Dwyer Stakes
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The Dwyer Stakes is a 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred racehorses held annually since 1918 at Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, Long Island, New York.
Originally the Brooklyn Derby at the defunct Gravesend Race Track on Coney Island, the name of the race was changed to Dwyer in 1918.
The race was named for the Dwyer brothers who dominated thoroughbred racing in the late 1800s. At one time, it was a Grade I stakes race that was a major part of the U.S. thoroughbred racing season. In 1920, when the race was run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles, Man O' War set a new world record for that distance. His sire, Fair Play has also won this race in 1908. Other notable winners of the Dwyer Stakes have been:
- Damascus
- Gallant Fox
- Holy Bull
- Nashua
- Native Dancer
- Omaha (1935)
- Seeking the Gold (1988)
- Twenty Grand
- Whirlaway
- Grey Lag
- War Cloud (1918)
[edit] Winners
Winners since the turn of the new century are:
- 2006 - Strong Contender
- 2005 - Roman Ruler
- 2004 - Medallist
- 2003 - Strong Hope
- 2002 - Gygistar
- 2001 - E Dubai
- 2000 - Albert the Great