Messenger Stakes
Encyclopedia
The Messenger Stakes is an American
harness racing
event for 3-year-old pacing horses. It was organized in 1956 at Roosevelt Raceway
in Westbury
, New York (on suburban Long Island
) to join with the Cane Pace
and the Little Brown Jug
to create the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
. The race is named in honor of Messenger
(1780–1808), a horse foaled in England and later brought to the United States. As a sire, virtually all harness horses in the U.S. can be traced back to Messenger.
One of the preeminent events for harness racing horses in North America
, the race was held annually at Roosevelt Raceway until it closed down in 1988. From 1988 to 1994, the race changed locations several times, from Yonkers Raceway
(Yonkers, NY) to Freestate Raceway to Rosecroft Raceway
(both in Maryland). In 1995, it moved to The Meadows Racetrack in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
area. In 2004, the race was supposed to be moved back to Yonkers Raceway
, however, due to construction at the track, the race was moved to Harrington Raceway in Delaware
, where the event has been held since 2004. It is presently scheduled to be raced at Yonkers on November 12, 2011, for a total estimated purse of US$750,000.
Much like the Little Brown Jug, the Messenger was raced in heat events, meaning a horse had to win an elimination heat and the final on the same day to be declared the winner. Starting from 2006 at Yonkers, there will be eliminations, if necessary, one week prior to the event.
Previous winners:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
event for 3-year-old pacing horses. It was organized in 1956 at Roosevelt Raceway
Roosevelt Raceway (harness racing)
Roosevelt Raceway was a ½-mile harness racing dirt then later synthetic track located in Westbury, New York, which operated from September 2, 1940 until July 15, 1988. It was the original home of the Messenger Stakes, part of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers. The raceway hosted the...
in Westbury
Westbury, New York
Westbury incorporated in 1932 as a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 15,146 at the 2010 census.The Village of Westbury is in the Town of North Hempstead....
, New York (on suburban Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
) to join with the Cane Pace
Cane Pace
The Cane Pace is a harness horse race run annually since 1955. In 1956 the race joined with the Little Brown Jug and the Messenger Stakes to become the first leg in the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers....
and the Little Brown Jug
Little Brown Jug (horse racing)
The Little Brown Jug is a harness race for three-year-old pacing standardbreds hosted by the Delaware County Agricultural Society since 1946 at the County Fairgrounds in Delaware, Ohio. The race takes place every year on the third Thursday after Labor Day. Along with the Hambletonian, a race for...
to create the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
The Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers consists of the following horse races:#Cane Pace, held at Freehold Raceway in Freehold, New Jersey#Little Brown Jug, held at the Delaware County Fair in Delaware, Ohio...
. The race is named in honor of Messenger
Messenger (horse)
Messenger was an English Thoroughbred stallion bred by a John Pratt and imported into the newly formed United States of America just after the American Revolution.-Breeding:...
(1780–1808), a horse foaled in England and later brought to the United States. As a sire, virtually all harness horses in the U.S. can be traced back to Messenger.
One of the preeminent events for harness racing horses in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, the race was held annually at Roosevelt Raceway until it closed down in 1988. From 1988 to 1994, the race changed locations several times, from Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers Raceway, founded in 1899 as the Empire City Race Track, is a one-half-mile standardbred harness racing dirt track and New York state-approved slots racino located at the intersection of Central Park Avenue and Yonkers Avenue in Yonkers, New York near the New York City border...
(Yonkers, NY) to Freestate Raceway to Rosecroft Raceway
Rosecroft Raceway
Rosecroft Raceway is a harness horse racing track located in Oxon Hill, Maryland, in the United States.-History:William E. Miller, a noted harness racer and horse breeder in the mid-20th century founded Rosecroft Raceway in 1947. It was the only known raceway to be owned by horse owners, horse...
(both in Maryland). In 1995, it moved to The Meadows Racetrack in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
area. In 2004, the race was supposed to be moved back to Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers Raceway, founded in 1899 as the Empire City Race Track, is a one-half-mile standardbred harness racing dirt track and New York state-approved slots racino located at the intersection of Central Park Avenue and Yonkers Avenue in Yonkers, New York near the New York City border...
, however, due to construction at the track, the race was moved to Harrington Raceway in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, where the event has been held since 2004. It is presently scheduled to be raced at Yonkers on November 12, 2011, for a total estimated purse of US$750,000.
