Great American Stakes

The Great American Stakes is a defunct American Thoroughbred horse race last run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to two-year-old horses, it was last competed at a distance of five and a half furlongs.

It was inaugurated as a five furlong race at the Gravesend Race Track at Gravesend on Coney Island, New York. A legislated ban on parimutuel betting by the State of New York resulted in the cancellation of the race in 1911 and 1912 and the Gravesend track never reopened. The race was moved to the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York was still there in 1973, By 1977, the event was being hosted by Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

Of interest, in the 1936 running of the Great American Stakes, Fairy Hill defeated War Admiral and in 1977, Alydar easily beat Affirmed.

Winners (partial list)

References

• Video at YouTube of the 1977 Great American Stakes
• May 28, 1890 New York Times article on the 1890 Great American Stakes