| Discontinued stakes race | |
| Location | Belmont Park Elmont, New York, USA |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1903–1982 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs) |
| Track | Dirt, left-handed |
| Qualification | Two-year-olds |
The Youthful Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses run between 1903 and 1982. It was raced on dirt at three different tracks in the New York City area beginning with the Jamaica and Aqueduct Racetracks, then in 1972 to Belmont Park where it remained until being canceled after the 1982 running.[1] The inaugural edition in 1903 was won by Hazelwood with the race suspended until 1913.[2] [3]
The Youthful Stakes was established in an era when North American races like the Belmont Futurity Stakes, Tremont Stakes, Remsen Stakes, Arlington-Washington Futurity Stakes, Laurel Futurity Stakes, and Coronation Futurity Stakes for two-year-old horses were often the richest and most prestigious of the year. Among its most notable winners were U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductees Man O' War, Native Dancer, and Affirmed.[4][5][6]
In 1950, the Youthful Stakes was run in two divisions.