First Lady Stakes prize money
The First Lady Stakes is worth $800,000 for the 2025 running . That makes it the 111th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 46th richest in the United States.
Every figure here is the money the race announces, in the currency it announces it in. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
What the First Lady Stakes is
Grade I · 1 mile · Turf · Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky United States
- Racecourse
- Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky United States
- Country
- United States
- Grade
- Grade I
- Distance
- 1 mile
- Surface
- Turf
- Race type
- Thoroughbred - Flat racing
- Open to
- Fillies & Mares, three-years-old and older
- Direction
- Left-handed
- First run
- 1998
We hold the total fund for the First Lady Stakes and no separate winner's cheque. What the winner takes is a rule the racecourse sets rather than a national one, and it varies race by race.
Run in 1:34.76 in 2025, the First Lady Stakes pays $8,442 for every second of the race, which is 86th of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 43rd in the United States.
Every First Lady Stakes winner
28 runnings, 1998 to 2025, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Simply in Front4 · 1:34.76 | Ben Curtis | Eddie Kennelly | Colebrook Farms | $776,750 |
| 2024 | Gina Romantica5 · 1:33.80 | Jose L. Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | $728,750 |
| 2023 | Gina Romantica4 · 1:33.70 | Tyler Gaffalione | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | $724,688 |
| 2022 | In Italian (GB)4 · 1:33.22 | Joel Rosario | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | $683,837 |
| 2021 | Blowout (GB)5 · 1:34.86 | Flavien Prat | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | $400,000 |
| 2020 | Uni (GB)6 · 1:34.90 | Joel Rosario | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb, Head Of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta & Bethlehem Stable | $343,000 |
| 2019 | Uni (GB)5 · 1:32.87 | Joel Rosario | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb, Head Of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta & Bethlehem Stable | $400,000 |
| 2018 | A Raving Beauty (GER)5 · 1:37.78 | John R. Velazquez | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables & Bethlehem Stables | $400,000 |
| 2017 | Zipessa5 · 1:36.99 | Joe Bravo | Michael Stidham | Empyrean Stables | $400,000 |
| 2016 | Photo Call (IRE)5 · 1:35.62 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Todd A. Pletcher | Teresa Viola Racing | $400,000 |
| 2015 | Tepin4 · 1:37.04 | Julien R. Leparoux | Mark E. Casse | Robert E. Masterson | $400,000 |
| 2014 | Dayatthespa5 · 1:35.21 | John R. Velazquez | Chad C. Brown | Jerry & Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon & Bradley Thoroughbreds | $400,000 |
| 2013 | Better Lucky4 · 1:39.78 | Julien R. Leparoux | Thomas Albertrani | Godolphin Racing | $400,000 |
| 2012 | Tapitsfly5 · 1:35.44 | Jose Lezcano | Dale L. Romans | Frank L. Jones Jr. | $350,000 |
| 2011 | Never Retreat6 · 1:34.08 | Julien R. Leparoux | Chris M. Block | Team Block | $350,000 |
| 2010 | Proviso (GB)5 · 1:34.81 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Juddmonte Farms | $400,000 |
| 2009 | Diamondrella (GB)5 · 1:38.66 | Rajiv Maragh | Angel A. Penna Jr. | IEAH Stables | $400,000 |
| 2008 | Forever Together4 · 1:35.00 | Julien R. Leparoux | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | $400,000 |
| 2007 | Vacare4 · 1:35.85 | Corey Nakatani | Christophe Clement | Sarah & Jon Kelly | $432,000 |
| 2006 | Gorella (FR)4 · 1:34.14 | Julien R. Leparoux | Patrick L. Biancone | Martin S. Schwartz | $400,000 |
| 2005 | Intercontinental (GB)5 · 1:37.40 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | $400,000 |
| 2004 | Stay Forever7 · 1:57.08 | Eddie Castro | Martin D. Wolfson | Santa Cruz Ranch | $500,000 |
| 2003 | Bien Nicole5 · 1:55.87 | Donald R. Pettinger | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Kristine & John Richter | $500,000 |
| 2002 | Owsley4 · 1:56.72 | Edgar S. Prado | Randy Schulhofer | Arthur B. Hancock III | $544,500 |
| 2001 | Spook Express (SAF)7 · 1:54.24 | Mike E. Smith | Thomas J. Skiffington | Robert & Janet Aron | $563,500 |
| 2000 | Tout Charmant4 · 1:54.60 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Stonerside Stable | $554,000 |
| 1999 | Happyanunoit (NZ)4 · 1:53.80 | Brice Blanc | Robert J. Frankel | Amerman Racing Stables | $558,500 |
| 1998 | Witchful Thinking4 · 1:54.20 | Chris McCarron | Niall M. O'Callaghan | Leslie R. Grimm | $273,250 |
28 of the 28 runnings name the rider, 28 name the trainer and 28 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to. 28 carry the total prize money for that year, converted here the same way the purse above is.
