The Messenger Stakes is an American harness racing event for 3-year-old pacing horses. Messenger Stakes history 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.
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.
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.
In 2026, the race was contested at a distance of 1 1/4 miles instead of one mile.
Locations 1956–1987 - Roosevelt Raceway 1988, 2006–present - Yonkers Raceway 1989 - Freestate Raceway 1990–1994 - Rosecroft Raceway 1995–2003 - The Meadows Racetrack and Casino 2004–2005 - Harrington Raceway & Casino
Records Most wins by a driver 8 – John Campbell (1986, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2004)
Most wins by a trainer 8 – Billy Haughton (1956, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1985)
Stakes record 1:50 3/5 – Allamerican Ingot (2002)
Messenger Stakes winners
Year Winner Driver Trainer Owner Time Purse2026FragmentJason BartlettPer EngblomEngblom Farm LLC, Douglas Sipple, Peaceful Acre Farm2:21 4/5$200,0002025Twisted DestinyDexter DunnChris RyderLet It Ride Stables, Alberg Racing and Enviro Stables1:51 2/5$200,0002024Sweet Beach LifeTyler ButerTravis AlexanderA Sweet Beach Life Stable1:53 1/5$225,0002023Captain BatboyJordan StrattonTom FanningJoseph Smith1:57 4/5$250,0002022PleaseletmeknowMatt KakaleyTravis AlexanderFiddler's Creek Stables1:51 3/5$261,7302021American CourageMatt KakaleyTravis AlexanderFiddler's Creek Stables1:51 2/5$500,0002020cancelled2019 American MercuryTyler ButerChris OakesCrawford Racing, Northfork Racing, Pompey & Bice1:51 3/5$500,0002018 Stay HungryDoug McNairTony AlagnaBradley Grant & Irwin Samelman1:52 1/5$500,0002017 DownbytheseasideBrian SearsBrian BrownCountry Club Acres, Sbrocco, Lombardo & Diamond Creek1:52 1/5$500,0002016 Racing HillBrett MillerTony Alagna Tom Hill1:53 0/0$500,0002015 Revenge SharkYannick GingrasTony AlagnaAlagna Racing & Bradley Grant1:53 1/5$500,0002014 All Bets OffMatt KakaleyRon BurkeBurke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, et al.1:51 1/5$500,0002013 Ronny BugattiJason BartlettAllan JohnsonEric Prevost, Bridget McNeese, Tom Haughton1:51 4/5$450,0002012Bolt The DuerMark J. MacDonaldPeter FoleyAll Star Racing Inc. (John Como Sr. & Jr.)1:51 2/5$415,8202011Roll With JoeRonald PierceEdward HartWinbak Farm, Blue Chip Bloodstock, et al.1:52 4/5$401,0002010Rock N Roll HeavenDaniel DubéBruce SaundersFrank Bellino1:51 4/5$437,1002009If I Can DreamTim TetrickTracy BrainardBulletproof Enterprises1:52 2/5$542,0602008Somebeachsomewhere Paul MacDonellBrent MacGrathSchooner Stables1:52 1/5$650,0002007 Always A VirginBrian SearsJoe HollowayBluestone Farms, et al.1:52 0/0$725,4802006 Palone RangerRonald PierceGregory PeckFour Friends & Perretti Racing Stables LLC1:54 3/5$546,8302005 GryffindorDavid Miller Brendan JohnsonJim Winske, Bill Donovan, Milt Leeman 1:52 0/0$218,4752004MetropolitanJohn CampbellChristopher J. RyderNorman &Gerald Smiley 1:52 2/5$340,9502003No Pan IntendedDavid MillerIvan SuggPeter Pan Stables Inc. (Robert Glazer)1:52 4/5$252,9452002Allamerican IngotDavid MillerRobert McIntoshRobert Waxman1:50 3/5$260,6102001Bagel Beach BoyLuc OuelletteJim Campbell Lloyd F. Arnold1:52 1/5$254,3852000Ain't No Stoppin' HimJohn CampbellJoe HollowayJohn & Patricia Celli1:52 3/5$323,4211999Blissfull HallRonald PierceBenjamin WallaceDaniel Plouffe1:51 1/5$347,7601998 Fit For Life John CampbellBrett PellingBrittany Farms & Val D'Or Farms1:52 2/5$387,3801997 Western DreamerMichel LachanceNathaniel C. VartyMatthew, Patrick & Daniel Daly1:51 3/5$331,3001996 Go For GrinsDave PaloneChristopher J. Ryder1:52 