Long Island Stakes
The Long Island Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack, in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The race is for fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race the one and one-half miles on the turf. Formerly a Grade II event, the race was downgraded to Grade III status in 2007. Historical notes. The original Long Island Handicap was established in 1894 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. The race was open to horses of either gender age three and older and  run on dirt over a distance of one mile and one furlong. It was last run in 1910 when the racetrack closed as a result of anti-gambling legislation. A second edition of the Long Island Handicap was inaugurated in 1956 at Belmont Park. Through 1971 the race was open to horses of either gender, age three and older. It was hosted by Belmont Park in 1956–1960, 1962, 1964–1965, 1968–1969, 1972, 1975–1977, and 1989–1993. Prior to 2017, the Long Island was run under handicap weights. Since then, the New York Racing Association has run the race under allowance weights. Since  its inception, the Long Island has been raced at various distances: It was run in two divisions in 1958, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1985, 1990, and 1998. Records (1956–present). Speed record: (at current distance of miles on turf) Most wins: Most wins by an owner: Most wins by a jockey: Most wins by a trainer: