The Cowdin Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1923 through 2005 at Aqueduct Racetrack and at Belmont Park which at one time was a Grade 1 event.Bloodhorse.com October 13, 2002 article on the 80th running of the Cowdin Stakes Retrieved September 21, 2018Equibase statistics on the Cowdin Stakes 1976–2005 Retrieved September 21, 2018
Background The Cowdin was first run in 1923 as the Junior Champion Stakes, a name taken from a very important race for two-year-olds which had been inaugurated in 1898 at Gravesend Race Track. The Junior Champion Stakes at Gravesend ended with the 1908 running when the racetrack was forced to close after the administration of Republican Governor Charles Evans Hughes signed into law the Hart–Agnew bill which effectively banned all racetrack wagering in New York State. The new Junior Champion Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack was renamed the Cowdin Stakes in 1941 to honor John Cheever Cowdin, former president of the racetrack.Brooklyn Daily Eagle, from Brooklyn, New York, September 10, 1943 page 16 article on the history of the Cowdin Stakes Retrieved August 26, 2018
At its peak, the Cowdin Stakes was one of the important East Coast races for two-year-olds,St. Petersburg Times – September 17, 1942 article titled Cowdin Stakes Important Race For Juveniles Retrieved September 22, 2018 a number of which would earn American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors. As well, 1929 winner Gallant Fox went on to win the 1930 U.S. Triple Crown and would be inducted into the U. S. Racing Hall of Fame.Gallant Fox at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Retrieved September 22, 2018 Other winners who would become Hall of Fame members were Twenty Grand (1930), Hill Prince (1949), Dr. Fager (1966), Foolish Pleasure (1974), Easy Goer (1988).National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame – Horses Retrieved September 22, 2018
The race was split into two divisions in 1963, 1973, and 1976.
The Cowdin Stakes was held at: Aqueduct Racetrack : 1923–1956, 1959, 1962–1967, 1991–1997 Belmont Park : 1956 to 1958, 1960 to 1962, from 1968 to 1990, 1998 to 2005
Records Speed record: 1:14.35 @ 6.5 furlongs – Coronado's Quest (1997) 1:21.40 @ 7 furlongs – Devil's Bag (1983) 1:36.60 @ 1 mile (8 furlongs) – Sailor Beware (1934) & Chief's Crown (1984)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Jorge Velásquez (1971, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1985)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 – James E. Fitzsimmons (1926, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1939, 1940) 6 – Woody Stephens (1950, 1962, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1983)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – Wheatley Stable (1927, 1939, 1968) 3 – Greentree Stable (1930, 1933, 1934) 3 – Ogden Phipps (1940, 1986, 1988)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Furlongs/ Miles) Time Gr.2005He's Got Grit2Jerry BaileySteve AsmussenCurtis C. Green6.5 f1:17.75L/R2004Flamenco2Jerry BaileyTodd PletcherPeachtree Stable (John Fort)6.5 f1:17.20L/R2003 Smokume2Shannon UskeH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm6.5 f1:17.05L/R2002Boston