The Beldame Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. Inaugurated in 1939, it was run as a handicap prior to 1960. The race is held annually near the beginning of October at Belmont Park and currently offers a purse of $400,000.
A Grade I event for most of its history, in 2019 it was downgraded to Grade II.
On August 22, 2009, NYRA announced that the purse for the 2009 Beldame Stakes was increased to $1 million to attract a showdown between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta though ultimately neither horse entered the race.
The race is named for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame mare Beldame who raced between 1903 and 1905. During the 1904 season, she won 12 of 14 starts, beating the best colts of her time, and was voted the Horse of the Year honors.
The first New York bred to win an Eclipse Award, Saratoga Dew, won this race in 1992.
Run at miles since 1990, the Beldame has been set at various distances: miles : 1939, 1990 1 mile & 1 furlong : 1940–1976 miles : 1990–present miles : 1977–1989
Records Speed record: (At current distance of miles) 1:45.80- Go for Wand (1990)
Most wins: 2 – Fairy Chant (1940, 1941) 2 – Next Move (1950, 1952) 2 – Gamely (1968, 1969) 2 – Susan's Girl (1972, 1975) 2 – Desert Vixen (1973, 1974) 2 – Love Sign (1980, 1981) 2 – Lady's Secret (1985, 1986) 2 – Personal Ensign (1987, 1988) 2 – Sightseek (2003, 2004)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Todd A. Pletcher (2007, 2006, 2005, 2010, 2013, 2022)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Jorge Velásquez (1973, 1976, 1978, 1984, 1985)
Most wins by an owner: 4 – Foxcatcher Farm (1940, 1941, 1954, 1960) 4 – Ogden Phipps (1983, 1987, 1988, 1994) 4 – Godolphin Racing (2002, 2008, 2009, 2015)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026 Nitrogen4José OrtizMark E. CasseD.J. Stable LLC1:48.362025Gun Song4John R. VelazquezMark A. HennigR. Lee Lewis1:49.452024Raging Sea4Flavien PratChad C. BrownAlpha Delta Stables1:50.412023Randomized3Joel RosarioChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables1:49.052022Nest3Irad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners/Michael House1:52.382021Royal Flag5Joel RosarioChad C. BrownWilliam S. Farish1:50.022020Horologist4Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottParkland Thoroughbreds & There's A Chance Stable1:49.012019Midnight Bisou4John R. VelazquezSteven M. AsmussenBloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, Allen Racing 1:48.862018Wow Cat4José OrtizChad C. BrownPeter M. Brant & Stud Vendaval, Inc 1:47.752017Elate3José OrtizWilliam I. MottClaiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider 1.50.212016Forever Unbridled 4Joel RosarioDallas StewartCharles E. Fipke1:50.242015 Wedding Toast5Jose LezcanoKiaran McLaughlinGodolphin Racing1.47.672014Belle Gallantey5José OrtizRudy RodriguezMichael Dubb, Gary Aisquith, Bethlehem Stables LLC1:47.552013Princess of Sylmar3Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherKing of Prussia Stable (Ed Stanco)1:47.932012Royal Delta4Mike E. SmithWilliam I. MottBesilu Stables1:48.802011Havre de Grace4Ramon A. DominguezJ. Larry JonesFox Hill Farms, Inc.1:49.392010Life at Ten5John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherCandy DeBartolo1:49.292009Music Note4Rajiv MaraghSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing1:48.492008Cocoa Beach4Ramon DomínguezSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing1:49.502007Unbridled Belle4Ramon DomínguezTodd A. PletcherTeam Valor Stables1:48.632006Fleet Indian5José A. SantosTodd A. PletcherPaul H. Saylor1:48.692005Ashado4John VelazquezTodd A. PletcherStarlight Stable, Saylor1:48.882004Sightseek5Javier CastellanoRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1:49.602003Sightseek4Jerry BaileyRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1:49.272002Imperial Gesture3Jerry BaileySaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing1:50.632001Exogenous3Javier CastellanoScotty SchulhoferCentaur Farms, Inc. (Vernon Heath)1:49.202000Riboletta5Chris McCarronEduardo IndaAaron & Marie Jones 1:46.141999Beautiful Pleasure4Jorge ChavezJohn T. Ward Jr.John C. Oxley1:47.741998Sharp Cat4Corey NakataniWallace DollaseAhmed bin Salman1:46.201997Hidden Lake4Richard MiglioreJohn C. KimmelTracy Farmer/Robert N. Clay1:48.261996Yanks Music3John VelazquezLeo O'BrienMichael Fennessy1:47.001995Serena's Song3Gary StevensD. Wayne LukasRobert & Beverly