Annual Champion Stakes

The Annual Champion Stakes is a discontinued Thoroughbred horse race run from 1900 through 1908 that was the richest in the United States at the time for older horses with a guarantee purse of $25,000. Run on dirt over a distance of two and one-quarter miles at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, the race was open to horses age three and older.[1][2] The race was created to try to slow a decade-long trend to shorter distance races.[3]

Annual Champion Stakes
Discontinued stakes race
LocationSheepshead Bay Race Track
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Inaugurated1900–1908
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Race information
Distance​2 1⁄4 miles (18 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree years olds and older
Weight3yos: 116 lbs.; 4yos: 130 lbs; 5yos & up: 131 lbs.
Purse$25,000

Hart–Agnew Law

The Annual Champion Stakes was last run on September 12, 1908 and was won by King James. [4] Earlier that year the Republican controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes passed the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation on June 11, 1908 with penalties allowing for fines and up to a year in prison.[5] The owners of Sheepshead Bay Race Track, and other racing facilities in New York state, struggled to stay in business without wagering revenue.[6] Racetrack operators had no choice but to drastically reduce the purse money being paid out which by 1909 saw many stakes races being canceled or offering a substantially reduced purse.[7] 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 shutdown of racing across the state during 1911 and 1912. When a Court ruling saw racing return in 1913 it was too late for any revival of the Annual Champion Stakes as the Sheepshead Bay horse racing facility never reopened.

Records

Speed record:

  • 3:53 3/5 – Igniter (1903)

Most wins:

  • no horse won this race more than once

Most wins by a jockey:

  • no jockey won this race more than once

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

  • no owner won this race more than once

Winners
Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Dist.
(Miles)		 Time
 Win
US$
1908 King James 3 Carroll Shilling John E. Madden Sam Hildreth 2¼ M 4:01.00 $20,550
1907 Salvidere 3 Eddie Dugan John E. Madden Thomas Hitchcock Sr. 2¼ M 3:56.40 $20,550
1906 Accountant 3 Jack Martin Matthew M. Allen Diamond Jim Brady 2¼ M 3:55.40 $19,745
1905 Sysonby 3 David Nicol James G. Rowe Sr. James R. Keene 2¼ M 3:54.00 $20,550
1904 Stalwart 3 Arthur Redfern William Shields Edward R. Thomas 2¼ M 3:54.60 $19,650
1903 Igniter 4 Grover Fuller Julius Bauer Arthur Featherstone 2¼ M 3:53.60 $19,650
1902 Major Daingerfield 3 George M. Odom Matthew M. Allen McLewee & Co. 2¼ M 3:58.00 $19,650
1901 Maid of Harlem 5 Willie Simms Barry D. Woods Osceola Stables (Thomas L. Watt) 2¼ M 3:58.40 $19,650
1900 David Garrick 4 John Bullman A. Jack Joyner Rancocas Stable (Pierre Lorillard) 2¼ M 3:56.00 $19,650

References
  1. "The Bard (U.S.)". Thoroughbred Heritage Portraits. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  2. "Condensed History Of The Annual Champion Stakes". Daily Racing Form. 1908-09-11. Retrieved 2018-11-24 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  3. "The Annual Champion Stakes". Daily Racing Form. 1899-02-12. Retrieved 2018-11-22 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  4. "Last Day At Sheepshead: King James Wins The Annual Champion In A Fierce Drive With Falcada". Daily Racing Form. 1908-09-13. Retrieved 2018-11-22 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  5. "Penalties in the New York Bills". Daily Racing Form. 1908-01-18. Retrieved 2018-10-26 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  6. "Keep Up Betting Ban". New York Times. 1908-09-01. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  7. "Striking Falling off in Value of Ten Greatest Stakes". Daily Racing Form. 1910-07-16. Retrieved 2018-10-15 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
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