The event was named for the resort town of
Bay Shore, New York. The name was once an event with the same name,
Bay Shore Handicap, which was for three-year-olds and older and held in September. That event ended in 1955 with the closing of the old Aqueduct track. The track was closed until it was reconstructed in 1959. According to
New York Racing Association the new event was inaugurated on 13 April 1960 as a race with an old name –
Bay Shore Handicap for three-year-olds at a distance of one mile. The event began impacting the paths the three year old would take towards the
U.S Triple Crown. In 1967, the winner
Damascus continued his outstanding form winning the
Preakness Stakes and
Belmont Stakes and capturing a host of awards including
U.S. Champion three-year-old colt,
US Champion Handicap Horse and becoming
US Horse of the Year. In 1968
Reviewer carried a record 130
pounds to victory in the first division of the event which was split. In 1973 the first year the classification system was enacted, the event was set with
Grade III status. The race has been run in split divisions in 1962, 1968, 1975, and 1986. The event was scheduled for 13 March 1993 but postponed twice due to bad weather before finally being cancelled. In 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Aqueduct closed their track and the event was cancelled. In 2024 the event was downgraded by the
Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status. ==Records==