Bertram F. Bongard Stakes

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The Bertram F. Bongard Stakes is an ungraded stakes race for Thoroughbred two-year-olds run in the fall at Belmont Park, New York.

At a distance of 7 furlongs, it will be in its 31th running in 2008. The Bongard is a major prep race for up-and-coming young horses and offers a purse of $100,000. Though not restricted to New York bred horses, this is not an open race: it is considered an event on the New York bred schedule.

This race was run at a mile and an eighth prior to 1983. Also from 1984 to 1988. It went at seven furlongs in 1983, and from 1996 to the present. It was set at a mile and a sixteenth from 1989 to 1993 and at six furlongs in 1994 and 1995. Run for three year olds and up prior to 1984, now it's run for two year olds only.

Named for Bertram F. Bongard who was a founding director of Eastern New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, it was for three-year-olds and up prior to 1984, but is now strictly for two-year-olds. Before 1984, it was called the Bertram F. Bongard Handicap.

[edit] Past winners