The Produce Stakes was an American Thoroughbred racing event run in two divisions from 1902 thru 1907 at Brighton Beach Race Course at Brighton Beach, New York.
One of the more valuable races for two-year-olds in the United States, there was a division for fillies and another for colts and geldings.
The race was short lived when the entire United States horse racing and breeding industry was thrown into massive uncertainty as a result of the June 11, 1908 action by the Republican controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes which passed the Hart-Agnew anti-betting legislation. After a 1911 amendment to the law that would limit the liability of owners and directors was defeated in the Legislature, every racetrack in New York State shut down with wide-ranging effects throughout the entire country. Owners whose horses of racing age had nowhere to go began shipping them and their trainers to England and France. Many ended their racing careers there, and a number remained to become an important part of the European horse breeding industry. Thoroughbred Times reported that more than 1,500 American horses were sent overseas between 1908 and 1913 and that of them, at least 24 were either past, present, or future Champions.Thoroughbred Times - Racing Through the Century 1911-1920
Scheduled to be run on September 28, 1908, the Brighton Beach racetrack's financial problems resulted in the Produce Stakes being canceled. No longer financially viable, Thoroughbred racing was never held again at that track.
Fillies Division Historic notes The 1902 inaugural race was won by Eugenia Burch whose winning time of 1:12.60 would prove to be not only the fastest ever in this event, but it equaled the fastest ever time recorded in the male division. Eugenia Burch would be recognized as that year's American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and would earn the same recognition the following year at age three. Similarly, 1906 winner Court Dress would receive the same two National Champion honors as did Stamina in 1907.The Bloodhorse.com Champion's history charts
Fillies Division Records Speed record: 1:12.60 @ 6 furlongs: Eugenia Burch (1902)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 - George M. Odom (1902, 1903)
Most wins by a trainer: 2 - John W. Rogers (1904, 1907)
Most wins by an owner: No owner won this race more than once.
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Win $1907Stamina2Joe NotterJohn W. RogersHarry Payne Whitney6 f1:14.00$11,6251906Court Dress2Herman RadtkeJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene6 f1:12.80$11,7541905Tiptoe2Frank O'NeillA. Jack JoynerAugust Belmont Jr.6 f1:13.80$10,9661904Princess Rupert2Willie ShawJohn W. RogersHerman B. Duryea6 f1:15.00$5,0051903Audience2George M. OdomPeter WimmerSamuel S. Brown6 f1:15.80$5,8411902Eugenia Burch2George M. OdomJim McLaughlinLibby Curtis6 f1:12.60$5,444
Colts & Geldings Division Historic notes The inaugural running of the Produce Stakes for males took place on July 19, 1902. It was won by Mexican, a colt ridden by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Winfield O'Connor for owner Clarence H. Mackay.
The 1907 edition would prove to be the final running of the Produce Stakes but it did provide the event's most noteworthy winner in Colin. Owned by James R. Keene, a Wall Street financier and major figure in Thoroughbred racing and breeding, Colin was trained by James G. Rowe Sr., a future Hall of Famer widely regarded as the greatest trainer in Thoroughbred racing history. Undefeated in 15 career starts, including the 1908 Belmont Stakes, Colin was the 1907 and 1908 American Horse of the Year who would also become a Hall of Fame inductee and was ranked 15th in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century.
Colts & Geldings Division Records Speed record: 1:12.60 @ 6 furlongs: 4 horses tied
Most wins by a jockey: 2 - Willie Knapp (1905, 1906)
Most wins by a trainer: 2 - James G. Rowe Sr. (1905, 1907)
Most wins by an owner: 2 - James R. Keene (1905, 1907)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Win $1907Colin2Walter MillerJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene6 f1:12.60$9,8741906Electioneer2Willie KnappWilliam LakelandJ. Curtis van Ness6 f1:12.60$11,2221905Kuroki2Willie KnappJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene6 f1:13.00$9,7171904Diamond2Lucien LyneA. Jack JoynerSidney Paget6 f1:13.20$5,0941903Stalwart2Arthur RedfernWilliam ShieldsEdward R. Thomas6 f1:12.60$4,2581902Mexican2Winfield O'ConnorCharles F. HillClarence H. Mackay6 f1:12.60$6,550
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