Sword Dancer Stakes


The Sword Dancer Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses, aged three and up, run annually in mid August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A prep for the Breeders' Cup Turf, it is set at a distance of one and one-half miles on the turf. A Grade I event, the race currently offers a purse of $750,000.
The Sword Dancer is named for the best three-year-old colt or gelding of 1959, best three-year-old, best handicap horse, and the American Horse of the Year, Sword Dancer, who was elected to the United States Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1977.
The event was inaugurated at Aqueduct Racetrack in 1975 as a six furlong sprint on dirt for three-year-old horses. Beginning in 1977, it was hosted by Belmont Park then in 1992 was moved to the Saratoga Race Course. Since inception, the Sword Dancer has been contested at various distances:
  • 6 furlongs : 1975–1976
  • 8.5 furlongs : 1977–1979
  • 12 furlongs : 1980–present
The race was run as an Invitational Handicap from 1994 to 2014.
In 2000, nine-year-old John's Call became the oldest horse to win this race.
In August 2025, it was announced on the day of the Sword Dancer Stakes that the race would be renamed in 2026 as the Christophe Clement Turf in honor of the late trainer Christophe Clement, who died earlier that year. Clement won the Sword Dancer five times, more than any other trainer.

Records

Speed record:
  • 2:23.20 – Awad
Most wins:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
  • 5 – Christophe Clement

    Winners of the Sword Dancer since 1975

  • In 1987, Theatrical was awarded first place following the disqualification of Dance of Life.