The Blue Grass Stakes, currently sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is an American Grade 1 horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. Toyota redirects here. ... A graded stakes race is a term applied to a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay. ... Horse-racing is an equestrian sporting activity which has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races of Roman times were an early example, as was the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. ... The Thoroughbred is a horse breed developed in 18th century England when English mares were bred with imported Arabian stallions to create a distance racer. ...

It was named for the Bluegrass region of Kentucky, characterized by grass having bluish-green culms, which is known as the "heart" of the thoroughbred racing industry. Bluegrass and rock fence of local limestone in central Kentucky. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

First run at the Kentucky Association track in Lexington in 1911, the Blue Grass has, from its inception, served as an important prep for the Kentucky Derby. At the Association track, the Blue Grass was staged from 1911 through 1914 and from 1919 through 1926. The race was revived at Keeneland in the spring of 1937. In 1943-1944, the Blue Grass was renewed as a part of the Keeneland-at-Churchill Downs meeting. In 1945, the Blue Grass was run as part of the Churchill Downs meeting. Today it is part of the Keeneland program. Nickname: Athens of the West Horse Capital of the World Location in the Commonwealth of Kentucky Coordinates: Country State Counties United States Kentucky Fayette Mayor Teresa Isaac (D) Area    - City 285. ... Churchill Downs racetrack, 2004 The Kentucky Derby is a stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May, capping the three-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. ... Keeneland Race Course at Dawn There is also a town in Jefferson County, Kentucky, with the same name, unrelated to this article; for the town, see Keeneland, Kentucky. ... Composite image of Churchill Downs on Derby Day, 1901 Churchill Downs, located on Central Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky, is a thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby. ...

The race is run at a distance of one and one-eighth miles for a purse of $750,000.

Winners of the Blue Grass Stakes

Note: Bob Baffert (January 13, 1953 —) is an American horse owner and trainer. ... Edgar Prado is a jockey whose horse-racing accomplishments include victories in the 2002 and 2004 Belmont Stakes, in each case aboard a longshot depriving a favorite of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Edgar Prado is a jockey whose horse-racing accomplishments include victories in the 2002 and 2004 Belmont Stakes, in each case aboard a longshot depriving a favorite of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. ... Laffit Pincay Jr. ... Pat Day (born October 13, 1953 in Brush, Colorado) is an American jockey. ... Darrell Wayne Lukas (born September 2, 1935 in Antigo, Wisconsin) is an American thoroughbred race horse trainer. ... Pat Day (born October 13, 1953 in Brush, Colorado) is an American jockey. ... Gary Stevens is an American jockey. ... Skip Away, a powerfully built grey thoroughbred race horse, was twice (1997, 1998) named America’s Champion Handicap Horse. ... Randy Romero (born December 22, 1957 in Erath, Louisiana) is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. ... Holy Bull is a famous American thoroughbred. ... Mike E. Smith (born August 10, 1965 in Roswell, New Mexico) is an American jockey who has been one of the leading riders in U.S. thoroughbred racing since the early 1990s. ... Mike E. Smith (born August 10, 1965 in Roswell, New Mexico) is an American jockey who has been one of the leading riders in U.S. thoroughbred racing since the early 1990s. ... Chris Antley (January 6, 1966-December 2, 2000) was a successful American jockey. ... Pat Day (born October 13, 1953 in Brush, Colorado) is an American jockey. ... Randy Romero (born December 22, 1957 in Erath, Louisiana) is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. ... Darrell Wayne Lukas (born September 2, 1935 in Antigo, Wisconsin) is an American thoroughbred race horse trainer. ... Pat Day (born October 13, 1953 in Brush, Colorado) is an American jockey. ... Jean Cruguet (born March 8, 1939 in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, France) is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey who won the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. ... William Lee Shoemaker, (August 19, 1931 - October 12, 2003) was an American jockey. ... Spectacular Bid (February 17, 1976 — June 9, 2003) was an American thoroughbred race horse. ... Alydar, a chestnut colt born at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, on March 23, 1975 – died at Calumet Farm on November 15, 1990, was an American thoroughbred race horse who was most famous for finishing a close second to Affirmed in all three races of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred... Angel Cordero Jr. ... Laffit Pincay Jr. ... Woody Stephens (September 1, 1913 – August 22, 1998) was an American thoroughbred racehorse trainer. ... Angel Cordero Jr. ... Ron Joseph Morel Turcotte (born July 22, 1941) is a world-famous jockey. ... Lucien Laurin, born March 18, 1912 in Joliette, Quebec, Canada - died June 26, 2000 at Key Largo, Florida, was a French-Canadian jockey and Hall of Fame thoroughbred horse trainer. ... Eric Guerin (October 23, 1924 - March 21, 1993 was an American Hall of Fame jockey. ... William Lee Shoemaker, (August 19, 1931 - October 12, 2003) was an American jockey. ... William Lee Shoemaker, (August 19, 1931 - October 12, 2003) was an American jockey. ... William Lee Shoemaker, (August 19, 1931 - October 12, 2003) was an American jockey. ... Northern Dancer (May 27, 1961 - November 16, 1990) was a Canadian-bred thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire in racing history. ... William John Hartack Jr. ... Horatio A. Luro, born in Argentina on February 27, 1901 - died December 16, 1991 in the United States, was a thoroughbred horse racing trainer. ... William Lee Shoemaker, (August 19, 1931 - October 12, 2003) was an American jockey. ... William Lee Shoemaker, (August 19, 1931 - October 12, 2003) was an American jockey. ... Eddie Arcaro (February 19, 1916 - November 4, 1997) was born George Edward Arcaro in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States, the son of an impoverished taxi driver. ... Woody Stephens (September 1, 1913 – August 22, 1998) was an American thoroughbred racehorse trainer. ... Eddie Arcaro (February 19, 1916 - November 4, 1997) was born George Edward Arcaro in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States, the son of an impoverished taxi driver. ... An Ottoman Mamluk, from 1810 Mamluks (or Mameluks) (the Arabic word usually translates as owned, singular: مملوك plural: مماليك) comprised slave soldiers used by the Muslim Caliphs and the Ottoman Empire, and who on more than one occasion seized power for... Woody Stephens (September 1, 1913 – August 22, 1998) was an American thoroughbred racehorse trainer. ... Ben Jones Benjamin Allyn Jones (December 31, 1882 – June 13, 1961) was a thoroughbred horse trainer. ... Ben Jones Benjamin Allyn Jones (December 31, 1882 – June 13, 1961) was a thoroughbred horse trainer. ... Eddie Arcaro (February 19, 1916 - November 4, 1997) was born George Edward Arcaro in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States, the son of an impoverished taxi driver. ... Ben Jones Benjamin Allyn Jones (December 31, 1882 – June 13, 1961) was a thoroughbred horse trainer. ... Eddie Arcaro (February 19, 1916 - November 4, 1997) was born George Edward Arcaro in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States, the son of an impoverished taxi driver. ... Earl Sande (November 13, 1898 – August 19, 1968) was an American jockey and thoroughbred horse trainer. ... Earl Sande (November 13, 1898 – August 19, 1968) was an American jockey and thoroughbred horse trainer. ...

• 1951 – The race was made up of two heats. Sonic won the second heat but was disqualified and placed fourth .

External links

• Keenland official website