September Stakes (United States)

First run on September 4, 1884, the race was won by George Lorillard's Louisette. Under Canadian jockey Harry Blaylock the filly led all the way and won with ease.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1884/09/05/archives/four-winning-favorites-six-good-contests-on-the-sheepshead-bay.html |title=Four Winning Favorites – Louisette Never Headed |work=New York Times|page=2|date=1884-09-05|accessdate=2020-02-24}}

The Thomas Clay McDowell colt Batten won the 1899 edition by 20 lengths in a canter with a time of 2:21 4/5 that at the time was only a fraction off the track record.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1899/09/08/archives/sheepshead-bay-rages-king-barleycorn-gives-the-talent-a-surprising.html |title=Sheepshead Bay Races |work=New York Times|page=5|date=1899-09-08 |accessdate=2020-04-07}}

The September Stakes would produce three winners whose racing careers achieved the sport's ultimate acknowledgement of greatness with induction into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame. The first was Kingston, a part of the 1955 inaugural class, then Beldame in 1956 who was followed by Salvator in 1988.

The 1908 passage of the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation by the New York Legislature under Republican Governor Charles Evans Hughes led to a state-wide shutdown of racing in 1911 and 1912.{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1908011801/drf1908011801_1_7 |title=Penalties in the New York Bills |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1908-01-18|accessdate=2018-10-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1911/07/14/archives/race-track-bill-defeated-in-senate-measure-modifying-directors.html|title=Race Track Bill Defeated In Senate; Measure Modifying Directors' Liability for Gambling Fails of Passage.|work=The New York Times|date=July 14, 1911|publisher=|access-date=September 2, 2017}} Sheepshead Bay Race Track officials had no choice but to cancel some races in order to maintain others. As such, the final running of the September Stakes took place on September 8, 1908.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1908/09/09/archives/whitney-horses-win-three-races-victorious-stable-first-and-second.html |title=Big Chief's September Thomas H. Williams's Colt Beats Fair Play in a Close Contest for Stake Feature at Coney Island Track |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1908-09-09 |accessdate=2020-03-14}}{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1909081701/drf1909081701_1_16 |title=Stake Dates at Sheepshead Bay |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1909-08-17 |accessdate=2020-04-02}} A February 21, 1913 ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division saw horse racing return in 1913.{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1913022201/drf1913022201_1_9 |title= Oral Betting Held Legal: Appellate Division of New York Supreme Court Renders Important Decision |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1913-02-22 |accessdate=2019-06-29}} However, it was too late for the Sheepshead Bay horse racing facility and it never reopened.{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1908121501/drf1908121501_1_7|title=Destruction Wrought by Hughes |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1908-12-15|accessdate=2018-11-30}}{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1914111701/drf1914111701_1_2 |title=Famous Old Track is Sold |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1914-11-17|accessdate=2018-11-30}}

Speed record:

• 2:19.00 @ 1{{Frac|3|8}} miles: Nealon (1906)
• 3:03.00 @ 1{{Frac|3|4}} miles: Peg Woffington (1888)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 2 – Jim McLaughlin (1887, 1889)
• 2 – George M. Odom (1900, 1902)
• 2 – Frank O'Neill (1903, 1904)
• 2 – Willie Simms (1894, 1895)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 2 – Matthew Byrnes (1884, 1889)
• 2 – William Lakeland (1888, 1898)
• 2 – John W. Rogers (1894, 1900)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 – James Ben Ali Haggin (1885, 1889)
• 2 – William Lakeland (1888, 1898)

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Category:Discontinued horse races in New York City

Category:Open mile category horse races

Category:Sheepshead Bay Race Track

Category:Open middle distance horse races

Category:Open long distance horse races

Category:Horse races established in 1884

Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1908

Category:1884 establishments in New York (state)

Category:1908 disestablishments in New York (state)