Brooklyn Invitational Stakes
The Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (formerly known as the Brooklyn Handicap) is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to four-year-olds and up willing to race one and one-half miles on dirt. It was a Grade 1 race prior to 1993. Historical notes. First run on May 14, 1887 at Gravesend Race Track on Coney Island, New York, it was won by Emery & Cotton's Dry Monopole in track record time for the mile  and one-quarter distance. A versatile horse, a year earlier on June 15, 1886 Dry Monopole had won America's first ever Thoroughbred flat race on turf. The Brooklyn Handicap quickly became one of the top attractions on the New York racing circuit, drawing some of the best Thoroughbreds. Not run 1911–1912 due to the New York's Hart–Agnew Law which banned parimutuel betting The race was once the second leg of what is sometimes referred to as the New York Handicap Triple series of races. It was preceded by the Metropolitan Handicap and followed by the Suburban Handicap . Four horses won the Handicap Triple: The race is currently run on the same day as the Metropolitan Handicap, so it is no longer possible to win the Handicap Triple. Since inception the race has been held at: The Brooklyn Handicap has been contested at a variety of distances: Records. Stakes record: (at current distance of miles) Most wins: Most wins by a jockey: Most wins by a trainer: Most wins by an owner: