The Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are three years old or older, over a distance of one and five-sixteenths miles on the turf held annually in September at Kentucky Downs racetrack in Franklin, Kentucky during their short turf meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $1,500,000 which includes $750,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. History
With the introduction of Instant Racing in late 2011 the influx of revenue enabled the administration of the track added new events to an expanded racing season. One of these new events one was the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes.
The inaugural running of the event was on 15 September 2012 as the third event on the fourth day of the five day meeting at Kentucky Downs. A field of seven entrants lined up and the event was won by the Dreamfields Farm filly Maid of Heaven who started at 8/1 and was ridden by jockey Leandro Goncalves winning by a head in a time of 2:14.06.
Due to sponsorship the event has had several name changes. In 2015 the Thoroughbred auction house Fasig-Tipton located in Lexington, Kentucky sponsored the event. From 2017 until 2019 Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey's Ramsey Farms sponsored the event and it was run as the Ramsey Farms Stakes. In 2020 the event was sponsored by the Television Games Network and was held as the TVG Stakes.
The 2016 winner, Al's Gal proved the improving quality of the event by capturing the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada in her next start.
With the influx of gaming revenue at Kentucky Downs the purse for the event has risen dramatically to nearly $500,000 offered by 2020.
In 2022 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.
Records Speed record: miles: 2:06.84 – Stellify (2025)
Margins: lengths – Stellify (2026)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey (2016, 2017) 2 – Elements Racing, George Messina & Michael Lee (2025, 2026)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Joel Rosario (2022, 2023, 2024)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Brad H. Cox (2022, 2025, 2026)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefKentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes 2026Stellify5Flavien PratBrad H. CoxElements Racing, George Messina & Michael Lee miles2:09.54$1,395,000III2025 Stellify 4 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Elements Racing, George Messina & Michael Lee miles2:06.84$1,806,700 III2024 Neecie Marie 4 Joel Rosario Robert Reid Jr. Michael Milam miles2:07.16$1,300,000III2023 Vergara 4 Joel Rosario H. Graham Motion Gary Broad miles2:10.96$900,000III2022 Adventuring 4 Joel Rosario Brad H. Cox Godolphin miles2:08.28$550,000III2021Family Way 4Tyler GaffalioneBrendan P. WalshHunter Valley Farm, Debra L. O'Connor & Marc Detampel miles2:08.16$501,000ListedTVG Stakes2020 Theodora B5Irad Ortiz Jr.Augustin Stable miles2:09.72$492,575 ListedRamsey Farm Stakes2019Gentle Ruler 4 Chris Landeros Ian R. Wilkes Morsches Stable miles 2:12.73$469,000Listed 2018 Tricky Escape 5 Lynn Ashby Jon A. Marshall miles2:13.40$360,000Listed 2017 Kitten's Roar 5Jose L. Ortiz Michael J. Maker Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey miles2:17.19 $330,800Listed Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes2016 Al's Gal 5 Florent Geroux Michael J. Maker Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey miles 2:12.16$199,700 Listed Fasig-Tipton Ladies Marathon Stakes2015 5 Rafael Hernandez Kelly Rubley Brous Stable, Gary Barber & Wachtel Stable miles2:13.12$140,000 Listed Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Stakes2014 White Rose 4 Shaun Bridgmohan William I. Mott Jake Ballis & Rashard Lewis miles 2:13.76$190,000 2013 Mystical Star 5 Brice Blanc Christophe Clement Cheyenne Stable miles 2:11.30$153,583 2012 Maid of Heaven 4 Leandro Goncalves Kellyn GorderDreamfields Farm miles2:14.06$75,000
Legend:
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References