The Shakertown 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 horses age three and older over a distance of

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to any of 660 foot (unit), feet, 220 yards, 40 rod (unit), rods, 10 chain (unit), chains, or a ...

s 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'', ...

held annually in early April at

Keeneland Race Course Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for it ...

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city coterminous with and the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the city's population was 322,570, making it the List of ...

during the spring meeting. The event currently carries a purse of $400,000.

History

The event was inaugurated as The Mistral Stakes on 18 October 1995 as a three-year-old-only race over a distance of miles. The following year the event was not held but in 1997 was moved to the spring meeting and held at the current distance of

s. The event was renamed in 1998 to the Shakertown Stakes to honor

Shakertown Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, United States of America, USA, is the site of a Shakers, Shaker Religion, religious community that was active from 1805 to 1910. Following a Historic preservation, preservationist effort that began in 1961, the site, no ...

, a nearby

Shaker Shaker or Shakers may refer to: Religious groups * Shakers, a historically significant Christian sect * Indian Shakers, a smaller Christian denomination Objects and instruments * Shaker (musical instrument), an indirect struck idiophone * Cock ...

community that is a United States

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

, located about 25 miles from the racetrack. The event was upgraded to a Grade III in 2003 and in 2016 to a Grade II. In 2020 Lienster broke the course record held by Perfect Officer since 2012. The time was 1:00.86 for the

s sprint.

Records

Speed record * 1:00.86 – Leinster (2020) Margins * 4 lengths – Bound for Nowhere (2018) Most wins * 2 – Soaring Free (2004, 2005) * 2 – Bound for Nowhere (2018, 2021) Most wins by an owner * 2 –

Sam-Son Farm Sam-Son Farm is a Thoroughbred horse racing stable with farms located in Milton, Ontario (Canada) and Ocala, Florida (U.S.). Established in the 1960s by Ernest L. "Ernie" Samuel, it began as a home for competition hunter/jumper horses. One Sam ...

(2004, 2005) * 2 – Martin Racing Stable (2008, 2014) * 2 – Wesley A. Ward (2018, 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 ...

* 3 –

Shane Sellers Shane Jude Sellers (born September 24, 1966 in Erath, Louisiana) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. At age eleven, he began working around horses and in 1983 rode his first winner at Evangeline Downs. Sellers won several national r ...

(1998, 1999, 2004) Most wins by a trainer * 4 – Wesley A. Ward (2016, 2018, 2021, 2022)

Winners

''Notes:''
§ Ran as part of an entry
ƒ Filly or Mare

References

{{reflist, 2 Graded stakes races in the United States Grade 2 stakes races in the United States Turf races in the United States Open sprint category horse races Horse races established in 1995 Keeneland horse races 1995 establishments in Kentucky

History

Records

Winners

See also

References