The Swale Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses at the distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held annually in January at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $125,000.

The race was named in honor of Claiborne Farm's brilliant colt Swale^[1] who won the 1984 Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes but who died suddenly of a heart attack eight days after his Belmont victory. In 2021 Claiborne Farm are the sponsors of the event.^[2]

The inaugural running of the event was on 2 March 1985 as the tenth race on the Florida Derby racecard over a distance of seven furlongs.^[3] The event was won by the 1984 United States Champion 2-year-old colt, Chief's Crown who was resuming after his Breeders' Cup Juvenile victory at Hollywood Park Racetrack victory easily dispatched the field winning by 3+1⁄4 lengths as the 3/10 odds-on favorite.^[3]

The event was not held in 1987.^[4]

In 1990 the event was upgraded to a Grade III^[5] and once again to Grade II in 2006.^[5]

For two runnings of the event, in 2007 and 2008 the race was run over the shorter 6+1⁄2 furlongs distance.^[4]

In 2009, Big Drama set a new stakes and track record of 1:20.88 but was disqualified and placed second with the race awarded to This Ones for Phil.^[6]

This race was upgraded once again to a Grade II for its 2014 running^[7] but then downgraded again to Grade III in 2018.^[5]

In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status^[8]

Speed record:

• 7 furlongs – 1:20.88^{[lower-alpha 1]} This Ones For Phil (2009)
• 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:15.06 Eaton's Gift (2008)

Margins:

• 10+1⁄2 lengths – D'wildcat (2001)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 – Luis Saez (2013, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2023)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1988, 1989, 1996, 2023)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 – Ogden Phipps (1988, 1989)
• 2 – Dogwood Stable (1994, 2000)
• 2 – Paul P. Pompa Jr. (2009, 2010)
• 2 – Michael Dubb (2009, 2019)
• 2 – Courtlandt Farms (2018, 2023)

Notes

List of American and Canadian Graded races

• 2020–21 Gulfstream Park Media Guide