title: Gladness Stakes
text: # Gladness Stakes
  
  The Gladness Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to horses aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) at the Curragh in April.
  
  ## History
  
  The event is named after Gladness, a successful Irish-trained racehorse in the 1950s. It was established in 1963, and was initially contested over 1 mile and 2 furlongs. It was shortened to a mile in 1964, and cut to its present length in 1970.
  
  For a period the Gladness Stakes held Listed status. It used to be open to horses aged three or older. It was promoted to Group 3 level in 1987, and closed to three-year-olds in 2004. It was re-opened to three-year-olds from 2014.
  
  ## Records
  
  Most successful horse (2 wins):
  
  * Mustameet – 2005, 2007
  * Lancaster House – 2020, 2021
  
  Leading jockey (4 wins):
  
  * George McGrath – Signa Infesta (1968), Rocked (1969), Pardner (1972), Rare April (1977)
  
  Leading trainer (8 wins):
  
  * Vincent O'Brien – Nijinsky (1970), Minsky (1971), Dapper (1973), Apalachee (1974), Night Alert (1980), Lomond (1983), El Gran Senor (1984), Great Lakes (1990)
  
  ## Winners since 1981
  
  * 1 2 3 The 2017, 2018 and 2019 races took place at Naas due to redevelopment work at The Curragh.
  * ↑ The 2020 race was run in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
  
  ## Earlier winners
  
  * 1963: Christmas Island
  * 1964: Khalkis
  * 1965: Western Wind
  * 1966: Not So Cold
  * 1967: Sparrow Hawk
  * 1968: Signa Infesta
  * 1969: Rocked
  * 1970: Nijinsky
  * 1971: Minsky
  * 1972: Pardner
  * 1973: Dapper
  * 1974: Apalachee
  * 1975: It's Freezing
  * 1976: Sovereign Dice
  * 1977: Rare April
  * 1978: Icelandic
  * 1979: Secret of Success
  * 1980: Night Alert
  