Cowdin Stakes

The Cowdin Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack and at Belmont Park. First run in 1923 as the Junior Champion Stakes, it was renamed the Cowdin Stakes in 1941 to honor to John Cheever Cowdin, former president of Aqueduct Racetrack.

The race was for two-year-old horses and run over a distance of one mile prior to 1935, and in both 1984 and 1995; at six and a half furlongs from 1935 to 1957, and from 1997 to 2005. The race was split into two divisions in 1963, 1973, and 1976.

The Cowdin Stakes was held at:

• Belmont Park - 1956 to 1958, 1960 to 1962, from 1968 to 1990, 1998 to 2005
• Aqueduct Racetrack 1923-1956, 1959, 1962-1967, 1991-1997

At its peak, the Cowdin Stakes was one of the important East Coast races for two-year-olds, a number of which would earn the Eclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old Male Horse.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) eliminated the Cowdin Stakes after its 2005 running.

Winners of the Cowdin Stakes

• In 1955, Busher Fantasy finished first, but was disqualified.

References

• Bloodhorse magazine article on the NYRA and demise of the Cowdin Stakes