1998, 1999) 2 – Jerry Hollendorfer (2014, 2019)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Corey Nakatani (1998, 1999, 2003, 2017)
Most wins by a trainer: 5 – Philip D'Amato (2015, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Santa Anita Park – Royal Heroine Stakes2026Take A Breath (GB)4Emisael JaramilloMark GlattChivalry Thoroughbred Racing and Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners1 mile1:35.95$100,000III2025Public Assembly4Antonio FresuPhilip D'AmatoAbbondanza Racing LLC, Medallion Racing and Lissa Ann McNulty1 mile1:36.13$100,000III2024Uncorked (AUS) 5Frankie DettoriPhilip D'AmatoThe Elkstone Group 1 mile1:34.06$102,000III2023Closing Remarks5Joe BravoCarla GainesHarris Farms1 mile1:34.82$200,500II 2022Going Global (IRE)4Umberto RispoliPhilip D'AmatoCYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig & Ray Pagano 1 mile1:33.97$196,000II 2021Charmaine's Mia 5Flavien PratPhilip D'AmatoAgave Racing Stable & Rockin Robin Racing Stables1 mile1:33.76$201,500II2020Race not held2019Vasilika4Flavien PratJerry HollendorferAll Schlaich Stables, Jerry Hollendorfer, Gatto Racing & George Todaro 1 mile1:34.52$200,702II2018Beau Recall (IRE)4Joel RosarioSimon CallaghanSlam Dunk Racing & Medallion Racing1 mile1:34.52$201,380II2017Hillhouse High6Corey NakataniRichard BaltasGolden Eagle Farm1 mile1:33.61$200,690II20165Abel LezcanoJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing1 mile1:37.12$203,105II2015Fanticola5Joseph TalamoPhilip D'AmatoAnthony Fanticola & Joseph Scardino 1 mile1:36.76$201,000II2014Parranda5Elvis TrujilloJerry HollendorferJerry Hollendorfer, Gillian Campbell, Dan Clark & Greg Skoda1 mile1:35.27$201,250IIAt Hollywood Park – Royal Heroine Mile Stakes2013Schiaparelli5Joseph TalamoMike PuypeRan Jan Racing1 mile1:34.11$150,000II2012Quiet Oasis (IRE)4Mario GutierrezBen D. A. CecilReddam Racing1 mile1:35.06$150,000II2011Celtic Princess (BRZ)7Rafael BejaranoAntonio C. AvilaJessica Coudelaria1 mile1:33.74$150,000II2010Gotta Have Her6Tyler BazeJenine SahadiGreen Lantern Stables1 mile1:34.98$150,000II2009Tuscan Evening (IRE)4Rafael BejaranoJerry HollendorferWilliam de Burgh1 mile1:33.71$250,000IICashCall Mile Stakes2008Diamond Diva (GB)4David R. FloresJames M. CassidyThree Chimneys Racing1 mile1:34.07$750,000II2007Lady of Venice (FR)4Julien R. LeparouxMartin S. Schwartz1 mile1:33.56$1,000,000II20065Victor EspinozaKazuo FujisawaShadai Race Horse1 mile1:33.33$750,000IIIRoyal Heroine Stakes2005Intercontinental (GB)5Jerry D. BaileyRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1 mile1:34.33$200,000III2004Janeian (NZ)6Kent J. DesormeauxW. Bret CalhounGreg L. England1 mile1:34.79$109,700III2003Magic Mission (GB)5Corey NakataniNeil D. DrysdaleMaktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum1 mile1:34.25$112,200III2002Surya4Kent J. DesormeauxRobert J. FrankelFlaxman Holdings1 mile1:34.73$114,800III2001Kalatiara (AUS)4Chris McCarronRon McAnallyStonerside Stable1 mile1:34.41$109,900III2000Tranquility Lake5Julio C. CananiPam & Martin Wygod1 mile1:33.98$78,775 Listed 1999Tuzla (FR)5Corey NakataniJulio C. CananiDavid Milch1 mile1:34.32$70,400 Listed 1998Tuzla (FR)4Corey NakataniJulio C. CananiDavid Milch1 mile1:34.33$71,650 Listed 1987–1997Race not heldRoyal Heroine Handicap1986Miraculous3Gary L. Stevens Mary Jones Bradley miles1:41.80$40,000
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References