Champion Stakes (United States)
Introduction The '''Champion Stakes''' was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in August at the Monmouth Park Association's racetrack in Long Branch, New Jersey. Inaugurated in 1879, the Champion Stakes was open to horses of any age and was raced on dirt over a distance of one and one half miles (12 furlongs).In 1891, the races at Long Branch had to be shifted to racetracks in New York when government legislation attempted to inhibit parimutuel wagering. The races were split between the Jerome Park Racetrack  in Fordham, Bronx and at the nearby Morris Park Racecourse at Westchester Village. The Monmouth Park Racing Association closed and the land sold after its operating license was revoked in 1893 and government legislation was enacted that banned parimutuel wagering.In the final running of the Champion Stakes in 1892, Lamplighter set a new stakes and track record.
Records '''Speed record:'''* 2:32.75 - Lamplighter (1892)'''Most wins:'''* 2 - Firenze (1888, 1891)'''Most wins by a jockey:'''* 4 - Jim McLaughlin (1880, 1881, 1884, 1887)'''Most wins by a trainer:'''* 3 - James G. Rowe Sr. (1880, 1881, 1884)* 3 - Matthew Byrnes (1888, 1990, 1991)'''Most wins by an owner:'''* 4 - Dwyer Brothers Stable (1880, 1881, 1884, 1887)
Winners  Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time1892Lamplighter3Willie SimmsJohn HugginsPierre Lorillard IV12:32.751891Firenze7Shelby BarnesMatthew ByrnesJames Ben Ali Haggin12:38.501890Salvator4Isaac Burns MurphyMatthew ByrnesJames Ben Ali Haggin12:35.501889Los Angeles4Shelby BarnesRobert E. CampbellSanta Anita Stables12:54.001888Firenze4Edward H. GarrisonMatthew ByrnesJames Ben Ali Haggin12:35.001887Hanover3Jim McLaughlinFrank McCabeDwyer Brothers Stable12:38.001886Volante4Isaac Burns MurphyAlbert CooperSanta Anita Stables12:45.001885Freeland6Jim MurphyJohn W. RogersEdward Corrigan12:36.001884Miss Woodford4Jim McLaughlinJames G. Rowe Sr.Dwyer Brothers Stable12:40.251883Monitor7Edward FeakesR. Wyndham WaldenGeorge L. Lorillard12:36.251882Eole4George BarbeeEvert V. SnedeckerFrederick Gebhard12:43.751881Hindoo3Jim McLaughlinJames G. Rowe Sr.Dwyer Brothers Stable12:39.001880Luke Blackburn3Jim McLaughlinJames G. Rowe Sr.Dwyer Brothers Stable12:34.001879Spendthrift3Frank SheltonThomas PuryearJames R. Keene12:41.50
Notes
External links *  The 1879 Champion Stakes*  August 10, 1892 ''New York Times'' article on Lamplighter's record win in the Champion Stakes