The Red Mile Will Host International Stallion Stakes
Top two-year-old trotting and pacing horses arrive in Lexington this Friday for a 14-race stakes program.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Equestrian
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Lexington will host the International Stallion Stakes at The Red Mile on Friday, October 9, 2026. The racing card features four divisions for two-year-old trotters and pacers, beginning with the first race at 1 p.m.
Why it matters
The stakes represent a major testing ground for young trotters and pacers looking to build their resumes following last week's Bluegrass division races. Top performers from these events often define the competitive hierarchy for the remainder of the season.
The program features total purses of $139,000 for trotting filly divisions and $104,000 for pacing male divisions across 14 races. Birr Castle enters with over $700,000 in career earnings.
The players
The Red Mile
This historic harness racing track in Lexington serves as a premier venue for major stakes events.
Birr Castle
This two-year-old trotting filly enters the competition as the morning line favorite with over $700,000 in earnings.
Beauts Cabaret
This competitor arrives following a recent victory in a Bluegrass division race.
Rumble And Sway
This pacer is coming off a strong performance with a winning time of 1:51.4.
The details
The card at The Red Mile highlights top talent including Birr Castle, the 4-5 morning line favorite in the first trotting filly division. Other contenders like Beauts Cabaret, who clocked 1:55.2 last week, and Rumble And Sway, who recorded a 1:51.4 win, aim to maintain their momentum.
Timeline
October 2, 2026: Bluegrass division races occurred.
October 9, 2026: International Stallion Stakes occur at The Red Mile.
1 p.m.: Post time for the first race.
Season Trajectory
The International Stallion Stakes follow the performance metrics established during the 2026 Bluegrass division races. These results will heavily influence the year-end rankings for two-year-old trotting fillies and pacing males.
The 14-race card provides significant data points for handicappers tracking the progress of two-year-olds after their recent Bluegrass division outings. Performance times like the 1:51.4 set by Rumble And Sway offer a benchmark for evaluating competitive shifts in the upcoming divisions.
The takeaway
The stakes races offer a critical look at the current development of two-year-old pacers and trotters. Spectators should watch for how horses like Birr Castle handle the pressure of being a morning-line favorite against a competitive field.
Further reading
Find more coverage of local track events on the Equestrian page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Standardbred Canada.
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