Messenger Stakes

Last updated
Messenger Stakes
Class Triple Crown
Location Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, New York
Inaugurated1955(70 years ago) (1955)
Race type Standardbred
Website www.hambletonian.org/staking/messenger_stake.html
Race information
Distance1 mile (8.0 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
Qualification3-year-olds
PurseUS$500,000

The Messenger Stakes is an American harness racing event for 3-year-old pacing horses. [1] It was organized in 1956 at Roosevelt Raceway in Westbury, New York (on suburban Long Island) to join with the Cane Pace and the Little Brown Jug to create the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers. The race is named in honor of Messenger (1780–1808), a horse foaled in England and later brought to the United States. As a sire, virtually all harness horses in the U.S. can be traced back to Messenger.

Contents

One of the preeminent events for harness racing horses in North America, the race was held annually at Roosevelt Raceway until it closed down in 1988. From 1988 to 1994, the race changed locations several times, from Yonkers Raceway (Yonkers, New York) to Freestate Raceway to Rosecroft Raceway (both in Maryland). In 1995, it moved to The Meadows Racetrack in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. In 2004, the race was supposed to be moved back to Yonkers Raceway. However, due to construction at the track, the race was moved to Harrington Raceway in Delaware, where the event was held in 2004 and '05. The race moved back to Yonkers Raceway in November 2006. The 2015 edition was raced at Yonkers on September 5 for a total purse of US$500,000. [2]

Much like the Little Brown Jug, the Messenger was raced in heat events, meaning a horse had to win an elimination heat and the final on the same day to be declared the winner. Starting from 2006 at Yonkers, there will be eliminations, if necessary, one week prior to the event.

