Brighton Junior Stakes

Discontinued Stakes
LocationBrighton Beach Race Course, Brighton Beach, New York
Inaugurated1900–1910
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Race information
Distance6 furlongs (3/4 mile)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationTwo-years-old

The Brighton Junior Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race first run on August 7, 1900 at Brighton Beach Race Course in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York. A race for horses two year-olds, it was run on dirt over a distance of six furlongs.[1]

The inaugural running of this race was won by Commando, a two time American Horse of the Year and a future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee.[2][3] Commando's son Colin won the Brighton Junior Stakes in 1907 and would go on to retire undefeated with fifteen wins. His 1907 performances were a major factor in his sire earning Leading sire in North America honors that year. Like Commando, Colin would also be a two time American Horse of the Year and a Hall of Fame inductee.[4][5]

On June 11, 1908, the Republican controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes passed the Hart–Agnew anti-wagering bill. The owners of Brighton Beach Race Course and other racing facilities in New York State struggled to stay in business without wagering revenue. Racetrack owners had no choice but to drastically reduce the purse money being paid out which saw important stakes worth as little as twenty-five percent of what they were just two years earlier.[6] Although the Brighton Junior Stakes had been scheduled for 1908, all stakes races were canceled at Brighton Beach Race Course and put on hiatus.[7]

There was no Brighton Junior Stakes in 1908 and 1909 but the following year Empire City Race Track took over the race dates belonging to the Brighton Beach Race Course and in 1910 hosted the Brighton Junior Stakes. The race was won by Helene, a filly newly acquired by Frederick Herman Milden.[8] However, further restrictive legislation was passed by the New York Legislature in 1910 which resulted in the deepening of the financial crisis for track operators and led to a complete shutdown of racing across the state during 1911 and 1912. When a Court ruling saw racing return in 1913 it was too late for the Brighton Beach facility and it never reopened.[9]

  1. ^ "Condensed History Of The Brighton Junior Stakes". Daily Racing Form. 1910-07-16. Retrieved 2018-11-04 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  2. ^ "Racing at Brighton". The Times. Richmond, Virginia 1900-08-08. 1900-08-08. Retrieved 2018-11-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. ^ "National Museum of Racing - Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2006-12-30. Retrieved 2006-11-25. Commando at the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
  4. ^ "Colins Fifth Victory: Keene's Unbeaten Commando Colt Wins Brighton Junior Stakes". Daily Racing Form. 1907-07-28. Retrieved 2018-11-04 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  5. ^ "Colin". Racingmuseum.org. 1956-01-01. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  6. ^ "Striking Falling off in Value of Ten Greatest Stakes". Daily Racing Form. 1910-07-16. Retrieved 2018-10-15 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  7. ^ "Brighton Beach Stake Events Canceled". San Francisco Call. 1908-06-24. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  8. ^ "Helene Captures Race". Washington Herald. 1910-07-17. Sporting Section. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  9. ^ "Destruction Wrought by Hughes". Daily Racing Form. 1908-12-15. Retrieved 2018-10-18 – via University of Kentucky Archives.