The race is open to horses age three and up and is run one and one-eighth miles on the turf.

Suspended in 1888, in 1924, the race was revived by William P. Riggs, Maryland Jockey Club secretary.

Ten winners or runners-up have won the Eclipse Award or Champion, the latest being Paradise Creek in 1994.

Other Dixie Stakes Champions include Sky Classic (1992), Bowl Game (1978), Fort Marcy (1970), Turbo Jet II (1964), Assault (1947), Armed (1946), Whirlaway (1942), Sarazen (1925), Duke of Magenta (1878), and Tom Ochiltree (1875).

[4] Run for many years as the Dixie Handicap, in 1965 it was raced in two divisions at a mile and a half.