Locations

Records

Most wins by a driver
Most wins by a trainer
Stakes record

Messenger Stakes winners

Year
Winner
Driver
Trainer
Owner
Time
Purse
2025Twisted DestinyDexter DunnChris RyderLet It Ride Stables, Alberg Racing and Enviro Stables1:51 2/5$200,000
2024Sweet Beach LifeTyler ButerTravis AlexanderA Sweet Beach Life Stable1:53 1/5$225,000
2023Captain BatboyJordan StrattonTom FanningJoseph Smith1:57 4/5$250,000
2022PleaseletmeknowMatt KakaleyTravis AlexanderFiddler's Creek Stables1:51 3/5$261,730
2021American CourageMatt KakaleyTravis AlexanderFiddler's Creek Stables1:51 2/5$500,000
2020cancelled
2019American MercuryTyler ButerChris OakesCrawford Racing, Northfork Racing, Pompey & Bice1:51 3/5$500,000
2018Stay HungryDoug McNairTony AlagnaBradley Grant & Irwin Samelman1:52 1/5$500,000
2017Downbytheseaside Brian Sears Brian BrownCountry Club Acres, Sbrocco, Lombardo & Diamond Creek1:52 1/5$500,000
2016 Racing Hill Brett Miller Tony Alagna Tom Hill1:53 0/0$500,000
2015Revenge Shark Yannick Gingras Tony AlagnaAlagna Racing & Bradley Grant1:53 1/5$500,000
2014All Bets OffMatt KakaleyRon BurkeBurke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, et al.1:51 1/5$500,000
2013Ronny BugattiJason BartlettAllan JohnsonEric Prevost, Bridget McNeese, Tom Haughton1:51 4/5$450,000
2012 Bolt The Duer Mark J. MacDonaldPeter FoleyAll Star Racing Inc. (John Como Sr. & Jr.)1:51 2/5$415,820
2011Roll With Joe Ronald Pierce Edward HartWinbak Farm, Blue Chip Bloodstock, et al.1:52 4/5$401,000
2010 Rock N Roll Heaven Daniel DubéBruce SaundersFrank Bellino1:51 4/5$437,100
2009If I Can Dream Tim Tetrick Tracy BrainardBulletproof Enterprises1:52 2/5$542,060
2008 Somebeachsomewhere Paul MacDonellBrent MacGrathSchooner Stables1:52 1/5$650,000
2007Always A Virgin Brian Sears Joe HollowayBluestone Farms, et al.1:52 0/0$725,480
2006Palone RangerRonald PierceGregory PeckFour Friends & Perretti Racing Stables LLC1:54 3/5$546,830
2005Gryffindor David Miller Brendan JohnsonJim Winske, Bill Donovan, Milt Leeman1:52 0/0$218,475
2004Metropolitan John Campbell Christopher J. RyderNorman &Gerald Smiley1:52 2/5$340,950
2003 No Pan Intended David MillerIvan SuggPeter Pan Stables Inc. (Robert Glazer)1:52 4/5$252,945
2002Allamerican IngotDavid MillerRobert McIntoshRobert Waxman1:50 3/5$260,610
2001Bagel Beach Boy Luc Ouellette Jim CampbellLloyd F. Arnold1:52 1/5$254,385
2000Ain't No Stoppin' HimJohn CampbellJoe HollowayJohn & Patricia Celli1:52 3/5$323,421
1999 Blissfull Hall Ronald PierceBenjamin WallaceDaniel Plouffe1:51 1/5$347,760
1998Fit For LifeJohn Campbell Brett Pelling Brittany Farms & Val D'Or Farms1:52 2/5$387,380
1997 Western Dreamer Michel Lachance Nathaniel C. VartyMatthew, Patrick & Daniel Daly1:51 3/5$331,300
1996Go For Grins Dave Palone Christopher J. Ryder1:52 2/5$333,080
1995 David's Pass John CampbellBrett PellingRJS Stable1:52 4/5$328,825
1994 Cam's Card Shark John CampbellWilliam G. Robinson Jeffrey S. Snyder 1:51 0/0$342,595
1993RiyadhJim Morrill Jr.William G. Robinson R. Peter Heffering 1:52 2/5$328,305
1992 Western Hanover William Fahy Gene Riegle George Segal1:53 1/5$366,750
1991 Die Laughing Richard SilvermanRoger GoldsteinAlnoff Stable & Val D'Or Farms1:51 1/5$475,000
1990Jake And ElwoodJohn CampbellKen Seeber Louis P. Guida 1:52 3/5$444,371
1989Sandman Hanover Bill O'Donnell Ken Seeber LPG Standardbred & MRF Racing Stable1:53 2/5$451,069
1988 Matt's Scooter Michel Lachance Harry J. Poulton Gordon & Illa Rumpel, Charles Juravinski 1:56 3/5$461,310
1987RedskinJohn CampbellJerry SmithJerry Smith1:58 0/0$447,310
1986Amity ChefJohn Campbell Blair Burgess Cantario Farms, Blair Burgess, Bland & Baugh1:55 4/5$363,762
1985Pershing SquareBill O'DonnellBilly HaughtonLouis P. Guida1:55 2/5$483,560
1984 Troublemaker Bill O'DonnellGene RiegleGeorge Segal1:57 3/5$379,343
1983 Ralph Hanover Ron Waples Stewart Firlotte Ron Waples, Pointsetta Stables, Grants Direct Stables1:57 0/0$379,004
1982 Cam Fella Pat CrowePat CroweNorman Clements & Norman Faulkner1:57 3/5$259,578
1981Seahawk HanoverBen WebsterSamuel LewisDave Harris, Samuel Lewis, et al.1:58 0/0$224,955
1980 Niatross Clint Galbraith Clint GalbraithNiatross Syndicate1:59 3/5$173,522
1979 Hot Hitter Henri Filion Louis MeittinisSolomon Katz, S A J & Alterman Stables1:59 4/5$180,225
1978 Abercrombie Glen Garnsey Glen GarnseyL. Keith Bulen & Shirley A. Mitchell1:58 2/5$167,682
1977 Governor Skipper John Chapman H. "Bucky" Norris Ivanhoe Stable 1:59 1/5$159,155
1976 Windshield Wiper Billy Haughton Billy Haughton Irving G. Liverman 2:00 0/0$161,920
1975Bret's ChampBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonEdward W. Andrews1:59 1/5$154,222
1974 Armbro Omaha Billy HaughtonBilly Haughton J. Elgin Armstrong 1:59 3/5$151,043
1973Valiant BretLucien FontaineHarry TudorP.G. & Jere Gray2:00 3/5$122,732
1972 Silent Majority Billy HaughtonBilly HaughtonIrving G. Liverman & Aline White2:01 4/5$154,733
1971 Albatross Stanley Dancer Stanley DancerAmicable Stable2:00 2/5$114,977
1970 Most Happy Fella Stanley DancerStanley DancerEgyptian Acres Stable2:02 3/5$123,450
1969Bye Bye SamStanley DancerStanley DancerJane Falley Galt2:02 3/5$182,976
1968 Rum Customer Billy HaughtonBilly HaughtonLouis & Connie Manucuso & Kennilworth Farm2:01 4/5$189,018
1967 Romulus Hanover Billy HaughtonBilly HaughtonFarmstead Acres Farm1:59 1/5$178,064
1966 Romeo Hanover George Sholty Jerry SilvermanLucky Star Stables & Morton Finder2:01 0/0$169,885
1965 Bret Hanover Frank Ervin Frank ErvinRichard Downing2:02 0/0$151,252
1964 Race Time Ralph N. Baldwin Ralph N. Baldwin Castleton Farm 2:01 2/5$150,960
1963 Overtrick John F. Patterson Sr. John F. Patterson Sr.Allwood Stable (Leonard & Helen Buck)2:00 4/5$146,324
1962Thor Hanover John F. Simpson Sr. John F. Simpson Sr.J. F. Simpson Sr., T. W. Murphy, Lawrence B. & C. N. Shepherd2:01 1/5$169,430
1961Adios DonRobert CamperRobert CamperHarold Large2:02 4/5$145,377
1960 Countess Adios Delvin Miller Delvin Miller J. Elgin & Ted Armstrong & Hugh A. Grant Sr. 2:02 1/5$142,786
1959 Adios Butler Clint Hodgins Clint HodginsPaige West & Angelo Pellillo2:00 1/5$110,994
1958O'Brien HanoverJames W. JordanDelvin MillerHugh A. Grant Sr.2:01 4/5$108,565
1957Meadow LandsDelvin MillerDelvin MillerHugh A. Grant Sr. & Del Miller2:04 4/5$100,084
1956Belle ActionBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonBilly Haughton2:01 2/5$71,500

References

  1. Messenger Stakes history
  2. "THSI Stakes & Other Races". The Hambletonian Society. Archived from the original on 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2006-10-03.