| Discontinued Stakes race | |
| Location | Sheepshead Bay Race Track Sheepshead Bay, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1886–1908 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 5¾ Furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Two-year-old fillies |
The Belles Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually for two-year-old fillies from 1886 through 1908 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, New York. The race was run on dirt and for its final seven editions at a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs. [1]
In 1889 the Belles Stakes was won by Reclare who was purchased by Henry Warnke for $475 at a July 1888 yearling sale. A working-class railroad employee, Warnke was a flagman with the Brighton Beach Railway and as a result of his filly's popularity fans and the media dubbed Reclare as "the flagman's filly." Going into her three-year-old campaign, a feature story in the April 1990 edition of The Illustrated American said that Reclare was "acknowledged the greatest of the two-year-old fillies of 1889." [2]
La Tosca won the 1890 Belles Stakes and went on to be recognized as that year's American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. She would repeat as the American Champion Filly in 1891.
Two years later, Lady Violet would also earn 1892 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly honors. [3]
1905 winner Whimsical also won that year's Golden Rod Stakes at Sheepshead Bay and notably went on to win the 1906 Preakness Stakes Classic. [4]
On June 11, 1908, the Republican controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes passed the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation. [5] The owners of Sheepshead Bay Race Track, and other racing facilities in New York State, struggled to stay in business without income from betting. [6] Racetrack operators had no choice but to drastically reduce the purse money being paid out which resulted in the Belles Stakes offering a purse in 1908 that was forty percent less than what it had been in earlier years. These small purses made horse racing unprofitable and impossible for even the most successful horse owners to continue in business. As such, for the 1909 racing season management of the Sheepshead Bay facility dropped some of its minor stakes races and used the purse money to bolster its most important events. [7] As a result, the Belles Stakes was not run in 1909.
In spite of strong opposition by prominent owners such as August Belmont Jr. and Harry Payne Whitney, reform legislators were not happy when they learned that betting was still going on at racetracks between individuals and they had further restrictive legislation passed by the New York Legislature in 1910. [8] The Agnew–Perkins Law, a series of four bills and recorded as the Executive Liability Act, made it possible for racetrack owners and members of its board of directors to be fined and imprisoned if anyone was found betting, even privately, anywhere on their premises. [9] After a 1911 amendment to the law that would limit the liability of owners and directors was defeated in the Legislature, every racetrack in New York State shut down. [10]
Owners, whose horses of racing age had nowhere to go, began sending them, their trainers and their jockeys to race in England and France. Many horses ended their racing careers there and a number remained to become an important part of the European horse breeding industry. Thoroughbred Times reported that more than 1,500 American horses were sent overseas between 1908 and 1913 and of them at least 24 were either past, present, or future Champions. [11] When a February 21, 1913 ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division saw horse racing return in 1913. [12] However, it was too late for the Sheepshead Bay horse racing facility and it never reopened. [13] [14]
Speed record:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Furlongs) | Time | Win$ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | Petticoat | 2 | Eddie Dugan | A. Jack Joyner | Harry Payne Whitney | 5.5 F | 1:06.80 | $1,050 |
| 1907 | Explosion | 2 | Walter Miller | Thomas Welsh | Newcastle Stable | 5.5 F | 1:08.40 | $2,525 |
| 1906 | Kennyetto | 2 | Joe Notter | William Hayward Jr. | John Sanford | 5.5 F | 1:06.40 | $2,625 |
| 1905 | Whimsical | 2 | Jack Martin | Tim J. Gaynor | Tim J. Gaynor | 5.5 F | 1:07.40 | $2,625 |
| 1904 | Tradition | 2 | Lucien Lyne | A. Jack Joyner | Sydney Paget | 5.5 F | 1:06.20 | $2,450 |
| 1903 | Memories | 2 | Grover Fuller | Woodford Clay | Woodford Clay | 5.5 F | 1:06.00 | $2,570 |
| 1902 | Scioto | 2 | Jack Martin | Robert Tucker | Samuel S. Brown | 5.5 F | 1:07.60 | $2,500 |
| 1901 | Amicitia | 2 | John Bullman | John J. Hyland | August Belmont Jr. | 5.75 F | 1:09.80 | $1,740 |
| 1900 | Noonday | 2 | Danny Maher | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. & Foxhall P. Keene | 5.75 F | 1:10.40 | $1,890 |
| 1899 | Musette | 2 | Willie Shaw | William Hayward Sr. | J. S. Ferguson | 5.75 F | 1:10.60 | $1,660 |
| 1898 | Black Venus | 2 | Nash Turner | H. Eugene Leigh | Ella O. Pepper | 5.75 F | 1:12.00 | $1,880 |
| 1897 | La Goleta | 2 | Tod Sloan | Jim Garland | Elias J. Baldwin | 5.75 F | 1:11.40 | $1,430 |
| 1896 | Cleophus | 2 | Henry Griffin | Hardy Campbell Jr. | Michael F. Dwyer | 5.75 F | 1:12.00 | $1,425 |
| 1895 | One I Love | 2 | Samuel Doggett | John J. Hyland | William P. Thompson | 5.75 F | 1:11.40 | $1,425 |
| 1894 | Irish Reel | 2 | Henry Griffin | William Lakeland | James R. & Foxhall P. Keene | 5.75 F | 1:11.40 | $2,005 |
| 1893 | Queenlike | 2 | Mr. Bryant | Thomas Clay McDowell | Thomas Clay McDowell | 5.75 F | 1:12.40 | $1,675 |
| 1892 | Lady Violet | 2 | Willie Simms | A. Jack Joyner | Blemton Stable | 5.75 F | 1:11.80 | $1,690 |
| 1891 | Promenade | 2 | Willie Simms | Labold Bros. | 5.75 F | 1:11.00 | $2,040 | |
| 1890 | La Tosca | 2 | Anthony Hamilton | James G. Rowe Sr. | August Belmont Sr. | 5.75 F | 1:08.40 | $2,130 |
| 1889 | Reclare | 2 | Marty Bergen | Henry Warnke, Jr. | Henry Warnke & Son | 5.75 F | 1:10.60 | $2,095 |
| 1888 | Sonoma | 2 | Casey Winchell | Matthew Byrnes | James B. A. Haggin | 6 F | 1:17.60 | $1,890 |
| 1887 | Bandusia | 2 | George Church | John Huggins | Alexander J. Cassatt | 6 F | 1:16.50 | $1,500 |
| 1886 | Bessie June | 2 | Jim McLaughlin | Frank McCabe | Dwyer Brothers Stable | 6 F | 1:15.50 | $1,850 |
The Spindrift Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually between 1885 and 1909 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track at Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York City. A race for three-year-olds, it was contested on dirt over a distance of 1¼ miles from 1885 to 1892 and at 1⅛ miles from 1893 through 1909.
