In order for a horse to run in the Florida Stallion Stakes series, their sire must have been nominated each year for a set fee which makes all of that stallions' foals eligible to participate.
Graduated payments are required over a nineteen-month period in order to maintain the foals' eligibility.
In 1984, Smile became the first horse to ever win all three legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes.
Traditionally the last leg of both the colt and the filly races have been held very near or on the date of the Breeder's Cup World Championship which often forced trainers to decide between going to the Breeder's Cup and the Florida Stallion Stakes.
Richard Hancock, executive vice president of the FTBOA, hopes that this will encourage Florida trainers to use the races a preparatory events to get their horses ready to compete in the Breeder’s Cup.