The Freehold Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early August at the Monmouth Park Association's racetrack in Long Branch, New Jersey. Inaugurated in 1879, the Champion Stakes was open to horses of any age and was raced on dirt over a distance of one and one half miles (12 furlongs).
In 1891, the races at Long Branch had to be shifted to racetracks in New York when government legislation attempted to inhibit parimutuel wagering. The races were split between the Jerome Park Racetrack in Fordham, Bronx and at the nearby Morris Park Racecourse at Westchester Village. The Monmouth Park Racing Association closed and the land sold after its operating license was revoked in 1893 and government legislation was enacted that banned parimutuel wagering.
Records Speed record: 2:33.25 - Firenze (1890)
Most wins: 3 - Firenze (1888, 1889, 1890)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 - William Donohue (1882, 1883, 1884)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 - Evert V. Snedecker (1882, 1883, 1884) 3 - Matthew Byrnes (1888, 1889, 1890) 3 - John Huggins (1886, 1887, 1892)
Most wins by an owner: 3 - James Ben Ali Haggin (1888, 1889, 1890)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time1892Locohatchee †3Marty BergenJohn HugginsRancocas Stable12:38.001891Raceland6Anthony HamiltonHardy Campbell, Jr.Michael F. Dwyer12:37.751890Firenze6Isaac Burns MurphyMatthew ByrnesJames Ben Ali Haggin12:33.251889Firenze5George Taylor Matthew ByrnesJames Ben Ali Haggin11888Firenze4Edward H. GarrisonMatthew ByrnesJames Ben Ali Haggin12:34.001887The Bard4William Hayward John Huggins Alexander Cassatt12:39.751886The Bard3Sam H. FisherJohn HugginsAlexander Cassatt12:45.501885Miss Woodford5Jim McLaughlinFrank McCabeDwyer Brothers Stable12:45.501884Eole6William DonohueEvert V. SnedeckerFrederick Gebhard12:44.501883Eole5William DonohueEvert V. SnedeckerFrederick Gebhard12:36.001882Giroflé5William DonohueEvert V. SnedeckerE. V. Snedeker & Co.12:42.00 * † In 1892, Banquet won but was disqualified for interference and set back to last.
Notes
References August 4, 1882 New York Times article on the Freehold Stakes July 30, 1884 New York Times article on Eole's second win in the Freehold Stakes August 6, 1891 New York Times article on Firenze's three straight wins in the Freehold Stakes