Clover Stakes Explained

Class:Discontinued stakes
Horse Race:Clover Stakes
Location:Gravesend Race Track
Gravesend, Brooklyn, New York (1888–1910)
Aqueduct Racetrack, South Ozone Park, Queens, New York (1914–1932)
Inaugurated:1888
Race Type:Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Distance:5 furlongs
Surface:Dirt
Track:left-handed
Qualification:Two-year-old fillies

The Clover Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run forty-one times at New York State's Gravesend and Aqueduct racetracks between 1888 and 1932. A race for two-year-old fillies, it was contested over a distance of five furlongs on dirt.[1] [2]

The first Clover Stakes was hosted by Gravesend Race Track from inception in 1888 and run through 1908 and then for a last time in 1910. Passage of the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation by the New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes led to a compete shutdown of racing in 1911 and 1912 in the state.[3] [4] A February 21, 1913 ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division saw horse racing return in 1913.[5] However, it was too late for the Gravesend horse racing facility and it never reopened.[6] [7]

Picked up by the operators of the Aqueduct Racetrack, the Clover Stakes returned in 1914 and would run continuously through 1932. The valuable race then fell victim to the effects of the Great Depression in the United States which forced track owners to cut costs dramatically and eliminate some events in order to provide funding support for others.

The final edition was run on June 15, 1932, and was won by Sonny Whitney's Disdainful, stablemate of his Champion and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Top Flight who won the 1931 running of the Clover Stakes.[8] [9]

Records

Speed record:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Win$
1932Disdainful2Raymond WorkmanCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney5 F0:59.60$4,500
1931Top Flight2Alfred RobertsonT. J. HealeyCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney5 F0:58.00$5,775
1930Ladana2Laverne FatorFrank M. TaylorRancocas Stable5 F1:01.20$6,600
1929Murky Cloud2Raymond WorkmanHarry Payne Whitney5 F1:00.00$6,200
1928Orissa2Laverne FatorSam HildrethRancocas Stable5 F1:00.40$6,150
1927Princess Tina2George FieldsRobert Augustus SmithAudley Farm Stable5 F0:59.60$5,675
1926Pandera2Linus McAteeHarry Payne Whitney5 F1:00.40$5,675
1925Friars Carse2Gwyn R. TompkinsGlen Riddle Farm5 F1:00.40$4,850
1924Maud Muller2John MaibenHarry Payne Whitney5 F0:58.60$4,650
1923Initiate2Linus McAteeJames G. Rowe Sr.Harry Payne Whitney5 F0:58.60$5,225
1922Sally's Alley2Albert JohnsonEugene WaylandWillis Sharpe Kilmer5 F0:59.00$4,875
1921Budana2Earl SandeSam HildrethRancocas Stable5 F0:59.80$4,725
1920Careful2Willie KelsayEugene WaylandWalter J. Salmon Sr.5 F0:59.00$3,150
1919Panoply2Eddie AmbroseAlbert SimonsHarry Payne Whitney5 F0:59.80$2,825
1918Elfin Queen2Lawrence LykeWilliam H. KarrickOneck Stable5 F0:58.40$2,825
1917Rosie O'Grady2Frank RobinsonJames G. Rowe Sr.Lewis S. Thompson5 F1:00.40$2,850
1916Bonnie Witch2Lee MinkJames G. Rowe Sr.Harry Payne Whitney5 F0:59.00$1,925
1915Celandria2Merritt C. BuxtonJames A. McLaughlinElkwood Park Stable5 F1:04.40$1,525
1914Coquette2Merritt C. BuxtonGeorge M. OdomBrookside Stable5 F1:00.40$1,160
1913align=center colspan=9Racetrack ceased operations due to the Hart–Agnew Law.
1912No races held due to the Hart–Agnew Law.
1911
1910Horizon2Stanley H. DavisFrank ErnestRichard F. Carman5 F1:01.00$1,900
1909align=center colspan=8Race not held
1908Melisande2Joe NotterJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene5 F1:00.00$2,495
1907Meggs Hill2Joe NotterJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene5 F1:01.00$2,695
1906Adoration2Walter MillerT. J. HealeyRichard T. Wilson Jr.5 F1:01.80$2,015
1905Transmute2Tommy BurnsSam HildrethEdward E. Smathers5 F1:03.00$2,525
1904Chrysitis2Fred BurlewPierre Lorillard IV5 F1:02.80$2,710
1903Contentious2Willie GannonR. Wyndham WaldenR. Wyndham Walden5 F1:01.00$2,275
1902Martie Lewis2George M. OdomPeter G. WimmerSamuel S. Brown5 F1:00.60$1,850
1901Disadvantage2Lewis SmithArthur CarterJ. W. Smythe5 F1:03.20$1,450
1900Sweet Lavender2Fred LittlefieldCharles S. Littlefield Jr.Charles Sr. & Barry Littlefield4.5 F0:55.40$1,450
1899Oneck Queen2Alonzo ClaytonWalter C. RollinsOneck Stable4.5 F0:56.00$1,450
1898High Degree2Tod SloanDavid GideonJohn Daly & David Gideon4.5 F0:56.75$1,450
1897Fayida2Skeets MartinAlbert CooperWilliam A. Chanler4.5 F0:57.00$1,420
1896Winged Foot2John J. McCaffertyJohn J. McCaffertyJohn J. McCafferty4.5 F0:55.50$2,550
1895Axiom2John LamleyFrank McCabePhilip J. Dwyer5 F1:03.00$1,790
1894Ridicule2Fred LittlefieldR. Wyndham WaldenJohn A., Alfred H., Dave H. Morris5 F1:05.00$1,550
1893Kentigerna2Willie SimmsMadison Stable (Ed Kelly)5 F1:03.75$2,950
1892Rain Drop2Fred TaralBrookwood Stable5 F1:05.00$2,265
1891Mount Vernon2Fred TaralC. Thomas Jr.Northampton Stable (William L. Scott)5 F1:04.00$2,375
1890Correction2Fred LittlefieldR. Wyndham WaldenJohn A. & Alfred H. Morris5 F1:06.75$3,445
1889Reclare2Johnny ReaganHenry Warnke Jr.Warnke & Son5 F1:04.75$3,040
1888Fides2P. GodfreyJames G. Rowe Sr.August Belmont Sr.5 F1:03.75$2,100

