The Pansy Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually for twenty-one years from 1890 through 1910 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track at Sheepshead Bay, New York. Open to two-year-olds under selling conditions it was raced over a distance of six furlongs and, not very common at the time, on turf.
Historical notes The inaugural running of the Pansy Stakes took place on Friday, June 20, 1890. Sent off at 10-1 betting odds, Congressman William L. Scott's Vagabond upset the 2-1 favorite Lord Harry who would finish fourth.
Winged Foot, the 1896 winner, was owned, trained and ridden by John McCafferty.
The final edition of the Pansy Stakes was run on July 1, 1910 and was won by Peter Wimmer's filly Imprint.
The End of a Race and of a Racetrack Passage of the 1908 Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation by the New York Legislature under Republican Governor Charles Evans Hughes led to a compete shutdown of racing in 1911 and 1912 in the state. 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 Pansy Stakes offering a purse in 1908 that was nearly 80% less than what it had been in earlier years. These small purses made horse racing unprofitable and impossible for even the most successful horse owners to continue in business. As such, for the 1910 racing season management of the Sheepshead Bay facility dropped some of its minor stakes races and used the purse money to bolster this turf race along with its most important events. A February 21, 1913 ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division saw horse racing return in 1913. However, it was too late for the Sheepshead Bay horse racing facility and it never reopened.
Records Speed record: 1:12 4/5 @ 6 furlongs : Ethereal (1908)
Most wins by a jockey: No jockey won this race more than once.
Most wins by a trainer: (based on current info) 2 – John J. Hyland (1891, 1908) 2 – William P. Burch (1899, 1902)
Most wins by an owner: No owner won this race more than once.
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (furlongs) Time Win$1910Imprint2Jimmie ReidPeter WimmerPeter Wimmer6 F1:13.00$1,1501909Helen Carroll2J. "Buddy" GlassAndrew G. BlakelyAndrew G. Blakely6 F1:15.00$3401908Ethereal2Jack UptonJohn J. HylandElmwood Park Stable 6 F1:12.80$4401907Royal Vane2Eddie DuganWilliam A. McKinneyCharles E. Durnell6 F1:15.00$2,0351906Frank Lord2Walter MillerArchie ZimmerTimothy D. Sullivan6 F1:15.60$1,7551905Anodyne2Harry W. BairdW. H. SnyderW. H. Snyder6 F1:14.00$2,0351904St. Bellane2Herman PhillipsWilliam ShieldsEdward R. Thomas6 F1:13.40$2,7501903Nameoki2Willie GannonFrank D. WeirFrank J. Farrell6 F1:15.00$2,1701902Sergeant2Tommy BurnsWilliam P. BurchFrancis R. Hitchcock6 F1:16.80$1,2451901Cameron2Winfield O'ConnorHarry M. MasonJohn G. Follansbee & Davis6 F1:14.20$7801900Moor2Patrick A. McCueW. Fred PresgraveGoughacres Stable6 F1:15.80$6801899The Bobby2George M. OdomWilliam P. BurchWilliam C. Eustis6 F1:15.00$1,0701898Sir Hubert2Tod SloanThomas WelshC. Fleischmann's Sons6 F1:14.40$1,1051897Central Trust2Harry HewittHenry HarrisJohn E. McDonald6 F1:15.00$1,1701896Winged Foot2John J. McCaffertyJohn J. McCaffertyJohn J. McCafferty6 F1:15.40$1,1501895Merry Prince2Henry GriffinA. Jack JoynerBlemton Stable6 F1:16.20$1,1701894Havoc2William PennDavid A. BoyleDavid A. Boyle6 F1:15.60$1,6901893Cataract2Willie SimmsJohn HugginsRancocas Stable (Pierre Lorillard IV)6 F1:15.00$1,4601892Extra2Fred LittlefieldBrookwood Stable6 F1:17.00$1,3251891Ha'penny2Marty BergenJohn J. HylandDavid Gideon & John Daly6 F1:17.00$1,4801890Vagabond2Isaac LewisCharles LeightonWilliam L. Scott6 F1:16.40$1,395
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