Lewis1:48.601994Heavenly Prize3Pat DayC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps1:48.801993Dispute3Jerry BaileyC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps1:47.201992Saratoga Dew3Herb McCauleyGary SciaccaCharles F. Engel1:46.801991Sharp Dance5Mike E. SmithD. Wayne LukasH. Joseph Allen1:48.001990Go For Wand3Randy RomeroWilliam Badgett Jr.Christiana Stable1:45.801989Tactile3Richard MiglioreRichard W. SmallRobert E. Myerhoff2:05.201988Personal Ensign4Randy RomeroC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps2:01.201987Personal Ensign3Randy RomeroC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps2:04.401986Lady's Secret4Pat DayD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein2:01.601985Lady's Secret3Jorge VelásquezD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein2:03.601984Life's Magic3Jorge VelásquezD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein2:03.201983Dance Number4Ángel Cordero Jr.Angel Penna Sr.Ogden Phipps2:00.601982Weber City Miss5Ángel Cordero Jr.Howard M. TesherH. Joseph Allen2:04.201981Love Sign4Bill ShoemakerSidney Watters Jr.Stephen C. Clark Jr.2:01.801980Love Sign3Ruben HernandezSidney Watters Jr.Stephen C. Clark Jr.2:02.801979Waya5Cash AsmussenDavid A. WhiteleyPeter M. Brant2:06.201978Late Bloomer4Jorge VelásquezJohn M. Gaver Jr.Greentree Stable2:02.201977Cum Laude Laurie3Ángel Cordero Jr.Lou RondinelloDaniel M. Galbreath2:01.801976Proud Delta4Jorge VelásquezPeter M. HoweMontpelier1:46.801975Susan's Girl6Braulio BaezaL. Ross FenstermakerFred W. Hooper1:48.401974Desert Vixen4Laffit Pincay Jr.Thomas F. Root Sr.Harry T. Mangurian Jr.1:46.601973Desert Vixen3Jorge VelásquezThomas F. Root Sr.Harry T. Mangurian Jr.1:46.201972Susan's Girl3Laffit Pincay Jr.John W. RussellFred W. Hooper1:47.401971Double Delta5Kenneth KnappStanley M. ReiserJames Drymon1:48.601970Shuvee4Ron TurcotteWillard C. FreemanAnne Minor Stone1:48.001969Gamely5Laffit Pincay Jr.James W. MaloneyWilliam Haggin Perry1:49.201968Gamely4Laffit Pincay Jr.James W. MaloneyWilliam Haggin Perry1:49.601967Mac's Sparkler5William BolandH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm1:49.401966Summer Scandal4Walter BlumWoods GarthHarborvale Stable1:49.401965What a Treat3John L. RotzSylvester VeitchGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:49.201964Tosmah3Sam Boulmetis Sr.Joseph W. MerglerBriardale Farm1:49.601963Oil Royalty5Manuel YcazaEdward A. NeloyJohn R. Gaines1:51.001962Cicada3Bill ShoemakerCasey HayesMeadow Stable1:48.201961Airmans Guide4Howard GrantBurton B. WilliamsHugh A. Grant Sr.1:49.401960Berlo3Eric GuerinRichard E. HandlenFoxcatcher Farm1:49.401959Tempted4Eldon NelsonHenry S. ClarkMooring Stable1:50.201958Outer Space4William HarmatzJames W. MaloneyMrs. Gerard S. Smith1:49.401957Pucker Up4Bill ShoemakerJames P. ConwayAda L. Rice1:49.401956Levee3Ray BroussardNorman McLeodVernon G. Cardy1:50.001955Lalun3Henry MorenoLoyd Gentry Jr.Cain Hoy Stable1:52.001954Parlo3Eric GuerinRichard E. HandlenFoxcatcher Farm1:49.401953Atalanta5Harrison WilsonJack LongDarby Dan Farm1:52.201952Next Move5Eric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II 1:51.001952Real Delight3Eddie ArcaroHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm1:51.001951Thelma Berger4Bill ShoemakerJohn B. TheallJoe W. Brown1:52.001950Next Move3Nick CombestWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1:50.201949Miss Request4Eddie ArcaroJames P. ConwayFlorence Whitaker1:52.801948Conniver4Douglas DodsonWilliam PostHarry La Montagne1:52.401947Snow Goose3Ted AtkinsonOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords Sr.1:52.001947But Why Not3Eddie ArcaroMax HirschKing Ranch1:51.801946Gallorette4Job Dean JessopEdward A. ChristmasWilliam L. Brann1:51.401946Bridal Flower3Abelardo DelaraJames W. SmithEdward R. Bradley1:51.201945War Date3Arnold KirklandTom SmithMaine Chance Farm1:51.001944Donita's First3Ted AtkinsonPreston M. BurchLongchamps Farms1:51.801943Mar-Kell4Billie ThompsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1:51.601942Vagrancy (DH)3James StoutJim FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1:50.00Barrancosa (DH)7Eddie ArcaroLindsay C. HowardBinglin Stable1941Fairy Chant4Irving AndersonRichard E. HandlenFoxcatcher Farm1:51.001940Fairy Chant3Irving AndersonRichard E. HandlenFoxcatcher Farm1:50.801939Nellie Bly3Joseph RenickGeorge H. BostwickGeorge H. Bostwick1:43.00
References
The Beldame Stakes at Pedigree query The 2007 Beldame Stakes at the NTRA