The Woodford Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Run in early October, the race is open to horses age three and older. A five and a half furlong sprint, it is raced on turf. Previously a Listed race, it was elevated to Grade III status for 2009 by the American Graded Stakes Committee. Inaugurated in 1997 as the Nureyev Stakes in honor of the Champion sire, Nuryev, in 2003 it was renamed for Woodford County, Kentucky. It was known as the Woodford County Stakes until 2006 when it became the Woodford Stakes.