The event was inaugurated as the
Fort Harrod Stakes on 13 April 1989 and was run over distance of about miles the won by the seven year old
Yankee Affair who set a course record in winning the event in a time of 1:43. The Fort Harrod Stakes was named after the
fort which was named after
James Harrod, who led an early party of settlers into Kentucky in the 1770s. In 1997 the
Maker's Mark distillery located not far from Lexington, began their sponsorship of the event and Keeneland's administration renamed the event to the '''Maker's Mark Mile Stakes'''. The event was classified a
Grade III in 1991 and was upgraded to Grade II race in 2000. In 2008 the event reached as a Grade I status confirming the quality that had competed in previous years and continues to attract. Several class horses who have won this event in the spring have continued to prove their dominance. The 1991 winner,
Opening Verse continued on to win the
Breeders' Cup Mile that year. Several others including
Artie Schiller in 2005, 2006
US Champion Male Turf Horse Miesque's Approval and
Kip Deville in 2007 have also performed this feat. Twice
American Horse of the Year (2012, 2013)
Wise Dan also won Breeders' Cup Mile in 2013 and also captured this event the following year for the second time. Miss Temple City is the only mare to have won this event in 2016. ==Records==