The Beldame Stakes is an American

Thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a 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 jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

for

fillies A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, th ...

and

mare A mare is an adult female horse or other equidae, equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more th ...

s 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 Belmont Park is a thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United Stat ...

and currently offers a purse of $400,000. A

Grade I In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...

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 Rachel Alexandra (foaled January 29, 2006) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse and the 2009 Horse of the Year. When she won the 2009 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, she became the first filly to win the race in ...

and

Zenyatta Zenyatta (foaled April 1, 2004) is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Breeders' Cup Classic and Breeders' Cup Distaff and 19 of her 20 starts. She was the 2010 American Horse of the Year, and American Champion Older Female H ...

though ultimately neither horse entered the race. The race is named for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame mare

Beldame Beldame (1901–1924) was an American racehorse and broodmare. Background The chestnut filly was foaled near Lexington, Kentucky, in 1901. She was by Octagon, out of the English-bred Bella Donna (by The Derby winner Hermit). Named Beldame, sh ...

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 New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

bred to win an

Eclipse Award The Eclipse Award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th-century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. An Eclipse Award Trophy is presented to the winner in each division. The trophy is made by a few small selected A ...

Saratoga Dew Saratoga Dew (foaled 1989 in New York) is an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Bred by

, 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 Go For Wand (April 6, 1987 – October 27, 1990) was a champion American thoroughbred racehorse. Go For Wand was sired by Canadian Hall of Famer Deputy Minister, out of Obeah (winner of, among other races, the Blue Hen Stakes, and the Delaw ...

(1990) Most wins: * 2 – Fairy Chant (1940, 1941) * 2 –

Next Move {{Infobox racehorse , horsename = Next Move , image = , caption = , sire = Bull Lea , grandsire = Bull Dog , dam = Now What , damsire = Chance Play , sex = Filly , foaled = 1947 , country = United States , colour = Brown , breeder ...

(1950, 1952) * 2 –

Gamely Gamely (February 10, 1964 – 1975) was an American Thoroughbred race horse who was voted the champion filly of her age group on three occasions. Background Gamely was bred and born at Claiborne Farm outside Paris, Kentucky. Her dam was the sta ...

(1968, 1969) * 2 –

Susan's Girl Susan's Girl (1969–October 18, 1988) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, bred and owned by Fred W. Hooper. She was the first American filly to earn over $1,000,000. Racing career Racing as a two-year-old in 1971, Susan's Girl came up again ...

(1972, 1975) * 2 –

Desert Vixen Desert Vixen (1970–1982) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. She was the leading American filly of her generation, winning an Eclipse Award at the ages of both three and four. She was later inducted into the U. S. Racing Hall of Fame. Ra ...

(1973, 1974) * 2 –

Love Sign "Love Sign" is a song by American musician Prince, from the '' 1-800-NEW-FUNK'' compilation album released by his independent record label NPG Records in 1994. "Love Sign" was the most successful song released from the album, and it is a duet w ...

(1980, 1981) * 2 – Lady's Secret (1985, 1986) * 2 –

Personal Ensign Personal Ensign (April 27, 1984 – April 8, 2010) was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse who retired undefeated with 13 wins. At the time, this was the longest win streak for a horse at the elite level of American racing in 80 years. Her come ...

(1987, 1988) * 2 –

Sightseek Sightseek (foaled 1999 in Kentucky) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse and current broodmare. She was bred and raced by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms and was trained by Hall of Fame inductee Robert Frankel. Background Sightseek ...

(2003, 2004) Most wins by a trainer: * 6 –

Todd A. Pletcher Todd Pletcher (born June 26, 1967, in Dallas, Texas) is an American thoroughbred horse trainer. He won the Eclipse Award eight times as Trainer of the Year, four of these in consecutive years. His horses Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2 ...

(2007, 2006, 2005, 2010, 2013, 2022) Most wins by a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

: * 5 –

Jorge Velásquez Jorge Velásquez (born December 28, 1946) is a Panamanian retired thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Jorge Velasquez's career in thoroughbred racing began in his native Panama but as a teenager moved to the United States. In 1967 he won more race ...

(1973, 1976, 1978, 1984, 1985) Most wins by an owner: * 4 –

Foxcatcher Farm William du Pont Jr. (February 11, 1896 – December 31, 1965) was an English-born American businessman and banker, and a prominent figure in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. He developed and designed more than 20 racing venues, including F ...

(1940, 1941, 1954, 1960) * 4 –

Ogden Phipps Ogden Phipps (November 26, 1908 – April 21, 2002) was an American stockbroker, court tennis champion and Hall of Fame member, thoroughbred horse racing executive and owner/breeder, and an art collector and philanthropist. In 2001, he was induct ...

(1983, 1987, 1988, 1994) * 4 –

Godolphin Racing Godolphin (Arabic: جودولفين) is the Maktoum family's private Thoroughbred horseracing stable and was named in honour of the Godolphin Arabian, who came from the desert to become one of the three founding stallions of the modern Thor ...

(2002, 2008, 2009, 2015)

Winners

References

{{Reflist
The Beldame Stakes at Pedigree query

The 2007 Beldame Stakes at the NTRA
Graded stakes races in the United States Mile category horse races for fillies and mares Grade 1 stakes races in the United States Horse races in New York (state) Recurring sporting events established in 1939 Belmont Park Breeders' Cup Challenge series 1939 establishments in New York (state)