The Century Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1901 through 1909 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Brooklyn, New York. A Weight for Age race open to horses age three and older, it was contested on dirt over a distance of a mile and a half (12 furlongs).
Run as the Century Stakes until 1908, the race was last run in September 1909 after the Republican controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes passed the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation on June 11, 1908. The owners of Sheepshead Bay Race Track, and other racing facilities in New York State, struggled to stay in business without betting. However, further restrictive legislation was passed by the New York Legislature in 1910 which resulted in the deepening of the financial crisis for track operators and led to a complete shut down of racing across the state during 1911 and 1912. When a Court ruling saw racing return in 1913 it was too late for the Sheepshead Bay facility and it never reopened.
Records Speed record: 2:30.60 – Ballot (1908) (new track record)
Most wins: 2 – Ballot (1907, 1908)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 – David Nicol (1905, 1907)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – James G. Rowe Sr. (1905, 1907, 1908)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – James R. Keene (1905, 1907, 1908)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$1909Moquette4Eddie DuganSam HildrethSam Hildreth1-1/2 m2:34.40$7751908Ballot4Joe NotterJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1-1/2 m2:30.60$15,6501907Ballot3David NicolJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1-1/2 m2:33.60$14,6501906Bedouin4Gene HildebrandJohn Huggins Edward W. Jewett1-1/2 m2:33.60$14,6501905Sysonby3David NicolJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1-1/2 m2:33.00$14,6501904Stalwart3Arthur RedfernWilliam ShieldsEdward R. Thomas1-1/2 m2:31.20$14,6501903Waterboy4 Frank O'NeillA. Jack JoynerJames B. A. Haggin1-1/2 m2:31.60$15,1501902Blues3Jack MartinThomas WelshFrank Farrell1-1/2 m2:33.20$11,7001901Watercolor3Henry SpencerCharles N. Littlefield James B. A. Haggin1-1/2 m2:32.00$7,750
Notes
References The Century Stakes, New York Times – September 8, 1901 The Century Stakes, New York Times – September 12, 1909