Bull2John VelazquezTodd PletcherDogwood Stable6.5 f1:16.37G32001Sunray Spirit2Eibar CoaEoin G. HartyGodolphin6.5 f1:19.16G32000Fistfite 2Richard MiglioreWilliam Badgett Jr.Peter Callahan 6.5 f1:15.63G31999Twilight Time2Mike LuzziLinda L. RiceChar-Mari Stable (Charles & Marianne Hesse)6.5 f1:17.00G21998Successful Appeal2Richard MiglioreJohn C. KimmelStarview Stable (racing partnership)6.5 f1:17.11G21997Coronado's Quest2Mike E. SmithC. R. McGaughey III Stuart S. Janney III6.5 f1:14.35G21996Just A Cat2Joe BravoJames T. RyersonNoreen Carpenito 7 f1:23.00G21995Gator Dancer2Eddie MaplePatrick J. KellyFox Ridge Farm, Inc. (Rick Porter)1 m1:37.09G21994Old Tascosa2Carlos Lopez Jr.Walter C. ReeseNoreen Carpenito7 f1:24.60G21993You And I2Craig PerretStanley M. HoughTriumviri Stable (E. Paul Robsham)7 f1:22.60G21992Wallenda2Herb McCauleyFrank A. AlexanderDogwood Stable7 f1:24.00G21991Salt Lake2Mike E. SmithD. Wayne LukasWilliam T. Young7 f1:22.60G21990Scan2Jerry BaileyFlint S. SchulhoferWilliam Haggin Perry7 f1:23.40G21989Adjudicating2Jacinto VásquezC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps7 f1:23.60G11988Easy Goer2Pat DayC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps7 f1:23.60G11987Tejano2Jacinto VásquezD. Wayne LukasLloyd R. French Jr.7 f1:23.40G11986Polish Navy2Randy RomeroC. R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps7 f1:22.80G11985Ketoh2Jorge VelásquezD. Wayne LukasHelen C. Alexander7 f1:23.80G11984Chief's Crown2Don MacBethRoger LaurinStar Crown Stable (Andrew Rosen, et al.)1 m1:36.60G11983Devil's Bag2Eddie MapleWoody StephensHickory Tree Stable7 f1:21.40G21982 What's Dat2Eddie MapleWoody StephensHickory Tree Stable7 f1:24.40G21981Native Raja2Chris McCarronJoseph S. NashGrandview Stable (Harry Massey)7 f1:23.80G21980Lord Avie2Jorge VelásquezDaniel PerlsweigDavid Simon7 f1:23.60G21979Rockhill Native2John OldhamHerbert K. StevensHarry A. Oak7 f1:23.60G21978Tim The Tiger2Jeffrey FellJohn M. VeitchCalumet Farm7 f1:22.60G21977Quadratic2Jorge VelásquezWoody StephensAugust Belmont IV7 f1:24.60G21976Sail To Rome2Jeffrey FellWoody StephensLucille Stephens7 f1:22.80G21976For The Moment2Eddie MapleLeRoy JolleyGerald Robins7 f1:22.40G21975Honest Pleasure2Jorge VelásquezLeRoy JolleyBertram R. Firestone7 f1:22.60G21974Foolish Pleasure2Jacinto VásquezLeRoy JolleyJohn L. Greer7 f1:22.60G21973-1Protagonist2Angel Santiago John P. Campo Elmendorf Farm7 f1:23.00G21973-2Lord Rebeau2Heliodoro GustinesWilliam HightowerPaul Cresci7 f1:22.80G21972Step Nicely2Ángel Cordero Jr.H. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm7 f1:22.601971Loquacious Don2Jorge VelásquezJohn W. JacobsNelson Bunker Hunt7 f1:24.201970Hoist The Flag2Jean CruguetSidney Watters Jr.Jane Forbes Clark7 f1:22.401969Silent Screen2John L. RotzJ. Bowes BondElberon Farm7 f1:23.801968King Emperor2Braulio BaezaEdward A. NeloyWheatley Stable7 f1:22.601967Iron Ruler2Laffit Pincay Jr.Edward J. YowellOctober House Farm7 f1:21.601966Dr. Fager2Bill ShoemakerJohn A. NerudTartan Stable7 f1:24.801965Advocator2Eldon NelsonClyde TrouttAda L. Rice7 f1:23.601964Tom Rolfe2Ron TurcotteFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Powhatan Stable7 f1:23.801963Chieftain2Bill HartackFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Powhatan Stable7 f1:23.801963Dunfee2Ray BroussardJoseph M. BolleroDorothy Comiskey Rigney7 f1:24.201962Never Bend2Manuel YcazaWoody StephensCain Hoy Stable7 f1:23.201961Jaipur2Eddie ArcaroBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.7 f1:22.601960Carry Back2Bill HartackJack A. PriceKatherine Price7 f1:24.001959Warfare2Ismael ValenzuelaHack RossBellehurst Stable (Clifton Jones Jr.)7 f1:22.601958Crafty Skipper2Bobby UsseryLucien LaurinCharfran Stable (Charles & Frances Cohen)7 f1:23.001957Jewel's Reward2Bill HartackIvan H. ParkeMaine Chance Farm6.5 f1:17.601956Mister Jive2Hedley WoodhouseGeorge M. CarterJohn L. Applebaum6.5 f1:17.201955Noorsaga*2Eric GuerinSherrill W. WardMrs. C. Ulrick Bay6.5 f1:17.601954Summer Tan2Eric GuerinSherrill W. WardDorothy Firestone Galbreath6.5 f1:16.001953Fisherman2Hedley WoodhouseSylvester VeitchC. V. Whitney6.5 f1:17.001952Invigorator2Dave GormanNorman R. McLeodSaxon Stable6.5 f1:17.601951Eternal Moon2Conn McCrearyDaverne EmeryEmerald Hill Stable6.5 f1:18.601950Away Away2Ovie ScurlockWoody StephensWoodvale Farm6.5 f1:18.801949Hill Prince2Eddie ArcaroCasey HayesChristopher Chenery6.5 f1:16.601948Algasir2Ted AtkinsonJohn H. SkirvinFlorence L. Clark6.5 f1:19.801947My Request2Eddie ArcaroJames P. ConwayBen F. Whitaker6.5 f1:18.001946Cosmic Bomb2Ruperto DonosoWillie BoothWilliam G. Helis Sr.6.5 f1:19.801945Knockdown2Douglas DodsonR. Thomas SmithMaine Chance Farm6.5 f1:18.001944Best Effort2Ted AtkinsonRay Kindred Claud C. Tanner6.5 f1:18.601943Alorter2John DeeringJohn H. SkirvinAlwin C. Ernst6.5 f1:18.401942Slide Rule2Conn McCrearyCecil WilhelmWilliam E. Boeing6.5 f1:17.201941Requested2Jack WestropeJ. H. "Blackie" McCooleBen F. Whitaker6.5 f1:17.601940King Cole2James StoutJames E. FitzsimmonsOgden Phipps6.5 f1:17.001939Merry Knight2Ronnie NashJames E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable6.5 f1:18.401938El Chico2Nick WallMatthew Peter BradyWilliam Ziegler Jr.6.5 f1:18.001937Can't Wait2Lester BalaskiJ. Thomas TaylorMyron Selznick6.5 f1:18.001936Pompoon2Harry RichardsCyrus F. ClarkeJerome H. Louchheim6.5 f1:18.201935Ned Reigh2 Raymond WorkmanHenry McDanielWillis Sharpe Kilmer6.5 f1:18.601934Sailor Beware2Raymond WorkmanWilliam BrennanGreentree Stable1 m1:36.601933First Minstrel2Silvio CoucciWilliam BrennanGreentree Stable1 m1:38.601932Repaid2Pete WallsEdward PhelanQuincy Stable (James Francis Johnson)1 m1:39.001931Faireno2Tommy MalleyJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 m1:38.601930Twenty Grand2Charley KurtsingerThomas W. MurphyGreentree Stable1 m1:38.001929Gallant Fox2John MaibenJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 m1:38.001928Perkins2Harold ThurberGeorge M. OdomMarshall Field III1 m1:39.001927Nixie2Phil GoodwinJames E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1 m1:38.401926Bonnie Maginn2Danny McAuliffeJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 m1:42.201925Mars2Harry RichardsRobert A. SmithWalter M. Jeffords Sr.1 m1:37.001924Star Lore2Clyde PonceWilliam J. SpiersWilliam Ziegler Jr.6.5 f1:18.601923Mr. Mutt2Harold ThurberAlbert B. GordonBud Fisher1 m1:38.80
In 1955, Busher Fantasy finished first, but was disqualified.
References