| Class | Grade 1 |
|---|---|
| Location | Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1975 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www.nyra.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds & up |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | US$1,000,000 (since 2015) [1] |
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 (12 furlongs) on the turf. A Grade I event, the race currently offers a purse of $1,000,000.
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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 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 (on dirt)
- 8.5 furlongs (1+1⁄16 miles) : 1977–1979
- 12 furlongs (1+1⁄2 miles) : 1980–present (on turf)
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.