National Stallion Stakes

Horse race

National Stallion StakesClass| Discontinued stakes

|

Location| Belmont Park
Aqueduct Racetrack (1963-1967)
Morris Park Racecourse (1898-1904)
Inaugurated| 1898 at Morris Park Racecourse
Race type| Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Race information
Distance| 5 furlongs
Surface| Dirt
Track| left-handed
Qualification| Two-year-old colts & geldings

The National Stallion Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held sixty-two times between 1898 and 1971. Inaugurated as the National Stallion Race at Morris Park Racecourse in The Bronx, the event was open to horses of either sex until 1948 when it became a race exclusively for colts and geldings and a National Stallion Stakes (filly division) was created. Contested on dirt at a distance of five furlongs, from 1905 onward it was hosted by Belmont Park in Elmont, New York except for 1963 through 1967 when it was run at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, New York.

The race was restricted to horses whose sire had been nominated for the race by its owner before the end of the foal's birth year.

## Historical notes

[edit]

The inaugural running of the National Stallion race took place on May 14, 1898 at Morris Park Racecourse and was won by Jean Bereaud who would go on to win the next year's Belmont Stakes.[1]

In his 1907 win, future Hall of Fame inductee Colin set a new track record of 58 seconds flat for five furlongs on dirt.

Hal Price Headley's Jet Master set a new track and North American record in 1951 of 55 4/5 seconds for five furlongs on dirt.

On June 10, 1953, then forty-year-old future Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Whittingham saddled his first stakes winner when Liz Person's Porterhouse won the National Stallion Stakes.[2][3]

### Filly winners 1898–1947

[edit]

In what would be the last year for racing at Morris Park Racecourse, in 1904 Tanya became the first filly to win the National Stallion Stakes during the time it was open to horses of either sex. Tanya went on to become just the second filly to ever win the Belmont Stakes, an American Classic that would eventually be the third leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series.[4] It would be thirty-four years until another filly was victorious in the National Stallion Stakes when New York City restaurateur Henry Lustig's Donita M won the 1938 race.[5] Five years later Henry Lustig would own the third filly to capture the race when in 1943 his Mrs. Ames defeated the gelding Stir Up owned by the powerful Greentree Stable.[6] Sonny Whitney's Enfilade in 1945 was the last filly to win the National Stallion Stakes before the separate division was created.[7]

### Owners who won both divisions in the same year

[edit]

1961: Christopher Chenery's Meadow Stable won the colt division with Sir Gaylord and the filly division with their future Hall of Fame inductee Cicada.[8][9]

1964: Wheatley Stable, owned by Gladys Mills Phipps and her brother Ogden L. Mills, won the colt division with Bold Lad and the filly division with Queen Empress.[10][11]

1971: Calumet Farm won the colt division with Plum Bold and the filly division with Rondeau in what would prove to be the final running of the National Stallion races.[12][13]

## Racing shutdown

[edit]

The 1908 passage of the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation by the New York Legislature under Republican Governor Charles Evans Hughes threatened the survival of horse racing in the state.[14] In spite of strong opposition by prominent owners such as August Belmont Jr. and Harry Payne Whitney, reform legislators were not happy when they learned that betting was still going on at racetracks between individuals and they had further restrictive legislation passed by the New York Legislature in 1910.[15] The Agnew–Perkins Law, a series of four bills and recorded as the Executive Liability Act, made it possible for racetrack owners and members of its board of directors to be fined and imprisoned if anyone was found betting, even privately, anywhere on their premises.[16] After a 1911 amendment to the law that would limit the liability of owners and directors was defeated in the Legislature, every racetrack in New York State shut down[17] Owners, whose horses of racing age had nowhere to go, began sending them, their trainers and their jockeys to race in England, France and other countries in Europe. Many horses ended their racing careers there and a number remained to become an important part of the European horse breeding industry. Thoroughbred Times reported that more than 1,500 American horses were sent overseas between 1908 and 1913 and of them at least 24 were either past, present, or future Champions.[18] A February 21, 1913 ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division saw horse racing return in 1913.[19] However, the number of quality stallions in the United States had diminished to such an extent that it would take several years to get back to normal. The National Stallion Stakes would not be run again until 1926.

