The Mermaid Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. An important event for three-year-old fillies, the race was run on dirt over a distance of one mile and one furlong until 1910 when it was set at one mile.

First run in 1880, there was no race from 1895 through 1901. During the twenty-four years the race was held, it was won by eight Champions of which four would be elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The final running in 1910 was won by Lily Livingston's Amelia Jenks in a major upset over Ocean Bound, the undefeated 1909 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly.

On June 11, 1908, the Republican controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes passed the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation with penalties allowing for fines and up to a year in prison. The owners of Sheepshead Bay Race Track, and other racing facilities in New York State, struggled to stay in business without betting. Racetrack operators had no choice but to drastically reduce the purse money being paid out which by 1909 saw the Mermaid Stakes offering a purse that was as little as one-third of what it had been in earlier years. 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 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 horse racing facility and it never reopened.

Champions who won the Mermaid Stakes: Miss Woodford (HoF) Firenze (HoF) Yorkville Belle Beldemere Beldame (HoF) Perverse Stamina Maskette (HoF)

Records Speed record: 1:52 flat, 1 1/8 miles, Maskette (1909)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Jim McLaughlin (1883, 1887, 1888)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – James G. Rowe Sr. (1883, 1889, 1890, 1909)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Dwyer Brothers Stable (1883, 1888) 2 – August Belmont Jr. (1889, 1990) 2 – Harry Payne Whitney (1906, 1908)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$1910Amelia JenksMatt McGeeMatthew FeakesLily A. Livingston1 M1:39.40$1,4501909MasketteRichard ScovilleJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene1 M1:52.00$3,9901908StaminaEddie DuganA. Jack JoynerHarry Payne Whitney1 M1:53.00$4,8751907Yankee GirlHerman RadtkeGeorge P. BrazierCharles R. Ellison1 M1:54.80$4,8701906PerverseLucien LyneJohn W. RogersHarry Payne Whitney1 M1:54.00$3,6001905TraditionWillie DavisA. Jack JoynerSydney Paget1 M1:58.60$4,3601904BeldameFrank O'NeillFred BurlewNewton Bennington1 M1:54.40$5,5701903Daisy GreenJohn BullmanHarry M. MasonJohn N. Follansbee1 M1:59.60$4,4801902GunfireTommy BurnsJohn W. RogersWilliam C. Whitney1 M1:54.80$3,3151895 – 1901 Race not held1894BeldemereWillie SimmsEdward FeakesPreakness Stables1 M1:56.00$5,1601893AfternoonSamuel DoggettJohn W. RogersSamuel S. Brown1 M1:56.80$3,5101892Yorkville BelleIsaac Burns MurphyMatthew M. AllenFrank A. Ehret1 M2:00.60$3,8101891EquityGeorge TaylorJohn HugginsJ. Gardner Cassatt1 M1:56.20$4,4001890Her HighnessAnthony HamiltonJames G. Rowe Sr.August Belmont Sr.1 M1:57.00$5,0801889SheEdward GarrisonJames G. Rowe Sr.August Belmont Sr.1 M1:56.00$4,7301888Bella BJim McLaughlinFrank McCabeDwyer Brothers Stable1 M1:57.25$5,2801887FirenzeJim McLaughlinMatthew ByrnesJames Ben Ali Haggin1 M1:56.00$4,3401886BandalaFred LittlefieldCharles BoyleRichmond Stable1 M2:02.00$3,8701885WandaHarris OlneyMatthew ByrnesRancocas Stable1 M1:59.50$3,4701884DuchessWilliam DonohueEvert V. SnedeckerE. V. Snedeker & Co.1 M1:59.00$3,1501883Miss WoodfordJim McLaughlinJames G. Rowe Sr.Dwyer Brothers Stable1 M1:58.25$3,6001882HiawasseEdward FeakesMatthew ByrnesPierre Lorillard IV1 M1:57.25$2,7001881ThoraWilliam DonohueJames LeeCharles Reed1 M1:57.00$2,1501880GlideliaWilliam DonohueGeorge RiceWilliam M. Conner1 M1:59.50$1950

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