Junior Champion Stakes (Gravesend)


The Junior Champion Stakes was a race for two-year-old Thoroughbred horses at Gravesend Race Track in Gravesend, on Coney Island, New York State. The September 18, 1909 edition of the Daily Racing Form stated that for a number of years it had been one of the East Coast's most important and valuable stakes for two-year-olds.
Among the race winners, Mesmerist was chosen the 1899 American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse as was Commando, Highball, Sysonby and Salvidere in 1906.

Demise

In 1908, the administration of Republican Governor Charles Evans Hughes signed into law the Hart-Agnew bill that effectively banned all racetrack wagering in New York State. A 1910 amendment to the legislation added further restrictions that meant by 1911 all racetracks in the state ceased operations. Although the law was repealed in time to resume racing in 1913, the Gravesend Race Track never reopened. In 1923, a new Junior Champion Stakes, later renamed the Cowdin Stakes, was inaugurated at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park neighborhood in Queens, New York City.

Records

Speed record:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
DRF history of the Junior Champion Stakes, 1898-1908
Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
Time
Win$
1908SuffragetteJoe NotterJames G. Rowe Sr.James G. Rowe Sr.6 F ±1:09.00$2,250
1907CeltWalter MillerJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene6 F ±1:10.00$5,425
1906SalvidereWalter MillerJohn E. MaddenThomas Hitchcock Sr.6 F ±1:10.80$13,475
1905PegasusLucien LyneJohn W. RogersHarry Payne Whitney6 F ±1:10.40$11,775
1904SysonbyArthur RedfernJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene6 F ±1:09.60$6,010
1903HighballGrover FullerJohn W. MayWalter M. Shiftel & John W. May6 F ±1:10.40$12,760
1902AcefullHarry CochranJohn E. MaddenWilliam C. Whitney & Herman B. Duryea6 F ±1:09.40$13,425
1901GoldsmithNash TurnerJohn W. RogersWilliam C. Whitney6 F ±1:11.20$12,650
1900CommandoHenry SpencerJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene6 F1:13.80$10,510
1899MesmeristWinfield O'ConnorJulius J. BauerBromley & Co. 6 F1:15.00$18,320
1898ArmamentDanny MaherWalter C. RollinsOneck Stable6 F1:14.25$9,600