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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.
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.
| Stakes Race | Grade | Purse |
|---|---|---|
| Transylvania Stakes | III | $100,000 |
| Ashland Stakes | I | $400,000 |
| Madison Stakes | I | $300,000 |
| Maker's Mark Mile Stakes | I | $300,000 |
| Shakertown Stakes | III | $100,000 |
| Jenny Wiley Stakes | II | $200,000 |
| Commonwealth Stakes | II | $175,000 |
| Blue Grass Stakes | I | $750,000 |
| Beaumont Stakes | II | $150,000 |
| Appalachian Stakes | III | $100,000 |
| Doubledogdare Stakes | III | $100,000 |
| Ben Ali Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Lexington Stakes | III | $200,000 |
| Bewitch Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Elkhorn Stakes | II | $150,000 |
| Phoenix Stakes | III | $175,000 |
| Darley Alcibiades Stakes | I | $400,000 |
| Woodford Stakes | III | $100,000 |
| Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes | II | $200,000 |
| First Lady Stakes | I | $350,000 |
| Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes | I | $600,000 |
| Dixiana Breeders' Futurity Stakes | I | $400,000 |
| Bourbon Stakes | III | $100,000 |
| Juddmonte Spinster Stakes | I | $500,000 |
| Jessamine Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes | I | $400,000 |
| Sycamore Stakes | III | $100,000 |
| Valley View Stakes | III | $150,000 |
| Raven Run Stakes | II | $250,000 |
| Fayette Stakes | II | $150,000 |