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Another Race for Coquette: George Odom Saddles Winner of Clover Stakes at Aqueduct . Daily Racing Form. University of Kentucky Archives. 1914-06-30 . 2019-12-28.
  2. Web site: The Clover Stakes And The Carter Handicap Features Of The Independence Day Program . Daily Racing Form. University of Kentucky Archives. 1918-07-04 . 2019-12-30.
  3. Web site: Penalties in the New York Bills . Daily Racing Form. University of Kentucky Archives. 1908-01-18. 2018-10-26.
  4. Web site: Race Track Bill Defeated In Senate; Measure Modifying Directors' Liability for Gambling Fails of Passage. The New York Times. July 14, 1911. September 2, 2017.
  5. Web site: Oral Betting Held Legal: Appellate Division of New York Supreme Court Renders Important Decision . Daily Racing Form. University of Kentucky Archives. 1913-02-22 . 2019-06-29.
  6. Web site: Destruction Wrought by Hughes . Daily Racing Form. University of Kentucky Archives. 1908-12-15. 2018-11-30.
  7. Web site: Famous Old Track is Sold . Daily Racing Form. University of Kentucky Archives. 1914-11-17. 2018-11-30.
  8. Web site: C. V. Whitney Filly Scores by a Head . New York Times, Section Sports, page 30 . 1932-06-16 . 2019-12-29.
  9. Web site: Disdainful Triumphs: Repeats Top Flights Success in Valuable Clover Stakes . Daily Racing Form. University of Kentucky Archives. 1932-06-16 . 2019-12-28.