Colleen Stakes

The Colleen Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first part of August at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is contested on dirt over a distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs (1,210 yards / 1,106 meters).

Inaugurated in 1887 at the Monmouth Park Association racetrack in Long Branch, New Jersey, it was raced at Jerome Park Racetrack in Fordham, New York, in 1891 as a result of political pressure from New Jersey State anti-gambling politicians.[1] The race returned to Monmouth Park for 1892 and 1893, after which the New Jersey Legislature enacted laws that ended betting in the state, and the racetrack was forced out of business. In 1946, the New Jersey Legislature passed a bill providing for state regulation of horse racing, and the new Monmouth Park Racetrack opened that year with the Colleen Stakes as part of its regular racing schedule.

The Colleen Stakes was run in two divisions in 1949, 1980, 1986 and 1987.

In 2012, the distance was reduced from 5+1⁄2 furlongs to 5 furlongs.