What is the Glens Falls Stakes?
The Glens Falls Stakes is a Grade II Thoroughbred race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Contested at 1½ miles on the turf for fillies and mares aged four and older, it is the longest graded race for older fillies and mares in North America and one of the most unique tests of stamina on the American racing calendar. The race was inaugurated in 1996 and is named for Glens Falls, New York, a historic city located just 16 miles north of Saratoga Springs in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Classified Grade III in 1999 and upgraded to Grade II in 2018, the race was extended from 1⅜ miles to its current distance of 1½ miles in 2021. Bill Mott holds the all-time training record with seven wins, including War Like Goddess in 2021 and 2022, while John Velazquez leads all jockeys with five victories. McKulick (GB) became the second back-to-back winner in the race's history in 2024, following War Like Goddess's consecutive wins in 2021-2022. The speed record of 2:27.05 was set by McKulick in 2023.
When is the Glens Falls Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Glens Falls Stakes is scheduled for Thursday, July 30 at Saratoga Race Course. Contested at 1½ miles on the turf with a purse of $250,000, the race draws the top long-distance turf fillies and mares in the country targeting the Flower Bowl Stakes and Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in the fall.
Glens Falls Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Glens Falls Stakes has produced some of the most celebrated staying performances by fillies and mares in American racing. La Mehana (FR) gave trainer Miguel Clement and jockey Flavien Prat a 2025 victory in 2:30.54 for LSU Stables, the French-bred rallying strongly in the final quarter mile. McKulick (GB) dominated back-to-back editions for trainer Chad Brown and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., setting the stakes record of 2:27.05 in 2023 for Klaravich Stables and then successfully defending in 2024 in 2:27.89 — making her only the second horse in race history to win consecutive editions. War Like Goddess gave trainer Bill Mott and jockey Joel Rosario a 2022 win in 2:29.33 for owner George Krikorian following her inaugural Glens Falls title under Julien Leparoux in 2021 in 2:27.55, part of a remarkable campaign that included a Grade I Flower Bowl victory later that summer.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | La Mehana (FR) | Flavien Prat | 2:30.54 |
| 2024 | McKulick (GB) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 2:27.89 |
| 2023 | McKulick (GB) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 2:27.05* |
| 2022 | War Like Goddess | Joel Rosario | 2:29.33 |
| 2021 | War Like Goddess | Julien Leparoux | 2:27.55 |
* Stakes record at 1½ miles.
The Glens Falls Stakes is the longest graded race for fillies and mares in North America and one of the most unique tests of stamina on the Saratoga summer program each July.
