Annual Champion Stakes

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Annual Champion Stakes
Discontinued stakes race
LocationSheepshead Bay Race Track
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Inaugurated1900–1908
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Race information
Distance2+1⁄4 miles (18 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree years olds and older
Weight3yos: 116 lbs.; 4yos: 130 lbs; 5yos & up: 131 lbs.
Purse$25,000

The Annual Champion Stakes is a discontinued Thoroughbred horse race run from 1900 through 1908 that was the richest in the United States at the time for older horses with a guarantee purse of $25,000. Run on dirt over a distance of two and one-quarter miles at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, the race was open to horses age three and older.[1][2] The race was created to try to slow a decade-long trend to shorter distance races.[3]

Hart–Agnew Law[]

The Annual Champion Stakes was last run on September 12, 1908 and was won by King James. [4] Earlier that year the Republican controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes passed the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation on June 11, 1908 with penalties allowing for fines and up to a year in prison.[5] The owners of Sheepshead Bay Race Track, and other racing facilities in New York state, struggled to stay in business without wagering revenue.[6] Racetrack operators had no choice but to drastically reduce the purse money being paid out which by 1909 saw many stakes races being canceled or offering a substantially reduced purse.[7] Further restrictive legislation was passed by the New York Legislature in 1910 which deepened the financial crisis for track operators and led to a complete shutdown of racing across the state during 1911 and 1912. When a Court ruling saw racing return in 1913 it was too late for any revival of the Annual Champion Stakes as the Sheepshead Bay horse racing facility never reopened.

Records[]

Speed record:

  • 3:53 3/5 – Igniter (1903)

Most wins:

  • no horse won this race more than once

Most wins by a jockey:

  • no jockey won this race more than once

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

  • no owner won this race more than once

Winners[]

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Dist.
(Miles) 		Time
 Win
US$
1908 King James 3 Carroll Shilling John E. Madden Sam Hildreth 2¼ M 4:01.00 $20,550
1907 3 Eddie Dugan John E. Madden Thomas Hitchcock Sr. 2¼ M 3:56.40 $20,550
1906 3 Diamond Jim Brady 2¼ M 3:55.40 $19,745
1905 Sysonby 3 James G. Rowe Sr. James R. Keene 2¼ M 3:54.00 $20,550
1904 Stalwart 3 Arthur Redfern William Shields Edward R. Thomas 2¼ M 3:54.60 $19,650
1903 Igniter 4 Grover Fuller Julius Bauer Arthur Featherstone 2¼ M 3:53.60 $19,650
1902 Major Daingerfield 3 George M. Odom McLewee & Co. 2¼ M 3:58.00 $19,650
1901 Maid of Harlem 5 Willie Simms Barry D. Woods Osceola Stables (Thomas L. Watt) 2¼ M 3:58.40 $19,650
1900 David Garrick 4 John Bullman A. Jack Joyner Rancocas Stable (Pierre Lorillard) 2¼ M 3:56.00 $19,650

References[]

  1. ^ "The Bard (U.S.)". Thoroughbred Heritage Portraits. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  2. ^ "Condensed History Of The Annual Champion Stakes". Daily Racing Form. 1908-09-11. Retrieved 2018-11-24 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  3. ^ "The Annual Champion Stakes". Daily Racing Form. 1899-02-12. Retrieved 2018-11-22 – via University of Kentucky Archives.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Last Day At Sheepshead: King James Wins The Annual Champion In A Fierce Drive With Falcada". Daily Racing Form. 1908-09-13. Retrieved 2018-11-22 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  5. ^ "Penalties in the New York Bills". Daily Racing Form. 1908-01-18. Retrieved 2018-10-26 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  6. ^ "Keep Up Betting Ban". New York Times. 1908-09-01. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  7. ^ "Striking Falling off in Value of Ten Greatest Stakes". Daily Racing Form. 1910-07-16. Retrieved 2018-10-15 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
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