What is the Diana Stakes?
The Diana Stakes is a Grade I Thoroughbred race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Contested at 1⅛ miles on the turf for fillies and mares aged three and older, it is one of the most prestigious distaff turf races in North America and a key Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf prep. Inaugurated in 1939 on the dirt, the race switched to turf in 1974 and was elevated to Grade I status in 2003. Named for Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, the race has a distinguished roll of honor that includes Hall of Famers Shuvee, Just a Game, Waya, Sistercharlie, Lady Eli, and Rushing Fall. Trainer Chad Brown has dominated the modern era with a record 10 wins, including five consecutive editions from 2016 to 2020, two with Sistercharlie in 2018-2019, and three straight with Whitebeam (GB) in 2023-2024 and Excellent Truth (IRE) in 2025. John Velazquez leads all jockeys with six wins. The stakes record of 1:45.06 was set by In Italian (GB) in 2022.
When is the Diana Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Diana Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at Saratoga Race Course, run on the same card as the Grade III Coronation Cup Stakes. Contested at 1⅛ miles on the turf with a purse of $500,000, the race draws the top older fillies and mares in North America and internationally, targeting the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in the fall.
Diana Stakes History & Notable Winners
Chad Brown has turned the Diana Stakes into a personal showcase, winning a record 10 editions. Excellent Truth (IRE) gave Brown and jockey Flavien Prat a 2025 victory in 1:47.37 for Resolute Racing, the Irish-bred making every post a winning one in a front-running display on the Saratoga turf. Whitebeam (GB) gave Brown and Prat back-to-back wins in 2023 (1:48.33) and 2024 (1:48.14) for Juddmonte Farm, the daughter of Frankel adding two Grade I wins to an already impressive resume. In Italian (GB) delivered the most dominant performance in the race's history in 2022 under Joel Rosario for Peter Brant, setting the stakes record of 1:45.06 — a time that has never been approached since. Godolphin's Althiqa gave trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey Manny Franco the lone non-Brown victory of the recent era in 2021, winning in 1:47.65.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Excellent Truth (IRE) | Flavien Prat | 1:47.37 |
| 2024 | Whitebeam (GB) | Flavien Prat | 1:48.14 |
| 2023 | Whitebeam (GB) | Flavien Prat | 1:48.33 |
| 2022 | In Italian (GB) | Joel Rosario | 1:45.06* |
| 2021 | Althiqa | Manny Franco | 1:47.65 |
* Stakes record.
The Diana Stakes is one of the most prestigious Grade I races in American distaff turf racing and a summer highlight at Saratoga Race Course each July.
