stakes race

noun

: a horse race in which the prize offered is made up at least in part of money (such as entry fees) put up by the owners of the horses entered

called also stake race

Examples of stakes race in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The day before the Kentucky Derby each year is known as Ladies’ Day, with several stakes races for fillies and mares, highlighted by the Kentucky Oaks. Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026 In the wake of the successful Artemis II mission, the two companies are refining their designs for landers in what has become a high-stakes race to provide the vehicle that will put humans on the Moon for the first time since 1972. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May 2026 This week’s episode digs into the high-stakes race between the companies, surfacing new details and doubts about whether either lander will be ready in time. Space.com Staff, Space.com, 2 May 2026 Corporate Power's sire (Curlin) and dam (Road To Victory) both won graded stakes races on the Churchill Downs dirt. Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for stakes race

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stakes race was in 1895

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stakes race.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stakes%20race. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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