Ballysax Stakes

The Ballysax Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2,012 metres) at Leopardstown in April.

History

The event was formerly held at the Curragh, and it used to be classed at Listed level. It was transferred to Leopardstown in 1993, and promoted to Group 3 status in 2003. The 2014 running was held at Navan as the normal Leopardstown fixture was judged to be too early in the season to serve as a trial race for the European classics.

The Ballysax Stakes is currently run in memory of Patrick W. McGrath (died 2001). McGrath served as chairman of the Racing Board (a precursor of Horse Racing Ireland), which purchased Leopardstown Racecourse in 1967. The race serves as trial race for various European classics and the most recent winner to go on to a classic victory was Harzand, winner of the Epsom Derby in 2016.

Records

Winners since 1986

See also

• Horse racing in Ireland
• List of Irish flat horse races

References

• Paris-Turf:
  • "1984"., "1985"., "1986"., "1987".
• Racing Post:
  • 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
  • 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024

1. Rekindling
2. Galileo (horse)
3. Sovereign (horse)
4. List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses
5. Harzand (horse)
6. 2017 Epsom Derby
7. List of Irish flat horse races
8. Key Change
9. 2016 Epsom Derby
10. Auguste Rodin (horse)
11. Fame and Glory
12. High Chaparral
13. Theatrical (horse)
14. Fascinating Rock
15. Broome (horse)
16. Tom Queally
17. Ebaziya
18. Westover (horse)
19. Yeats (horse)
20. 2003 Epsom Derby