## Records

[edit]

Speed record:

* 0:57.40 @ 5 furlongs: Skin Deep (1939)
* 1:04.00 @ 5.5 furlongs: Timbeau (1963)

Most wins by a jockey:

* 7 – Eddie Arcaro (1941, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1958)

Most wins by a trainer:

* 3 – James G. Rowe Sr. (1907, 1909, 1927)

Most wins by an owner:

* 4 – Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney (1930, 1932, 1937, 1945)

## Winners

[edit]

Year
| Winner
| Age
| Jockey
| Trainer
| Owner
| Dist.
(Furlongs) | Time
| Win$

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1971  | Plum Bold  | 2  | Eddie Maple | Reggie Cornell | Calumet Farm | 5 F  | 1:01.80  | $19,417
1970  | Proudest Roman  | 2  | Pete Anderson | Woody Stephens | Mrs. John A. Morris  | 5.5 F  | 1:05.20  | $20,458
1969  | Jackal  | 2  | Eddie Belmonte | Lucien Laurin | Claiborne Farm | 5.5 F  | 1:05.20  | $19,607
1968  | Maison de Ville  | 2  | Ron Turcotte | Edward L. Holton  | Pin Oak Stable | 5.5 F  | 1:05.20  | $19,318
1967  | What A Pleasure | 2  | Eddie Belmonte | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 5.5 F  | 1:04.80  | $18,933
1966  | Great Power  | 2  | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 5.5 F  | 1:04.60  | $20,328
1965  | Buckpasser (DH)  | 2  | Braulio Baeza | William C. Winfrey | Ogden Phipps | 5.5 F  | 1:04.60  | $13,842
1965  | Hospitality (DH)  | 2  | Bobby Ussery | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 5.5 F  | 1:04.60  | $13,842
1964  | Bold Lad | 2  | Braulio Baeza | William C. Winfrey | Wheatley Stable | 5.5 F  | 1:04.00  | $18,362
1963  | Timbeau  | 2  | John L. Rotz | William O. Hicks  | Cambridge Stable (Perry Pease/Francis Kiernan)  | 5.5 F  | 1:04.00  | $19,942
1962  | O'Calaway  | 2  | John L. Rotz | Burley E. Parke | Harbor View Farm | 5.5 F  | 1:05.00  | $21,086
1961  | Sir Gaylord | 2  | Ismael Valenzuela | Casey Hayes | Meadow Stable | 5.5 F  | 1:04.80  | $21,697
1960  | Errard King Jr.  | 2  | Sam Boulmetis | Walter U. Ridenour  | Joe Gavegnano  | 5.5 F  | 1:05.80  | $19,857
1959  | Ouija Board  | 2  | David Erb | Larry H. Thompson  | Modie J. Spiegel  | 5 F  | 0:58.00  | $19,746
1958  | Restless Wind  | 2  | Eddie Arcaro | Horatio Luro | Llangolen Farm | 5 F  | 0:58.80  | $20,513
1957  | Jester  | 2  | Eddie Arcaro | Winbert F. Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 5 F  | 0:56.40  | $20,825
1956  | Bureaucracy  | 2  | Sidney Cole | James E. Fitzsimmons | Ogden Phipps | 5 F  | 0:57.20  | $25,685
1955  | Polly's Jet  | 2  | Eddie Arcaro | Russell M. Downes  | Barclay Stable | 5 F  | 0:56.20  | $14,725
1954  | Islander  | 2  | Hedley Woodhouse | Winbert F. Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 5 F  | 0:58.60  | $20,940
1953  | Porterhouse | 2  | Bill Boland | Charles E. Whittingham | Llangollen Farm | 5 F  | 0:57.80  | $20,120
1952  | Tahitian King  | 2  | Eddie Arcaro | James P. Conway | Ben F. Whitaker | 5 F  | 0:56.00  | $17,940
1951  | Jet Master  | 2  | Eddie Arcaro | George M. Odom | Marlboro Stud Farm (Joseph Eitinger)  | 5 F  | 0:55.80  | $16,040
1950  | Volt  | 2  | Eddie Arcaro | Frank S. Barnett  | Hal Price Headley | 5 F  | 0:59.60  | $17,030
1949  | The Diver  | 2  | Ovie Scurlock | Sherrill W. Ward | Russell A. Firestone  | 5 F  | 0:57.60  | $15,080
1948  | Mr. Busher  | 2  | Ferrill Zufelt  | James W. Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 5 F  | 0:57.40  | $18,550
1947  | My Request | 2  | Ronnie Nash | James P. Conway | Ben F. Whitaker | 5 F  | 0:57.80  | $15,700
1946  | Jet Pilot | 2  | Eric Guerin | Jimmy Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 5 F  | 0:56.60  | $15,690
1945  | Enfilade  | 2  | Arnold Kirkland | Lydell T. Ruff  | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 5 F  | 0:58.60  | $12,845
