Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes

Turf race infobox
class = Grade I
horse race = Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup


caption =
location = Keeneland Race Course
Lexington, Kentucky flagicon|USA
inaugurated = 1984
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website = [http://ww2.keeneland.com/default.aspx Keeneland]
distance = 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs)
track = Grass, left-handed
qualification = Three-year-old fillies
weight = Assigned
purse = $500,000
bonuses = The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup is an American Thoroughbred horse race race for three-year-old fillies held annually since 1984 at Keeneland Race Course near Lexington, Kentucky. Run at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf, the Grade I race currently offers a purse of $500,000. It is an important prep race to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The race was inaugurated on October 11, 1984, in honor of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who attended the Keeneland races, during her private visit to Central Kentucky, and who presented a trophy on that date.

Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances:
* 1984 - 1 1/16 miles on dirt
* 1985-1989 - 1 1/16 miles on turf
* 1990-present - 1 1/8 miles on turf

The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup was a Listed race in 1984 and 1985, a Grade III race in 1986 and 1987, and a Grade II race from 1988 through 1990 after which it became a Grade I event.

Records

Time record: (at current 1⅛ miles distance)
* 1:45.80 - Memories of Silver (1996)

Most wins by an owner:
* 2 - Henryk de Kwiatkowski (1985, 1986)
* 2 - Darby Dan Farm (1988, 1990)
* 2 - Stronach Stables (1999, 2000)

Most wins by a jockey:
* 2 - Jerry D. Bailey (1987, 1990)
* 2 - Julie Krone (1992, 1994)

Most wins by a trainer:
* 3 - John M. Veitch (1987, 1988, 1990)

Winners of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup