Marguerite Stakes Explained

Class:Discontinued stakes
Horse Race:Marguerite Stakes
Location:Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland
Inaugurated:1945
Race Type:Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Distance:1 miles (8.5 furlongs)
Surface:Dirt
Track:left-handed
Qualification:Two-year-old fillies

The Marguerite Stakes was a Thoroughbred horse race at Pimlico Race Course, in Baltimore, Maryland run between 1945 and 1965. A race on dirt for two-year-old fillies, it was created as a companion event to the Pimlico Futurity and declared at the time to be one of the richest of its kind in the United States.[1] It was named in honor of Marguerite, one of the great broodmares in racing history. Marguerite was the dam of four significant runners including Triple Crown winner and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Gallant Fox.[2]

Historical notes

The inaugural Marguerite Stakes was won by William L. Brann's Challadette, a daughter of the outstanding sire Challenger II whose progeny includes U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductees Challedon and Gallorette plus the National Champion fily Bridal Flower.[3] Challadette came into the race having already won the Maryland Futurity in which she beat her male counterparts.[4]

Bed O' Roses easily won the 1949 Marguerite Stakes by three and a half lengths after coming from near the back of the field. She would finish the year as American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and in 1951 would earn another National title. Bed O' Roses career put her in elite company with induction in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame.[5]

Marshua dominated the penultimate edition of the Marguerite Stakes winning in a new race record time by six lengths under jockey Wayne Chambers.[6]

The Marguerite Stakes final edition was run on November 27, 1965 and was won by Swift Lady.[7]

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$
1965Swift Lady2John L. RotzIvan H. ParkeHarbor View Farm11:45.80$46,520
1964Marshua2Wayne ChambersNorman R. McLeodMrs. Wallace Gilroy11:45.80$42,516
1963Is Ours2Joe CulmoneEdward I. Kelly Sr.Brookfield Farm11:46.60$26,884
1962Wise Nurse2Willie HarmatzJ. Elliott BurchBrookmeade Stable (Peggy & George Cheston)11:45.60$
1961Upswept2Braulio BaezaRobert L. DotterJames Cox Brady Jr.11:46.80$26,617
1960Primonetta2Bill HartackJames P. ConwayDarby Dan Farm11:46.40$22,719
1959Airmans Guide2Bill HartackBurton B. WilliamsHugh A. Grant Sr.11:46.60$
1958Toluene2Karl KorteEdward J. YowellHarold H. Polk11:47.40$16,100
1957Wendasy2Sidney ColeJames RadneyKeswick Stables11:45.80$14,200
1956Romanita2John H. SkellyFrank SandersReverie Knoll Farm (Freeman Keyes)11:45.00$7,400
1955align=center colspan=9Race not held
1954Proud Pomp2Frank A. SmithThomas J. KellyAda L. Rice11:47.40$34,025
1953Make A Play2Bennie GreenThomas A. KellyPin Oak Farm11:47.60$8,575
1952-1Grecian Queen2Eric GuerinJames P. ConwayFlorence Whitaker11:48.00$17,000
1952-2Mac Bea2Bill BolandMax HirschKing Ranch11:47.80$17,100
1951No Score2Ovie ScurlockBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.11:46.80$29,640
1950Carolina Queen2Frank BoneE. H. "Ned" GainesCary C. Boshamer11:47.20$28,794
1949Bed O' Roses2Eric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt Jr.11:45.80$
1948Alsab's Day2Robert J. MartinH. C. "Red" DodsonMrs. Albert Sabath11:45.00$27,640
1947Whirl Some2Douglas DodsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm11:46.80$28,025
1946Cosmic Missile2Eddie ArcaroCircle M Farm (Edward S. Moore)11:45.20$24,640
1945Challadette2Arnold KirklandEdward A. ChristmasWilliam L. Brann11:48.20$22,095

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Marguerite, New Pimlico Stake. The Maryland Horse, page 10. 1942-11-01. 2019-01-01.
  2. Web site: Marguerite Leading Brood Mare, Says Woodward. Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives . 1939-07-12. 2019-06-07.
  3. Web site: Triumphs and Troubles. Maryland Horse, Vol. 10, No. 12, page 6. 1945-12-01. 2020-06-11.
  4. Web site: Challadette Wins Feature at Laurel. New York Times Section Sports, page 20. 1945-10-04. 2020-06-11.
  5. Web site: Pimlico Results. New York Times, Section Sports, page 9. 1949-10-30. 2020-06-08.
  6. Web site: Marshua, 2 to 5, Takes $67,160 Marguerite Stakes at Pimlico by 6 Lengths. New York Times. 1964-11-22. 2020-06-08.
  7. Web site: Swift Lady, $12.20, Triumphs in $73,320 Marguerite Stakes at Pimlico. New York Times, Section Sports, page 7. 1965-11-28. 2020-06-07.