The Long Branch Stakes is an American
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...
held annually at
Monmouth Park Racetrack
Monmouth Park Racetrack is an American race track for thoroughbred horse racing in Oceanport, New Jersey, United States. It is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and is operated under a five-year lease as a partnership with ...
in
Oceanport, New Jersey
Oceanport is a borough situated in the Jersey Shore region, within Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, specifically Central Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 6,150, an increase of 318 (+5.5 ...
. Open to three-year-olds, it is contested on dirt over a distance of miles (8.5
furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to any of 660 foot (unit), feet, 220 yards, 40 rod (unit), rods, 10 chain (unit), chains, or a ...
s). It is generally viewed as a prep race for the
Haskell Invitational
The Haskell Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of miles on the dirt held annually in July at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The event is a signature event at Monmouth ...
. The race is named after nearby
Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch is a beachside city in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 31,667, an increase of 948 (+3.1%) from the 2010 census count of 30,719, which in turn reflect ...
.
First run in 1878, it was raced annually through 1893 as the Long Branch Handicap after which the race track closed its gates. The race was revived in 1947, following the 1946 reopening of the new Monmouth Park. The race was discontinued after the 1958 running—as a
handicap, it was not drawing large fields. In 1963, it was restarted as the Long Branch Stakes.
Past winners
The race was run annually from 1878 to 1893 (16 editions), and was later run annually from 1947 to 1958 (12 editions). After a four-year hiatus, the race was resumed in 1963, and has been run annually since then. The 2019 running was the 85th edition of the race.
[
]
1963–present
Since being resumed in 1963, the race has been open to three-year-olds. In 1963, the distance was three-quarters of a mile (six furlongs). From 1964 through 1989, the distance was one mile, some years run on dirt and some years run on turf.[ Since 1990, the race has been run at a mile distance on dirt.
* 2019 – Joevia (Nik Juarez)]Gabriel Saez
Gabriel Saez (born February 1, 1988, in Port Darien, Panama) is a Panamanian horse racing jockey. He began his riding career in his native country in 2004, becoming the leading apprentice jockey in 2005. Saez moved to the United States in Februa ...
)
* 2015 – Stanford ( Joe Bravo)
* 2014 – Irish You Well (Orlando Bacochica)
* 2013 – Micromanage ( Joe Bravo)
* 2012 – My Adonis (Elvis Trujillo
Elvis Raúl Trujillo (born 7 October, 1983) is a Panamanian jockey in United States, American Thoroughbred horse racing best known for riding Maryfield (horse), Maryfield to victory in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. He is known for b ...
)
* 2011 – Rattlesnake Bridge ( Eddie Castro)
* 2010 – Trappe Shot ( Alan Garcia)
* 2009 – Atomic Rain ( Joe Bravo)
* 2008 – Truth Rules (Stewart Elliott
Stewart Elliott (born March 1, 1965) is a Canadian jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.
Elliott was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in horse racing; his father was a jockey for many years, his mother rode horse show, show horses an ...
)
* 2007 – First Defence (Javier Castellano
Javier Castellano (born October 23, 1977) is a Venezuelan jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.
Castellano won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey four times in a row from 2013 to 2016. In 2023 he won two legs of the American Tripl ...
)
* 2006 – Praying for Cash ( José A. Vélez Jr.)
* 2005 – Park Avenue Ball (Chris DeCarlo)
* 2004 – Lion Heart ( Joe Bravo)
* 2003 – Max Forever ( José C. Ferrer)
* 2002 – Puck (Manuel Aguilar)
* 2001 – Burning Roma ( Rick Wilson)
* 2000 – Thistyranthasclass ( José A. Vélez Jr.)
* 1999 – Ghost Story
* 1998 – Favorite Trick
* 1997 – Jules (sire of Peace Rules
Peace Rules (bred and foaled in Florida at Newchance Farm on April 26, 2000), is a multiple Grade I-winning American Thoroughbred race horse. By Jules, a "black type" winner and classic sire in Brazil, Peace Rules' grandsire was Forty Niner, a ...
