The Junior Champion Stakes was a race for two-year-old Thoroughbred horses at Gravesend Race Track in Gravesend, on Coney Island, New York State. The September 18, 1909 edition of the Daily Racing Form stated that for a number of years it had been one of the East Coast's most important and valuable stakes for two-year-olds. Daily Racing Form September 18, 1909 article on the Junior Champion Stakes
Among the race winners, Mesmerist was chosen the 1899 American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse as was Commando (1900), Highball (1903), Sysonby (1904) and Salvidere in 1906. Daily Racing Form December 10, 1899 article titled "Bromley and Cos Horses" Retrieved September 23, 2018Daily Racing Form December 29, 1903 story on Champion Highball in article titled "Gossip of the Turf" Retrieved September 22, 2018Daily Racing Form July 12, 1908 article titled "Salvidere Gone To Farm To Rest.: Champion of 1906" Retrieved September 22, 2018
Demise In 1908, the administration of Republican Governor Charles Evans Hughes signed into law the Hart–Agnew bill that effectively banned all racetrack wagering in New York State. A 1910 amendment to the legislation added further restrictions that meant by 1911 all racetracks in the state ceased operations. Although the law was repealed in time to resume racing in 1913, the Gravesend Race Track never reopened.
In 1923, a new Junior Champion Stakes, later renamed the Cowdin Stakes, was inaugurated at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park neighborhood in Queens, New York City.Bloodhorse.com October 13, 2002 article on the 80th running of the Cowdin Stakes Retrieved September 21, 2018
Records Speed record: 1:09.00 at 6 F ± – Suffragette (1908) 1:13.80 at 6 F – Commando (1900)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 – Walter Miller (1906–1907)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 – James G. Rowe Sr. (1900, 1904, 1907, 1908)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – James R. Keene (1900, 1904, 1907)
Winners DRF history of the Junior Champion Stakes, 1898–1908 Daily Racing Form September 18, 1909, history of the Junior Champion Stakes Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Furlong) Time Win$1908SuffragetteJoe NotterJames G. Rowe Sr.James G. Rowe Sr.6 F ±1:09.00$2,2501907CeltWalter MillerJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene6 F ±1:10.00$5,4251906SalvidereWalter MillerJohn E. MaddenThomas Hitchcock Sr.6 F ±1:10.80$13,4751905PegasusLucien LyneJohn W. RogersHarry Payne Whitney6 F ±1:10.40$11,7751904SysonbyArthur RedfernJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene6 F ±1:09.60$6,0101903HighballGrover FullerJohn W. MayWalter M. Shiftel & John W. May6 F ±1:10.40$12,7601902AcefullHarry CochranJohn E. MaddenWilliam C. Whitney & Herman B. Duryea6 F ±1:09.40$13,4251901GoldsmithNash TurnerJohn W. Rogers William C. Whitney6 F ±1:11.20$12,6501900CommandoHenry SpencerJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene6 F1:13.80$10,5101899MesmeristWinfield O'ConnorJulius J. BauerBromley & Co. (Joseph E. Bromley & Arthur Featherstone)6 F1:15.00$18,3201898ArmamentDanny MaherWalter C. RollinsOneck Stable6 F1:14.25$9,600
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