The Morven Stakes was an American

Thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

run between 1978 and 2001 at

Meadowlands Racetrack The Meadowlands Racetrack (currently referred to as Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment) is a horse racing track at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. The track hosts both thoroughbred racing and harness ...

East Rutherford, New Jersey East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the borough's population was 10,022, reflecting an increase of 1,109 (+12.4%) from the 8,913 counted in the 2010 census.

. A race on turf for two-year-old horses or either sex, it was last run over a distance of five furlongs (5/8 mile).

Historical notes

From inception in 1978 through 1998, the event was run on dirt. Its first two editions were run as the Morven Handicap. By 1984 the race had earned Grade 3 status which it maintained through 1987. Future

Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...

jockey Angel Cordero Jr. won the 1979 and 1982 runnings of the Morven Stakes. Cordero was aboard

Fappiano Fappiano (May 19, 1977 – September 3, 1990) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse whose most important win was the 1981 Metropolitan Handicap. When retired to stud, he became a major sire whose offspring included Kentucky Derby winner Unbridl ...

to win the December 20, 1979 when cold weather had frozen the racetrack surface. However, in spite of the difficult racing conditions, Fappiano broke the Meadowlands track record for six furlongs with a time of 1:08 3/5. The only

filly A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, t ...

to win the Morven Stakes was Clever Power in 1987. Ridden by future Hall of Fame inductee,

Kent Desormeaux Kent Jason Desormeaux (born February 27, 1970) is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year with 598 wins in 1989. He has won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes t ...

, she won easily by four lengths for owner Sondra Bender.

Records

Speed record: * 0:57 4/5 @ 5 furlongs on turf: Numbers Man (2001) * 1:08 3/5 @ 6 furlongs on dirt:

(1979) Most wins by a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

: * 2 - Angel Cordero Jr. (1979, 1982) * 2 -

Shaun Bridgmohan Shaun Xavier Bridgmohan (born June 24, 1979 in Spanish Town, Jamaica) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. At age thirteen, Bridgmohan's family emigrated to the United States, settling in South Florida where he developed an interes ...

(1998, 2000) Most wins by a trainer: * no trainer won this race more than once. Most wins by an owner: * 2 - Sondra D. Bender (1987, 1992)

Winners

References

{{reflist Discontinued horse races Flat horse races for two-year-olds Previously graded stakes races in the United States Horse races in New Jersey Sports in New Jersey Recurring sporting events established in 1978 Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2001 Meadowlands Racetrack 1978 establishments in New Jersey 2001 disestablishments in New Jersey