)
* 1996 – Dr. Caton
* 1995 – Pyramid Peak
* 1994 – Meadow Flight
* 1993 – Bert's Bubbleator
* 1992 – Scudan (By 13 3/4 lengths over odds-on choice)
* 1991 – Sultry Song
* 1990 – Tees Prospect
* 1989 – Orange Sunshine
* 1988 – Mi Selecto
* 1987 – I'm So Bad
* 1986 – Lyphard Line
* 1985 – Bea Quality
* 1984 – Dr Schwarztsman
* 1983 – Smart Style (1st division), Princilian (2nd division)
* 1982 – Prince Westport (1st division), Play for Love (2nd division)
* 1981 – De La Rose
De La Rose (1978–2001) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred in Kentucky, she was the daughter of English Triple Crown champion Nijinsky. Her grandsire was U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Northern Dancer, and her damsire was anothe ...
(filly)
* 1980 – No Bend
* 1979 – Commodore
* 1978 – Mac Diarmida
* 1977 – P R Man
* 1976 – Pastry
* 1975 – Lee Gary
* 1974 – Silver Florin (1st Division), Hat Full (2nd Division)
* 1973 – Bemo
* 1972 – Deep Cut
* 1971 – Gleaming
* 1970 – Summer Resort
* 1969 – North Flight
* 1968 – Royal Trace
* 1967 – Blasting Charge (1st Division), Fort Marcy (2nd Division)
* 1966 – Assagai
Assagai was an Afro-rock band, active in the early 1970s in London, whose relatively short career produced two albums recorded in 1971. It has been described as "the second best-known African group of the late 60s/early 70s in Britain" after Osi ...
* 1965 – Carry Forward
* 1964 – Phantom Shot
* 1963 – Gray Pet ( Steve Brooks)
Mid-20th century
These races were run over a distance of miles, open to three-year-olds and up.
* 1958 – Little Hermit (Karl Korte)
* 1957 – Beau Fond ( Howard Grant)
* 1956 – Skipper Bill (Joe Regalbuto)
* 1955 – Revolt ( Henry Moreno)
* 1954 – Brown Booter (Bill Hartack
William John Hartack Jr. (December 9, 1932 – November 26, 2007) was an American jockey.
Early life and career
Referred to by the media as both "Bill" and "Willie" (Hartack detested being called "Willie") during his racing career, Hartack gr ...
)
* 1953 – Bit O Fate ( Nick Shuk)
* 1952 – General Staff ( James Stout)
* 1951 – Sheilas Reward (Dave Gorman)
* 1950 – Reveille (Ovie Scurlock
Ovie Scurlock (November 11, 1918 – June 14, 2016) was an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing.
Born in Paintsville, Kentucky, Scurlock began his professional riding career in 1938 at Fairmount Park Racetrack in Collinsville, Illinoi ...
)
* 1949 – Whirling Fox (Bobby Bernhardt)
* 1948 – Beauchef ( Ruperto Donoso)
* 1947 – Polynesian (W. D. Wright)
19th century
These races were run at a distance of mile (10 furlongs), and not restricted to three-year-olds.
* 1893 – Candelabra
* 1892 – Demuth
* 1891 – Eon
* 1890 – Reporter
* 1889 – Tarragon
* 1888 – Belvidere
* 1887 – Hidalgo
* 1886 – Rupert
* 1885 – Richmond
* 1884 – Eolist
* 1883 – Monitor
* 1882 – Monitor
* 1881 – Ripple
* 1880 – Report
* 1879 – Jericho
* 1878 – Little Reb
References
{{reflist, 30em
External links
Long Branch Stakes archive
at paulickreport.com
Horse races in New Jersey
Graded stakes races in the United States
Flat horse races for three-year-olds
Recurring sporting events established in 1878
Monmouth Park Racetrack
1878 establishments in New Jersey