Gladness Stakes
# Gladness Stakes

The Gladness Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to horses aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) at the Curragh in April.

## History

The event is named after Gladness, a successful Irish-trained racehorse in the 1950s. It was established in 1963, and was initially contested over 1 mile and 2 furlongs. It was shortened to a mile in 1964, and cut to its present length in 1970.

For a period the Gladness Stakes held Listed status. It used to be open to horses aged three or older. It was promoted to Group 3 level in 1987, and closed to three-year-olds in 2004. It was re-opened to three-year-olds from 2014.

## Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

* Mustameet – 2005, 2007
* Lancaster House – 2020, 2021

Leading jockey (4 wins):

* George McGrath – Signa Infesta (1968), Rocked (1969), Pardner (1972), Rare April (1977)

Leading trainer (8 wins):

* Vincent O'Brien – Nijinsky (1970), Minsky (1971), Dapper (1973), Apalachee (1974), Night Alert (1980), Lomond (1983), El Gran Senor (1984), Great Lakes (1990)

## Winners since 1981

* 1 2 3 The 2017, 2018 and 2019 races took place at Naas due to redevelopment work at The Curragh.
* ↑ The 2020 race was run in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland

## Earlier winners

* 1963: Christmas Island
* 1964: Khalkis
* 1965: Western Wind
* 1966: Not So Cold
* 1967: Sparrow Hawk
* 1968: Signa Infesta
* 1969: Rocked
* 1970: Nijinsky
* 1971: Minsky
* 1972: Pardner
* 1973: Dapper
* 1974: Apalachee
* 1975: It's Freezing
* 1976: Sovereign Dice
* 1977: Rare April
* 1978: Icelandic
* 1979: Secret of Success
* 1980: Night Alert
