The Bertram F. Bongard Stakes is a listed stakes race for Thoroughbred two-year-olds run in the fall at Belmont Park, New York.
At a distance of 7 furlongs, it will be in its 39th running in 2016. The Bongard is a major prep race for up-and-coming young horses and offers a purse of $150,000. Though not restricted to New York bred horses, this is not an open race: it is considered an event on the New York bred schedule.
This race was run at a mile and an eighth prior to 1983 and also from 1984 to 1988. It went at seven furlongs in 1983, and from 1996 to the present. It was set at a mile and a sixteenth from 1989 to 1993 and at six furlongs in 1994 and 1995. Run for three-year-olds and up prior to 1984, now it is run for two-year-olds only.
Named for Bertram F. Bongard who was a founding director of Eastern New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, it was for three-year-olds and up prior to 1984, but is now strictly for two-year-olds. Before 1984, it was called the Bertram F. Bongard Handicap.
Winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, Funny Cide, won this race in 2003.
Funny Cide was an American Thoroughbred champion racehorse who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He was the first New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He was a popular horse and remained a fan favorite in retirement at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The Nassau County Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, Nassau County, New York. A Grade III event, it is open to three-year-old fillies willing to run the distance of seven furlongs on dirt. The race offers a purse $200,000 added.
The Sleepy Hollow is an American ungraded restricted stakes race for two-year-olds Thoroughbreds held in the fall at Belmont Park, New York. Though not restricted to New York bred horses, this is not an open race: it is considered a race on the New York bred schedule.
The Kings Point Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the latter part of March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, New York. Open to horses age three and older bred in the State of New York, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one and one eighth miles.
The Busher Stakes is an American Thoroughbred stakes horse race for three-year-old fillies run each February at Aqueduct Race Track in Jamaica, New York and as of 2016 carries a purse of $125,000.
The Maid of the Mist is an American Thoroughbred horse race for New York-bred two-year-old fillies run at Belmont Park each year during its celebration of New York born horses. All the races on that day's card are for New Yorkers. Set at one mile, it currently offers a purse of $250,000.
The Sport Page Handicap was an American thoroughbred horse race run annually at Aqueduct Race Track in Ozone Park, Queens, New York for three-year-olds and up. Formerly a Grade III event, it's set at a distance of 7 furlongs on the dirt and offers a purse of $150,000 added.
The Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf is a race for thoroughbred horses held in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California or at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Half the eight races of the Sunshine Millions are run at one track and half at the other.
The Ruthless Stakes is an American open or non-Graded stakes race held yearly since 1974 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York City. Run in January, it is a six furlong thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies carrying a weight of 121 pounds (54.9 kg). The Ruthless currently offers a purse of $100,000.
The New York Stallion Series was created by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders', Inc. The races are run at Aqueduct Racetrack and/or Belmont Park and feature the progeny of stallions standing in the state of New York.
The Evan Shipman Handicap (NYB) is a race restricted to New York bred Thoroughbred horses, age three-years-old and up, run at Belmont Park in the state of New York.
The Empire Classic Handicap is a Thoroughbred horse race restricted to New York breeds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Set at a distance of one and one eighth miles on the dirt, this ungraded stakes race is open to three-year-olds and up, and currently offers a purse of $300,000.
The Old Hat Stakes was an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies held annually in early January at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. It was raced run over a distance of 6 furlongs on dirt. It became a graded race for the first time in 2005 and last held in 2017.
The Affectionately Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run between 1976 and 2015 at New York's Aqueduct Race Track.
The Busanda Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race that is held at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York in mid-January each year; the 42nd outing was held in 2015.
The Gravesend Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York late in the year. In its 61st running in December 2017, the Gravesend was downgraded from a Grade III event to ungraded status. This race is for three-year-olds and up and set at a distance of six furlongs. It offers a purse of $100,000 added.
Commentator, is an American Thoroughbred race horse by the stallion Distorted Humor, sire of 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide. Like Funny Cide, Commentator is a New York-bred as well as a gelding. Distorted Humor also sired Hystericalady.
Sackatoga Stable is an American Thoroughbred horse racing syndicate in Saratoga Springs, New York. They are best known as the owners of 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide and 2020 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Tiz the Law.
The Funny Cide Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses bred in New York, approved by the New York State-Bred Registry, and run at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. An ungraded stakes race, it is set at a distance of 6+1⁄2 furlongs on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $200,000.
The 2003 Belmont Stakes was the 135th running of the Belmont Stakes. The 1+1⁄2-mile (2,400 m) race, known as the "test of the champion" and sometimes called the "final jewel" in thoroughbred horse racing's Triple Crown series, was held on June 7, 2003, three weeks after the Preakness Stakes and five weeks after the Kentucky Derby.
