The Brighton Derby was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually by the Brighton Beach Racing Association at its Brighton Beach Race Course at Brighton Beach on Coney Island, New York. Open to three-year-olds, it was contested at a distance of one and one half miles (12 furlongs) on dirt. Run during the mid to latter part of July, it was the last of the racing season's thirteen Derby races.
The Brighton Derby was first run at 1½ miles in 1901, then at 1¼ miles in 1902 and 1903 before reverting to the original distance.
During its seven years of existence, Brighton Derby winners Ort Wells, Sysonby and Accountant went on to earn American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse honors. Sysonby would also earn the American Horse of the Year title.The Bloodhorse.com Champion's history charts
The end of a race and of a racetrack The 1908 Brighton Derby was never run and as such the August 3, 1907 edition was its last. The race's demise was a result of the 1908 passage of the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation by the New York Legislature under Republican Governor Charles Evans Hughes that led to a state-wide shutdown of racing in 1911 and 1912. Although a February 21, 1913 ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division saw horse racing return in 1913, it was too late for the Brighton Beach horse racing facility and it never reopened.
Records Speed record: (at 1½ miles) : 2:30 4/5 – Charles Edward (1907) (new race and track record)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 – Frank O'Neill (1903, 1904)
Most wins by a trainer: No trainer won this race more than once.
Most wins by an owner: 2 – James B. A. Haggin (1901, 1903)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$1907Charles Edward3Willie Knapp Frank M. TaylorPatchogue Stable (William H. DuBois)1 m2:30.80$11,7501906Accountant3Skeets MartinMatthew M. AllenJames B. Brady1 m2:37.20$11,7501905Sysonby3Dave NicolJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1 m2:33.20$11,7501904Ort Wells3Frank O'NeillEnoch WishardJohn A. Drake1 m2:32.60$9,7251903Charles Elwood3Frank O'NeillA. Jack JoynerJames B. A. Haggin1 m2:05.00$7,5501902Hyphen3George OdomPeter WimmerSamuel S. Brown1 m2:04.20$7,5501901Watercolor3Henry SpencerCharles Littlefield Jr.James B. A. Haggin1 m2:34.20$8,300
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