Topic: Selima Stakes

The Selima Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. Raced in late November, it is open to two-year-old fillies and is raced on turf. Since 2002 it has been contested over a distance of 1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs).

Inaugurated in 1926, it is named for Selima, who was imported to Maryland in 1750 and became a foundation mare.

Currently an ungraded stakes race, at one time it was a Grade 1 event. Referring to the 1959 Selima Stakes, in his book Legacies of the Turf, author Edward L. Bowen says that it was "then one of the most important autumn races for juvenile fillies."