The New England Futurity was a short-lived Thoroughbred stakes race at Narragansett Park in Pawtucket, Rhode Island which the Daily Racing Form reported it to be "New England's richest and most important stake"Daily Racing Form October 8, 1926 article titled "Pompoon to be Pointed for Rich New England Futurity on Oct. 28" Retrieved August 8, 2018 For two-year-old entire colts and fillies, it was first run on October 28, 1936.
The Races In a major upset, the Ethel V. Mars colt Reaping Reward ($25.20) defeated Jerome H. Loucheim's overwhelming favorite Pompoon to win the inaugural running.Daily Racing Form October 29, 1936 article titled "Chicago's Reaping Reward Defeats Pompoon" Retrieved August 8, 2018
The second edition of the New England Futurity was never run due to in what became known as The Race Track War. It had been scheduled to run on Saturday, October 23, 1937 but in the days leading up to the race, a dispute got out of hand between Rhode Island Governor Robert Quinn and Walter E. O'Hara, Managing Director of the Narragansett Racing Association which owned and operated Narragansett Park. The Rhode Island state Horse Racing Division ordered O'Hara's removal as a track official and revoked the track's license at the close of the summer race meet. On October 17, Quinn declared that Narragansett Park was "in a state of insurrection," and ordered the National Guard to enforce martial law and lock down the track.Somerset (Pennsylvania) Daily American Newspaper Archives October 20, 1937 - Page 2 article titled "Governor’s Martial Law Stops Running Of Annual Futurity Stake" Retrieved August 8, 2018 There would be no fall racing, and the situation would not be resolved until February 9, 1938 when a court order resulted in law enforcement seizing the racetrack's record books. O'Hara then resigned and was replaced by track secretary Judge James Dooley.
When racing resumed at Narragansett Park, the 1938 edition provided racing fans with a glimpse of the greatness to come from the Maryland owned, bred and raced Challedon who beat a strong field.Challedon at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Retrieved August 8, 2018Daily Racing Form October 27, 1938 article subtitled "Some of the Best Youngsters in the Country to Face the Barrier for Race" Retrieved August 7, 2018
On September 28, 1939, over a muddy track, Parker Corning's Straight Lead won. Trained by future National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee Max Hirsch, the colt beat Fenelon from the powerful Belair Stud stable.Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) October 29, 1939 page 56 article titled "Straight Lead Takes $52,310 Futurity" Retrieved August 7, 2018
In 1940, Robert W. McIlvain's Walmac Farm won the race with the colt Bushwhacker. At the new distance of six furlongs, he beat Anne Corning's colt Attention who had twice beaten Whirlaway, the Calumet Farm colt who would go on to win the 1941 U.S. Triple Crown.Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) October 5, 1940 page 17 Retrieved August 7, 2018
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles)(Furlongs) Time Win$1940Bushwhacker2Arthur CraigHoward WellsWalmac Farm6 F1:11.80$38,0601939Straight Lead2Ronnie NashMax HirschParker Corning1 mi, 70 yds1:46.60$37,9001938Challedon2George SeaboLouis SchaeferWilliam L. Brann1 mi, 70 yds1:46.40$33,4101937 No race1936 Reaping Reward2Charlie StevensonRobert V. McGarveyMilky Way Farm Stable1 mi, 70 yds1:41.60$36,850
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