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, t ...

and

mare A mare is an adult female horse or other 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 than four ...

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 major thoroughbred horse racing facility in the northeastern United States, located in Elmont, New York, just east of the New York City limits. It was opened on May 4, 1905. It is operated by the non-profit New York Racin ...

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

Grade I In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

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 () was a Biblical figure, the favorite of Jacob's two wives, and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two of the twelve progenitors of the tribes of Israel. Rachel's father was Laban. Her older sister was Leah, Jacob's first wife. Her aun ...

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 Champion Older Female in 2008, ...

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 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 that is made by a few small selected American ...

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 1991, the Beldame has been set at various distances: * miles : 1939, 1990 * 1 mile & 1 furlong : 1940–1976 * miles : 1991–present * miles : 1977–1989

Records

Speed record: (At current distance of miles) * 1:45.80- Go for Wand (1990) Most wins: * 2 –

Fairy Chant Fairy Chant (foaled 1937 in Kentucky) was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Her sire was the 1927 Belmont Stakes winner Chance Shot, a son of three-time Leading sire in North America Fair Play. Her dam was Star Fairy, a daughter of The ...

(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 , breed ...

(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 st ...

(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 agains ...

(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 ...

(1980, 1981) * 2 –

Lady's Secret Lady's Secret (April 8, 1982 – March 4, 2003) was an American Eclipse Award winning Thoroughbred horse racing, racemare that was listed in the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century. Lady's Secret was bred by Robert H. Spreen at Lucas ...

(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 Pletcher Todd Pletcher (born June 26, 1967 in Dallas, Texas) is an American thoroughbred horse trainer. He won the Eclipse Award seven times as Trainer of the Year, four of these in consecutive years. His horses Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (20 ...

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

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or 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 to describe the individual ...

: * 5 –

Jorge Velásquez Jorge Velásquez (born December 28, 1946 in Chepo, Panama) is a thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame 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 ...

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

(1983, 1987, 1988, 1994) * 4 –

Godolphin Racing Godolphin (Arabic: جودلفين) is the Maktoum family's private Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of ...

(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)