1944  | Flood Town  | 2  | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch | Edward Lasker | 5 F  | 0:57.40  | $12,230
1943  | Mrs. Ames | 2  | Ted Atkinson | Preston M. Burch | Longchamps Farms (Henry Lustig)  | 5 F  | 0:58.80  | $12,620
1942  | Suncap  | 2  | John Gilbert | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farm | 5 F  | 0:57.80  | $13,410
1941  | Some Chance  | 2  | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 5 F  | 0:59.00  | $12,140
1940  | Attention  | 2  | Leon Haas | Max Hirsch | Anna C. Corning | 5 F  | 0:58.40  | $15,590
1939  | Skin Deep  | 2  | Raymond Workman | Joseph H. Stotler | Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. | 5 F  | 0:57.40  | $10,380
1938  | Donita M  | 2  | Johnny Longden | Phil Reuter  | Longchamps Farms (Henry Lustig)  | 5 F  | 0:58.20  | $11,330
1937  | The Chief  | 2  | Raymond Workman | Thomas J. Healey | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 5 F  | 0:58.00  | $12,630
1936  | Pompoon | 2  | Maurice Peters | Cyrus Field Clarke  | Jerome H. Louchheim | 5 F  | 0:59.00  | $13,850
1935  | Delphinium  | 2  | John Gilbert | Robert Augustus Smith | Brookmeade Stable | 5 F  | 0:58.40  | $11,720
1934  | Plat Eye  | 2  | Silvio Coucci | William Brennan | Greentree Stable | 5 F  | 0:58.40  | $14,170
1933  | Black Buddy  | 2  | Silvio Coucci | William Brennan | Greentree Stable | 5 F  | 0:58.40  | $16,550
1932  | Caterwaul  | 2  | Raymond Workman | Thomas J. Healey | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 5 F  | 0:58.20  | $27,405
1931  | Osculator  | 2  | Earl Steffen | Bennett W. Creech | William R. Coe | 5 F  | 0:59.60  | $25,820
1930  | Equipoise | 2  | Raymond Workman | Fred Hopkins | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 5 F  | 0:59.60  | $25,400
1929  | Crazy Coot  | 2  | Alfred Robertson | James G. Rowe Jr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 5 F  | 1:00.20  | $25,740
1928  | Blue Larkspur | 2  | Anthony Pascuma  | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 5 F  | 0:59.00  | $25,470
1927  | Groucher  | 2  | Earl Sande | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 5 F  | 0:59.80  | $22,710
1926  | Chance Shot | 2  | Earl Sande | Peter W. Coyne | Joseph E. Widener | 5 F  | 0:58.60  | $13,095
1913  | – 1925  | race not held
1912  | No races held due to the Hart–Agnew Law.
1911
1910  | Semprolus  | 2  | Fred Langan | Frank Ernest  | Richard F. Carman Sr. | 5 F  | 0:58.80  | $4,925
1909  | Sweep | 2  | Guy Burns | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene | 5.5 F  | 1:08.20  | $13,180
1908  | Sir Martin | 2  | James Lee | John E. Madden | John E. Madden | 5 F  | 0:00.00 † | $9,875
1907  | Colin | 2  | Walter Miller | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene | 5 F  | 0:58.00  | $10,066
1906  | Charles Edward | 2  | Walter Miller | A. Jack Joyner | Sydney Paget | 5 F  | 0:59.40  | $8,083
1905  | First Water  | 2  | Frank O'Neill | Fred Burlew | Newton Bennington  | 5 F  | 1:03.40  | $9,879
1904  | Tanya | 2  | Willie Shaw | John W. Rogers | Harry Payne Whitney | 5 F  | 0:58.20  | $10,975
1903  | Magistrate  | 2  | John Bullman | John J. Hyland | August Belmont Jr. | 5 F  | 0:58.00  | $12,483
1902  | Mizzen  | 2  | John Bullman | John J. Hyland | August Belmont Jr. | 5 F  | 0:56.50  | $10,837
1901  | Cunard  | 2  | Winfield O'Connor | Green B. Morris | Green B. Morris | 5 F  | 1:01.00  | $11,155
1900  | Bonnibert | 2  | Nash Turner | Thomas Welsh | Charles Fleischman's Sons  | 5 F  | 1:00.75  | $15,352
1899  | Pupil  | 2  | George M. Odom | Green B. Morris | Green B. Morris | 5 F  | 0:58.75  | $14,527
1898  | Jean Bereaud | 2  | Tod Sloan | Sam Hildreth | John Daly | 5 F  | 0:59.00  | $15,502

