The Reapers Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Held in September, the race was open to three-year-olds of either sex. It was run on dirt over a distance of 1 3/16 miles except for 1903 when it was set at 1 3/8 miles.
On June 19, 1880 the Sheepshead Bay facility hosted its first day of Thoroughbred racing. Success made the addition of more stakes races possible and in 1887 the Reapers Stakes had its inaugural running. That race was won by Belvidere, a colt owned by the Preakness Stables of James Galway, a successful wholesaler of grocery store products and a Steward of The Jockey Club. The final running took place in 1907 and was won by the 20:1 outsider, Blue Book.
Demise of the Reapers Stakes After years of uncertainty, on June 11, 1908 the Republican controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes passed the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation with penalties allowing for fines and up to a year in prison. The owners of Sheepshead Bay Race Track, and other racing facilities in New York State, struggled to stay in business without income from betting. Racetrack operators had no choice but to drastically reduce the purse money being paid out which resulted in the Reapers Stakes being dropped from the 1908 schedule to enable a redistribution of funds to the most high-profile races. 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 shut down of racing across the state during 1911 and 1912. When a Court ruling saw racing return in 1913 it was too late for the Sheepshead Bay horse racing facility and it never reopened.
Records Speed record: (new track record) 1:59.40 – Heno (1902)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Fred Taral (1891, 1896, 1898)
Most wins by a trainer: 2 – John W. Rogers (1889, 1894) 2 – Charles Littlefield Sr. (1898, 1901)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Preakness Stables (1887, 1897) 2 – Rancocas Stable (1892, 1900) 2 – Charles Littlefield Sr. (1898, 1901)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$1907Blue Book3R. LoweStephen J. LawlerJames F. Carroll1 M2:05.00$3,3751906Entrée3Herman RadtkeThomas H. McCreeryFrederick A. Johnson1 M2:00.60$3,4751905Coy Maid3Willie KnappJohn I. SmithKenilworth Stable (Frederick C. McLewee)1 M2:01.60$3,2751904Aurumaster3William CrimminsMatthew FeakesH. J. Morris1 M2:00.00$3,0251903Eugenia Burch3Grover FullerWilliam C. SmithLibby Curtis1 M2:20.80$2,1001902Heno3Harry MichaelsWilliam Lakeland Sr.William S. Fanshawe1 M1:59.40$2,3001901Watercolor 3Henry SpencerCharles Littlefield Sr.Charles Littlefield Sr.1 M1:59.80$1,7201900David Garrick3John BullmanA. Jack JoynerRancocas Stable1 M2:00.40$1,5801899Kinley Mack3Patrick McCuePeter WimmerAugustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie1 M2:02.40$1,2801898Latson3Fred TaralCharles Littlefield Sr.Charles Littlefield Sr.1 M2:04.00$1,0701897Imperator3Charles A. ThorpeEdward FeakesPreakness Stables1 M2:03.20$1,4501896Peep o'Day3Fred TaralJames H. McCormickJames H. McCormick1 M2:06.60$1,4001895Flying Dutchman3Jerry ChornPatrick DunnePatrick Dunne1 M2:02.00$1,4001894Dorian3Willie SimmsJohn W. RogersJohn W. Rogers1 M2:01.40$1,4801893Sir Francis3Edward GarrisonMatthew ByrnesMarcus Daly1 M2:02.00$1,2151892Kilkenny3Anthony HamiltonJohn Huggins Rancocas Stable1 M2:03.20$1,6051891La Tosca 3Fred TaralFrank M. BraySchuylkill Stable (Hough Brothers)1 M2:03.00$1,5451890Ruperta3Alonzo AllenB. J. Johnson1 M2:02.40$1,4251889Buddhist3Marty BergenJohn W. RogersSamuel S. Brown1 M2:08.40$1,7201888My Own3RifleshineR. Wyndham WaldenR. Wyndham Walden1 M2:04.20$1,6001887Belvidere3Jim McLaughlinPreakness Stables1 M2:03.00$1,340
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