2/5$333,0801995David's PassJohn CampbellBrett Pelling RJS Stable1:52 4/5$328,8251994Cam's Card SharkJohn CampbellWilliam G. RobinsonJeffrey S. Snyder1:51 0/0$342,5951993RiyadhJim Morrill Jr.William G. RobinsonR. Peter Heffering1:52 2/5$328,3051992 Western Hanover William FahyGene RiegleGeorge Segal1:53 1/5$366,7501991 Die LaughingRichard SilvermanRoger Goldstein Alnoff Stable & Val D'Or Farms 1:51 1/5$475,0001990 Jake And ElwoodJohn CampbellKen Seeber Louis P. Guida1:52 3/5$444,3711989 Sandman Hanover Bill O'DonnellKen Seeber LPG Standardbred & MRF Racing Stable1:53 2/5 $451,0691988 Matt's Scooter Michel LachanceHarry J. PoultonGordon & Illa Rumpel, Charles Juravinski1:56 3/5 $461,3101987 RedskinJohn Campbell Jerry Smith Jerry Smith 1:58 0/0$447,3101986 Amity Chef John Campbell Blair BurgessCantario Farms, Blair Burgess, Bland & Baugh1:55 4/5$363,7621985 Pershing Square Bill O'Donnell Billy Haughton Louis P. Guida 1:55 2/5 $483,5601984Troublemaker Bill O'Donnell Gene Riegle George Segal 1:57 3/5$379,3431983 Ralph HanoverRon Waples Stewart FirlotteRon Waples, Pointsetta Stables, Grants Direct Stables 1:57 0/0$379,0041982 Cam FellaPat CrowePat CroweNorman Clements & Norman Faulkner1:57 3/5 $259,5781981 Seahawk Hanover Ben Webster Samuel Lewis Dave Harris, Samuel Lewis, et al. 1:58 0/0 $224,9551980 NiatrossClint GalbraithClint GalbraithNiatross Syndicate1:59 3/5 $173,5221979 Hot HitterHenri FilionLouis MeittinisSolomon Katz, S A J & Alterman Stables 1:59 4/5$180,2251978 AbercrombieGlen GarnseyGlen GarnseyL. Keith Bulen & Shirley A. Mitchell 1:58 2/5$167,6821977 Governor Skipper John ChapmanH. "Bucky" NorrisIvanhoe Stable 1:59 1/5$159,1551976 Windshield WiperBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonIrving G. Liverman 2:00 0/0$161,9201975 Bret's ChampBilly HaughtonBilly Haughton Edward W. Andrews 1:59 1/5$154,2221974 Armbro OmahaBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonJ. Elgin Armstrong1:59 3/5 $151,0431973 Valiant Bret Lucien FontaineHarry TudorP.G. & Jere Gray 2:00 3/5 $122,7321972 Silent MajorityBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonIrving G. Liverman & Aline White 2:01 4/5$154,7331971 AlbatrossStanley DancerStanley DancerAmicable Stable 2:00 2/5 $114,9771970 Most Happy FellaStanley DancerStanley DancerEgyptian Acres Stable2:02 3/5$123,4501969 Bye Bye Sam Stanley Dancer Stanley Dancer Jane Falley Galt2:02 3/5 $182,9761968 Rum Customer Billy Haughton Billy Haughton Louis & Connie Manucuso & Kennilworth Farm2:01 4/5 $189,0181967 Romulus HanoverBilly Haughton Billy Haughton Farmstead Acres Farm 1:59 1/5 $178,0641966 Romeo Hanover George Sholty Jerry Silverman Lucky Star Stables & Morton Finder2:01 0/0$169,8851965 Bret HanoverFrank ErvinFrank ErvinRichard Downing 2:02 0/0 $151,2521964 Race TimeRalph N. BaldwinRalph N. BaldwinCastleton Farm2:01 2/5 $150,9601963 Overtrick John F. Patterson Sr. John F. Patterson Sr. Allwood Stable (Leonard & Helen Buck) 2:00 4/5 $146,3241962 Thor HanoverJohn F. Simpson Sr.John F. Simpson Sr.J. F. Simpson Sr., T. W. Murphy, Lawrence B. & C. N. Shepherd2:01 1/5$169,4301961 Adios DonRobert CamperRobert CamperHarold Large2:02 4/5$145,3771960 Countess Adios Delvin Miller Delvin Miller J. Elgin & Ted Armstrong & Hugh A. Grant Sr.2:02 1/5$142,7861959 Adios ButlerClint HodginsClint HodginsPaige West & Angelo Pellillo2:00 1/5$110,9941958 O'Brien HanoverJames W. JordanDelvin MillerHugh A. Grant Sr.2:01 4/5 $108,5651957 Meadow LandsDelvin Miller Delvin Miller Hugh A. Grant Sr. & Del Miller2:04 4/5 $100,0841956 Belle ActionBilly Haughton Billy Haughton Billy Haughton2:01 2/5 $71,500
References