Part of the New York Racing Association’s packed stakes schedule every year is the Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct Racecourse, a Grade II race for juvenile fillies on the dirt track over a relatively gruelling one mile and one furlong.
The race takes place each year on Cigar Mile day in December at the New York venue and is worth some $250,000, winners and placed horses in this race tending to go on to such races as the Kentucky Oaks the following May at Churchill Downs.
The Demoiselle, a French word for ‘young woman’ of course, has been staged since 1908 and in that time has been won by Bed o’ Roses, Chris Evert, Genuine Risk, Open Mind, Jostle and Wonder Gadot who all made their mark on the game at the top level.