The Advance Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1899 through 1910 at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Brooklyn, New York. An important race open to horses age three and older, it was raced on dirt. The final running took place on June 27, 1910 and was won by Ballot for the second time.
The Mermaid Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. An important event for three-year-old fillies, the race was run on dirt over a distance of one mile and one furlong until 1910 when it was set at one mile.
The Flight Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race first run in 1887 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. A race for horses of either sex and of all ages, it was run on dirt over a distance of seven furlongs.
The Great Filly Stakes is a discontinued Thoroughbred horse race run from 1901 through 1909 that began as one of the richest events for two-year-old fillies in the United States with $23,975 going to the winner. It was run on dirt over a distance of six furlongs at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York.
The Flatbush Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. Held in September, it was an important event for two-year-olds of either sex. The race was run on dirt over a distance of seven furlongs and was generally the longest distance to that point for the participants who were in their first year of racing.
The Double Event Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in two parts from 1889 through 1910 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. A race on dirt for two-year-old colts and fillies, the first part was run on the track's opening day in June and at a distance of 5½ furlongs throughout its term. The second part was run in mid July at a distance of 5 3/4 furlongs until 1901 when it was set at six furlongs. Each race originally carried a guaranteed purse of $10,000 and a bonus of $1,000 to the owners of any horse who won both parts.
The Omnium Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York from 1885 thru 1909. A race for horses of either sex age three and older, it was run on dirt over a distance of a mile and one-eighth. The Omnium was the third and last of the track's autumn serials, coming after the Fall Handicap at 6½ furlongs and the Ocean Handicap at one mile.
The Ocean Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York from 1894 thru 1909. A race for horses of either sex age three and older, it was run on dirt over a distance of 1 mile. The Ocean Handicap was the second of the track's autumn serials, coming after the Fall Handicap at 6½ furlongs and before the Omnium Handicap at 1⅛ miles.
The Fall Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York from 1894 thru 1909 for horses of either sex age three and older. For easier identification purposes, the race is sometimes referred to as the Coney Island Fall Handicap. For its first two editions, the Fall Handicap was run on the track's short futurity course at 5¾ furlongs then for the next twelve runnings at 6 furlongs and the final two years at 6½ furlongs. The Fall Handicap was the first of the track's autumn serials, preceding the Ocean Handicap at 6½ furlongs and the Omnium Handicap at 1⅛ miles.
The Dash Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race first run in 1887 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. A race for two-year-old horses of either sex, it was run on dirt over a distance of 5¾ furlongs.
The Great Eastern Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race first run in 1883 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. A race for two-year-old horses of either sex, it was run on dirt over a distance of 6 furlongs.
The Vernal Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies held annually at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. A race on dirt, in its first two editions of 1892 and 1893 the race was run at a distance of six furlongs and was open to horses of either sex. In 1894 it was changed to an event exclusively for fillies and was set at a distance of five furlongs.
The Great Trial Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York from 1891 through 1910 and for 1913 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Raced on dirt, it was run at a distance of 5¾ furlongs from 1891 through 1900 and then at 6 furlongs. Run in late June or early July, for most of its years at Sheepshead Bay the Great Trial Stakes was the most valuable race for two-year-olds during the track's summer meet.
The Foam Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1880 through 1910 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. An event for two-year-old horses of either sex, the race was run on dirt over a distance of five furlongs with the exception of 1896 when it was for three-year-old fillies at one mile. The inaugural running took place on June 19, 1880 and was won by Spinaway for whom the prestigious Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga Race Course was named. The final running took place on June 21, 1910 and was won by Royal Meteor for the Newcastle Stable racing partnership headed by Life magazine publisher Andrew Miller. The Foam was the only stakes race on the card.
The Surf Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually for thirty-one years from 1880 through 1910 on the dirt course at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. A race for two-year-olds of either sex, it was last run at a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs but from inception through 1895 it was contested at five furlongs.
The Golden Rod Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1891 through 1908 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. It was a race on turf for two-year-old horses of either sex.
The Pansy Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually for twenty-one years from 1890 through 1910 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track at Sheepshead Bay, New York. Open to two-year-olds under selling conditions it was raced over a distance of six furlongs and, not very common at the time, on turf.
The Partridge Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Sheepshead Bay Race Track from 1890 through 1909. A race on turf over a distance of six furlongs, it was open to two-year-old horses of either sex.
The Dolphin Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run between 1887 and 1909 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. Open to three-year-old horses, it was raced over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on dirt.