Much like the Little Brown Jug, the Messenger was raced in heat events, meaning a horse had to win an elimination heat and the final on the same day to be declared the winner. Starting from 2006 at Yonkers, there will be eliminations, if necessary, one week prior to the event.
Previous winners:
- 1956 - Belle Acton
- 1957 - Meadow Lands
- 1958 - O'Brien Hanover
- 1959 - Adios ButlerAdios ButlerThe horse Adios Butler, also known as "The Butler" , was a North American harness racing champion.Sired by the great Standardbred Adios with an obscure broodmare named Debby Hanover, Adios Butler was trained and driven by Clint Hodgins...
- 1960 - Countess Adios
- 1961 - Adios Don
- 1962 - Thor Hanover
- 1963 - OvertrickOvertrickOvertrick was a champion U.S. standardbred racehorse who was memorable for his breaking of many existing world records and his classic duels with champion pacer Meadow Skipper....
- 1964 - Race Time
- 1965 - Bret HanoverBret HanoverBret Hanover was an outstanding American Standardbred racehorse. He was also one of only nine pacers to win harness racing's Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers and achieved a fine career total of 62 wins from 68 starts...
- 1966 - Romeo Hanover
- 1967 - Romulus Hanover
- 1968 - Rum Customer
- 1969 - Bye Bye Sam
- 1970 - Most Happy Fella
- 1971 - AlbatrossAlbatross (horse)Albatross was a bay Standardbred horse by Meadow Skipper. He was voted Harness Horse of the Year in 1971 and 1972. Albatross won 59 of 71 starts, including the Cane Pace and Messenger Stakes in 1971, earned $1,201,477. It was, however, as a sire that he really made his mark...
- 1972 - Silent Majority
- 1973 - Valiant Bret
- 1974 - Armbro Omaha
- 1975 - Bret's Champ
- 1976 - Windshield Wiper
- 1977 - Governor Skipper
- 1978 - Abercrombie
- 1979 - Hot Hitter
- 1980 - NiatrossNiatrossNiatross was an American champion standardbred race horse who many believe was the greatest harness horse of all time.The son of Albatross out of the mare Niagara Dream, Niatross was born on March 30, 1977...
- 1981 - Seahawk Hanover
- 1982 - Cam FellaCam FellaCam Fella was a bay pacing horse by Most Happy Fella out of Nan Cam by Bret Hanover. He was trained and driven originally by Doug Arthur and later by Pat Crowe. His best time for the mile was 1:53.1...
- 1983 - Ralph Hanover
- 1984 - Troublemaker
- 1985 - Pershing Square
- 1986 - Amity Chef
- 1987 - Redskin
- 1988 - Matt's ScooterMatt's ScooterMatt's Scooter is a bay pacing ridgeling by Direct Scooter out of Ellen's Glory by Meadow Skipper. He was born in 1985 and competed as a pacer in harness racing, winning the Meadowlands Pace, Prix d'Été, Confederation Cup, Messenger Stakes, American National Stakes, Breeders Crown, Driscoll Series,...
- 1989 - Sandman Hanover
- 1990 - Jake And Elwood
- 1991 - Die LaughingDie LaughingDie Laughing is the fourth stand-up comedy album by Doug Stanhope. Released in 2002 by Stand Up! Records.-Track listing:#"Stillborn Liver"- 2:05#"DUI/MADD"- 6:33#"Drugs Are for Kids"- 3:52#"Second Hand Bullshit"- 1:41#"Hair in My Food"- 3:16...
- 1992 - Western Hanover
- 1993 - Riyadh
- 1994 - Cam's Card Shark
- 1995 - David's Pass
- 1996 - Go For Grins
- 1997 - Western Dreamer
- 1998 - Fit For Life
- 1999 - Blissful Hall
- 2000 - Ain't No Stopn Him
- 2001 - Bagel Beach Boy
- 2002 - Allamerican Ingot
- 2003 - No Pan Intended
- 2004 - Metropolitan
- 2005 - Gryffindor
- 2006 - Palone Ranger
- 2007 - Always A Virgin
- 2008 - SomebeachsomewhereSomebeachsomewhereSomebeachsomewhere is a standardbred racehorse who was the equal fastest horse ever with a time of 1:46.4 and earned $3,221,299. In 2008 Somebeachsomewhere had the highest earnings by pacer in single season of $2.4 million...
- 2009 - If I Can Dream
- 2010 - Rock N Roll Heaven