The Mint Julep Stakes is a Grade III 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, four years old and older over a distance of one and one sixteenth miles on the

turf Sod is the upper layer of turf that is harvested for transplanting. Turf consists of a variable thickness of a soil medium that supports a community of turfgrasses. In British and Australian English, sod is more commonly known as ''turf'', ...

scheduled annually in late May or early June at

Churchill Downs Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States that hosts the annual Kentucky Derby. It opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first ...

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

. It currently offers a purse of $250,000.

History

From its inaugural running in 1977 to 1986, the event was run on the dirt course, but was moved to the turf course beginning in 1987. The race is named for the

Mint Julep Mint julep is an alcoholic beverage, alcoholic cocktail, consisting primarily of Bourbon whiskey, bourbon, sugar, water, crushed or shaved ice, and fresh Mentha, mint. As a bourbon-based cocktail, it is associated with the American South and the ...

, a popular drink with racing fans at

, particularly seen on

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colt (horse), Colts and geldin ...

day. The event was split into divisions in 1987 and 1990. Between 1983 and 2004 the conditions of the event were for fillies and mares that were four year olds and older. In 2001 the event was upgraded to a Grade III. From 2001 to 2014 the event was known as the Early Time Mint Julep Handicap. Beginning in 2015, the Mint Julep Handicap became the

Old Forester Old Forester is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whisky produced by the Brown–Forman Corporation. It has been on the market continuously for longer than any other bourbon (approximately 150 years as of 2020), and was the first bourbon so ...

Mint Julep Handicap for sponsorship reasons.

Distances

It has been run at the following distances: * miles (1.71 km) : 1990–present * miles (1.81 km) : 1988–1989 * 1 mile (1.61 km) : 1983–1987 * 7 furlongs (1.41 km) : 1977–1982

Records

;Speed record * miles – 1:40.55 Pin Up Betty (2025) ;Margins: * 5 lengths – Lillian Russell (1981) ;Most wins * 2 – Megans Bluff (2001, 2002) ;Most wins by an owner * 2 – Carl F. Pollard (2003, 2015) * 2 – James C. Routsong (2001, 2002) * 2 – Richard and Bertram Klein (2013, 2016) * 2 – Madaket Stables (2020, 2021) ;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 ...

* 4 –

Robby Albarado Robby J. Albarado (born September 11, 1973) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding at the age of 10 and progressed to riding at bush tracks in his native Louisiana by the age of 12. After turning professional, he earned ...

(1997, 2005, 2006, 2007) ;Most wins by a trainer * 5 –

William I. Mott William I. "Bill" Mott (born July 29, 1953, in Mobridge, South Dakota) is an American horse trainer, most notable for his work with Cigar (horse), Cigar. Mott earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in 1995, 1996, 2011, 2013. He was ind ...

(1987, 1996, 2005, 2006, 2007)

Winners

''Legend:''

''Notes:''
† In 1997, Romy won but was disqualified for interference in the stretch and set back to fourth.

References

{{Reflist, 2 Graded stakes races in the United States Mile category horse races for fillies and mares Turf races in the United States Horse races established in 1977 Churchill Downs horse races 1977 establishments in Kentucky Grade 3 stakes races in the United States