The Whirl Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Empire City Race Track in Yonkers, New York. First run in 1908, it was created as a contest for three-year-old horses at a distance of one mile on dirt. Following the track's closure from 1911 through 1913 due to the passage of the Hart-Agnew Law by the New York State Legislature, there was no racing in New York state in 1911, 1912, and 1913. The Whirl Stakes returned in 1914 as a sprint race for two-year-old horses at a distance of five and a half furlongs. By 1925 the Whirl Stakes had become one of the Empire City Race Track's richest and most important races of its type run during its summer meet.
Historical race notes Friar Rock, a colt ridden by Clarence Turner, won the 1915 running in track record time.
In 1930 Vander Pool won what turned out to be the final edition of the Whirl Stakes. The victory marked the undefeated colt's ninth career win in a row and would keep his win streak going into 1931. Returning to Empire City Race Track, on July 25, 1931 the still undefeated Vander Pool won the Greenfield Purse, giving him fifteen straight races without a loss which equaled a twenty-three-year-old American record set by Colin during 1907/08.
Records Speed record: 1:03.80 @ 5½ furlongs : Friar Rock (1915)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 - Joe McCahey (1909, 1910) 2 - Clarence Turner (1915, 1925) 2 - Laverne Fator (1919, 1929)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 - Sam Hildreth (1915, 1921, 1929)
Most wins by an owner: 2 - James Butler (1914, 1926) 2 - Rancocas Stable (1921, 1929) 2 - Willis Sharpe Kilmer (1924, 1927)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Win $1930Vander Pool2Danny McAuliffeDave Robb McDanielTennessee Stable (Agnes Allen)5.5 F1:07.60$6,6501929Mokatam2Laverne FatorSam HildrethRancocas Stable 5.5 F1:08.00$8,1901928Dr. Freeland2John MaibenThomas J. HealeyWalter J. Salmon Sr.5.5 F1:07.20$8,6101927Sun Edwin2Eddie AmbroseHenry McDanielWillis Sharpe Kilmer5.5 F1:07.00$5,6001926Charade2Edgar BarnesJohn JohnsonJames Butler5.5 F1:06.00$5,6001925Canter2Clarence TurnerHarry RitesJ. Edwin Griffith5.5 F1:06.40$5,6001924Sunny Man2Ray CarterCharles J. CaseyWillis Sharpe Kilmer5.5 F1:07.00$5,5001923Lord Baltimore2George BabinWilliam M. GarthJoshua S. Cosden5.5 F1:07.20$5,5501922Bud Lerner2Earl SandeFrank M. TaylorJohn E. Madden5.5 F1:07.60$5,0501921Little Chief2Laverne FatorSam HildrethRancocas Stable5.5 F1:07.40$5,4501920Pluribus2Ted RiceThomas J. ShannonThomas W. O'Brien5.5 F1:07.80$4,6751919Carmandale2Laverne FatorRichard F. Carman Sr.Richard F. Carman Sr.5.5 F1:10.00$3,9001918Sweep On2Charles FairbrotherWilliam H. KarrickWilliam R. Coe5.5 F1:06.00$5,0501917Papp2Roscoe TroxlerMax HirschGeorge W. Loft5.5 F1:07.60$4,1501916Harry Kelly2Guy GarnerGeorge LandJohn W. Schorr5.5 F1:07.20$3,9001915Friar Rock2Clarence TurnerSam HildrethAugust Belmont Jr.5.5 F1:03.80$1,9251914Pebbles2John McCabeRichard C. BensonJames Butler5.5 F1:08.00$1,9251913 No races held due to the Hart–Agnew Law1911/121910Everett3Joe McCaheyGeorge CornnellQuincy Stable (James Francis Johnson)8 F1:40.00$1,1501909Arondack3Joe McCaheyJames J. McLaughlinMrs. James J. McLaughlin8 F1:40.80$8701908Golden Pearl3James Butler Jr.John SchlosserA. Jack Joyner8 F1:42.40$3,045
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