The September Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually for the twenty-five years between 1884 and 1908 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, New York. A race on dirt, it was open to three-year-old horses of either sex. It was contested at various distances as follows: 1884–1891 : 1 miles 1892–1907 : 1 miles 1908 : 1 miles
Historical notes First run on September 4, 1884, the race was won by George Lorillard's Louisette. Under Canadian jockey Harry Blaylock the filly led all the way and won with ease.
The Thomas Clay McDowell colt Batten won the 1899 edition by 20 lengths in a canter with a time of 2:21 4/5 that at the time was only a fraction off the track record.
Future Hall of Fame winners The September Stakes would produce three winners whose racing careers achieved the sport's ultimate acknowledgement of greatness with induction into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame. The first was Kingston, a part of the 1955 inaugural class, then Beldame in 1956 who was followed by Salvator in 1988.
The end of a race and of a racetrack The 1908 passage of the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation by the New York Legislature under Republican Governor Charles Evans Hughes led to a state-wide shutdown of racing in 1911 and 1912. Sheepshead Bay Race Track officials had no choice but to cancel some races in order to maintain others. As such, the final running of the September Stakes took place on September 8, 1908. 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: 2:19.00 @ 1 miles: Nealon (1906) 3:03.00 @ 1 miles: Peg Woffington (1888)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 – Jim McLaughlin (1887, 1889) 2 – George M. Odom (1900, 1902) 2 – Frank O'Neill (1903, 1904) 2 – Willie Simms (1894, 1895)
Most wins by a trainer: 2 – Matthew Byrnes (1884, 1889) 2 – William Lakeland (1888, 1898) 2 – John W. Rogers (1894, 1900)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – James Ben Ali Haggin (1885, 1889) 2 – William Lakeland (1888, 1898)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$1908Big Chief3Carroll ShillingHenry E. RowellThomas H. Williams12:10.40$3,1001907Blue Book3R. LoweStephen J. LawlerJames F. Carroll12:23.00$3,7001906Nealon3Willie DuganHerman R. BrandtBarney Schreiber12:19.00$4,3701905Von Tromp3Gene HildebrandJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene12:21.20$4,0651904Beldame3Frank O'NeillFred BurlewNewton Bennington (Lessee)12:19.60$4,0601903The Picket3Frank O'NeillCarroll B. ReedWaldeck Stable (John Middleton & Karl Jungbluth)12:20.60$3,0551902Caughnawaga3George M. OdomWilliam Hayward Jr.John Sanford12:22.00$2,4901901Blues3Willie ShawThomas WelshFrank Farrell12:22.40$2,4551900Killashandra3George M. OdomJohn W. RogersWilliam Collins Whitney12:22.00$2,5251899Batten3Henry SpencerThomas Clay McDowellThomas Clay McDowell12:21.80$1,9601898George Boyd3Danny MaherWilliam LakelandWilliam Lakeland12:25.00$1,8101897Challenger3Alonzo ClaytonArthur WhiteWilliam Laimbeer12:24.40$1,9251896Captive3Willie MartinPatrick DunnePatrick Dunne12:22.80$1,8501895Nanki Pooh3Willie SimmsWilliam DonohueErie Stable (F. D. & J. A. Beard) 12:21.00$1,9501894Dorian3Willie SimmsJohn W. RogersJohn W. Rogers12:21.40$2,0201893Bassetlaw3Anthony HamiltonMatthew M. AllenWilliam Easton12:24.00$3,5071892Pactolus3Marty BergenA. Wilson12:22.00$3,2971891Reckon3Fred LittlefieldR. Wyndham WaldenJohn A. & Alfred H. Morris13:07.80$2,2251890Judge Morrow3Fred TaralGreen B. MorrisGreen B. Morris13:09.00$2,0001889Salvator3Jim McLaughlinMatthew ByrnesJames Ben Ali Haggin13:05.40$2,4751888Peg Woffington3George TaylorWilliam LakelandWilliam Lakeland13:03.00$3,4751887Kingston3Jim McLaughlinFrank McCabeDwyer Brothers Stable13:04.00$3,3501886The Bard3William Hayward Sr. John HugginsAlexander Cassatt 13:05.00$3,8001885Hidalgo3Patsy DuffyWilliam R. ClaypoolJames Ben Ali Haggin13:09.50$3,3751884Louisette3Harry BlaylockMatthew ByrnesGeorge L. Lorillard13:07.25$2,450
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