The Challenge Cup honors Queen Elizabeth II, an astute Thoroughbred breeder and owner who attended the races at Keeneland on Oct. 11, 1984, during her private six-day visit to Central Kentucky. That day, she watched a mock Thoroughbred sale in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, met members of the jockey colony and presented a trophy to the connections of the first winner of her namesake race, Cherry Valley Farm’s Sintra, who was ridden by Keith Allen for trainer Steven Penrod. 

Dixiana is pleased to be the sponsor of the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), the Fall Meet’s prestigious invitational turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

In 2021 Shantisara (IRE) captured the 38th QE II Challenge Cup (G1) presented by Dixiana for owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables LLC, and Robert LaPenta, trainer Chad Brown, and Jockey Flavien Prat.