* † Due to a "blinding rainstorm", in 1908 there was no time taken.[20]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Jean Bereaud's Fine Race; Defeated Glenheim After a Pretty Fight for the National Stallion Race of $20,000". New York Times. 1898-05-15. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
2. ^ "Porterhouse Takes National Stallion Stakes by a Neck at Belmont". New York Times. 1953-06-11. Section Sports, page 40. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
3. ^ "The Inside Track – Racing To History". NTRA. 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
4. ^ "Hermis, First Romping, Surprised Horsemen". New York Times. 1904-05-22. p. 13. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
5. ^ "Belmont Stakes Chart". New York Times. 1938-06-05. Section Sports, page 1 & 9. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
6. ^ "Count Fleet First By Thirty Lengths". New York Times. 1943-06-06. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
7. ^ "42,832 See Pavot Defeat Wildlife in Belmont Stakes". New York Times. 1945-06-24. Section Sports, page 33. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
8. ^ "Batter Up Next, 1 1/2 Lengths Back; Part of Odds-On Entry With Broadway Trails Cicada -- Jazz Queen Third". New York Times. 1961-06-20. p. 38. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
9. ^ "Sir Gaylord, $8, Triumphs in Colt Division of National Stallion at Belmont". New York Times, page 39. 1961-06-27. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
10. ^ "Bold Lad Victor by Half Length In $28,250 Stakes at Aqueduct". New York Times. 1964-06-23. p. 39. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
11. ^ "Unbeaten Queen Empress 2-Length Victor at Aqueduct". New York Times. 1964-06-16. p. 50. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
12. ^ Nichols, Joe (24 June 1971). "Rondeau, 1-to-20 Choice, Scores by 11 Lengths at Belmont". New York Times. p. 52. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
13. ^ "Plum Bold and Plumb Grey Triumph; Stallion Stakes Won by 7 Lengths". New York Times. 1971-06-17. p. 54. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
14. ^ "Penalties in the New York Bills". Daily Racing Form. 1908-01-18. Retrieved 2018-10-26 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
15. ^ Liebman, Bennett (May 24, 2009). "The First American Triple Crown Series". The Rail. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
16. ^ "Racing Men Attack Anti-Betting Bills – Place Every Man Who Makes Private Wager in Jeopardy". New York Times. 1910-04-07. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
17. ^ "Race Track Bill Defeated In Senate; Measure Modifying Directors' Liability for Gambling Fails of Passage". The New York Times. July 14, 1911. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
18. ^ "Thoroughbred Times". www.ThoroughbredTimes.com. February 14, 2000. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
19. ^ "Oral Betting Held Legal: Appellate Division of New York Supreme Court Renders Important Decision". Daily Racing Form. 1913-02-22. Retrieved 2019-06-29 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
20. ^ "National Stallion Stakes to Sir Martin". National Stallion Stakes to Sir Martin. 1908-05-31. Retrieved 2020-03-13.