What the First Lady Stakes has paid, season by season
Total prize money, 1998 to 2025
The total prize money went from $273,250 in 1998 to $776,750 in 2025, 2.8 times more. Every year is converted at today's rate, so the line is the money the race puts up rather than the money the exchange rate did.
Who wins the First Lady Stakes more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
Most wins by a jockey
| Horse | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Gina Romantica | 2 | 2023, 2024 |
| Uni | 2 | 2019, 2020 |
Races worth about the same
Either side of the First Lady Stakes in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Grand Steeple-Chase de ParisAuteuil Racecourse | France | $966,239 | €850,000 |
| 102 | Commonwealth CupAscot Racecourse | Great Britain | $965,248 | £725,750 |
| 103 | Mile Championship Nambu HaiMorioka Racecourse | Japan | $938,448 | ¥140,000,000 |
| 104 | St Leger StakesDoncaster Racecourse | Great Britain | $931,000 | £700,000 |
| 105 | Japan Breeding Farms' Cup SprintChanges yearly | Japan | $911,635 | ¥136,000,000 |
| 106 | Kashiwa KinenFunabashi Racecourse, Funabashi, Chiba | Japan | $911,635 | ¥136,000,000 |
| 107 | Teio ShoOhi | Japan | $911,635 | ¥136,000,000 |
| 108 | St James's Palace StakesAscot Racecourse | Great Britain | $864,500 | £650,000 |
| 109 | Cheltenham Gold CupCheltenham Racecourse | Great Britain | $860,350 | £646,880 |
| 110 | Eagle Farm CupDoomben Racecourse | Australia | $844,444 | AU$1,200,000 |
| 112 | Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup StakesKeeneland Race Course | United States | $800,000 | $800,000 |
| 113 | Japan Dirt ClassicOhi Racecourse | Japan | $797,681 | ¥119,000,000 |
| 114 | Gran Premio LotteriaAgnano Racetrack, Naples, | $795,000 | $795,000 | |
| 116 | Jeff Ruby SteaksTurfway Park | United States | $777,000 | $777,000 |
| 117 | Kranji MileSingapore Turf Club | Singapore | $773,262 | S$1,000,000 |
| 118 | Singapore Gold CupSingapore Turf Club | Singapore | $773,262 | S$1,000,000 |
| 119 | Belmont DerbyBelmont Park | United States | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 120 | Christophe Clement Turf StakesSaratoga Race Course | United States | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 121 | Fourstardave StakesSaratoga Race Course | United States | $750,000 | $750,000 |
| 122 | New York StakesBelmont Park | United States | $750,000 | $750,000 |
The 20 races closest to the First Lady Stakes in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.
The rest of the money in the United States
196 races, 46th of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Derby | Parx Racing and Casino, | Grade I | $1,000,000 |
| Rebel Stakes | Oaklawn Park Race Track | Grade II | $1,000,000 |
| Southwest Stakes | Oaklawn Park Race Track | Grade III | $1,000,000 |
| Whitney Stakes | Saratoga Race Course | Grade I | $1,000,000 |
| Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes | Keeneland Race Course | Grade I | $800,000 |
| Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park | Grade III | $777,000 |
| Belmont Derby | Belmont Park | Grade I | $750,000 |
| Christophe Clement Turf Stakes | Saratoga Race Course | Grade 1 | $750,000 |
Every race in the United States we hold a purse for is on the United States prize money list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total First Lady Stakes prize money?
$800,000, for the 2025 running.
Where does the First Lady Stakes rank among the richest races in the world?
111th of 997. 110 races pay more, the nearest of them Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. In the United States it is 46th of 196.
Which horse has won the First Lady Stakes most often?
Gina Romantica, 2 times, in 2023, 2024.
Which jockey has won the First Lady Stakes most often?
Julien R. Leparoux, with 5 wins between 2006 and 2015.
When was the First Lady Stakes first run?
1998. This page holds 28 runnings, from 1998 to 2025.
How far is the First Lady Stakes?
1 mile, on turf, at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky United States.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money