Keeneland gets sponsor for the Lexington; purse increased by $50,000

Increased from $150,000 to $200,000

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 17, 2017) — Stonestreet Farms has become the signature sponsor of the Spring Meet’s Lexington (G3), Keeneland announced today. Purse money for the Lexington, scheduled for April 15, will increase from $150,000 to $200,000. The stakes, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, is one of the final prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1).

One of Keeneland’s most storied events, the Lexington has been won by such classic winners as Charismatic, Touch Gold, Hansel and Risen Star. In 1984, Swale followed his second-place finish in the Lexington with a victory in the Kentucky Derby. In recent years, the Lexington has featured such talented horses as Collected, Divining Rod, Mr Speaker, Square Eddie, General Election, Showing Up, Scrimshaw and Proud Citizen.

The Lexington was first contested by 2-year-olds during Keeneland’s inaugural meet in October 1936. The race was run as an overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and older horses from 1938-1941. It returned to the stakes schedule in 1984 when officials elevated the Calumet Purse – an important allowance race for 3-year-olds – to an added-money event and renamed it the Lexington Stakes.

Barbara Banke, together with her husband, the late Jess Jackson, established Stonestreet, which now comprises three farms in Central Kentucky, in 2005. Stonestreet Training & Rehabilitation Center near Ocala, Fla., opened in 2012.

Stonestreet is a leading consignor and buyer at the Keeneland sales, and ranks among Thoroughbred racing’s top owners and breeders. Alone and in partnership, Stonestreet has campaigned 2007-2008 Horse of the Year Curlin, winner of the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Preakness (G1) and 2008 Dubai World Cup (G1), and 2009 Horse of the Year and Preakness (G1) winner Rachel Alexandra, both members of the Racing Hall of Fame; 2011 champion juvenile filly My Miss Aurelia; and such Grade/Group 1 winners as 2016 Eclipse Award finalists Cavorting and Lady Aurelia, Rock Fall, Tara’s Tango, Dreaming of Julia and Rachel’s Valentina. In partnership with WinStar Farm, Stonestreet raced Carpe Diem, winner of the 2015 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and 2014 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.

A member of The Jockey Club, Banke serves on the boards of Keeneland, Breeders’ Cup and National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. She is Chairman and Proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, which features the flagship Kendall-Jackson and La Crema wineries.