Saturday at Saratoga Race Course features a newly minted Grade 1 event on the grass- the inaugural Christophe Clement Turf Stakes.

For decades, turf fans knew this prestigious 1.5-mile marathon as the Sword Dancer Stakes.

The New York Racing Association officially renamed the race to honor the life, legacy, and incredible impact of the late Hall of Fame trainer Christophe Clement.

First run in 1975, the Sword Dancer was named after the 1959 Horse of the Year and legendary Champion of the same name.

Over the years, it grew into one of North America’s premier long-distance turf races. Winning the Sword Dancer meant securing an automatic spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Christophe Clement passed away in May 2025 after a battle with a rare eye cancer. He was an absolute titan of New York turf racing for over three decades.

He famously conditioned stars like Belmont Stakes winner TONALIST and multi-champion GIO PONTI.

Clement had a special love for the signature grass marathon at Saratoga. He won the Sword Dancer a record five times, closing his chapter with a final emotional victory by FAR BRIDGE in 2024.

To recognize this unparalleled dominance and his recent induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, NYRA announced that the 2025 Sword Dancer would be the last under that moniker.

Beginning in 2026 the Sword Dancer would morph into the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes.

While the name in the program has changed, the spirit of the race remains exactly the same. It continues to draw top-tier international fields to the inner turf loop.

The Clement stable has now passed to Christophe’s son, Miguel Clement, who continues the family legacy at Saratoga.

The race is no longer just a crucial stepping-stone to the Breeders’ Cup. It is now a moving tribute to a trainer who defined excellence on the Saratoga turf.