Originally run as the
Bronx Pace, a stakes race for
pacers, it was first held at
Yonkers Raceway in
Yonkers, New York. The track expanded its Twin Futurities into the Quad Futurities in 1957, introducing the Bronx Pace and Hudson Trot to join the
Cane Pace and
Yonkers Trot. It served as the first leg of the Yonkers Raceway's Quad Futurities. The Bronx Pace joined the program as the companion race for
fillies to the Cane Pace. The race produced notable filly winners, beginning with Newport Judy and driver
Del Cameron. The filly owned by Newport Stock Farm of
South Plainfield, New Jersey won the inaugural $22,947.50 stake staged during the Yonkers Raceway's
Grand Circuit program on July 20, 1957. The Del Cameron-driven Newport Judy finished first in 2:13 over a mile and one-sixteenth, with Dagsworthy Lady, driven by
Delvin Miller, finishing second. "The Bronx" developed into the United States' richest race for three-year-old pacing fillies. In 1966, the Filly
Triple Crown series was formed by the Bronx Pace at Yonkers Raceway, the Lady Maud at
Roosevelt Raceway, and the Ladyship Stake at Goshen's
Historic Track. The Bronx Filly Pace was the third leg of the series. With increased entries of sophomore fillies in the 1980s, the race was split into divisions. For the 1998 season, the Bronx Filly Pace and its companion event, the Cane Pace, were awarded to
Freehold Raceway. When it moved to the New Jersey track, it was renamed the
Shady Daisy after the former champion mare. The stakes event is owned by Freehold, sponsored by American Racing-Gaming, and administered by the
Hambletonian Society.
Pocono Downs hosted the Shady Daisy Stakes in 2011 as a result of flooding problems at the earlier scheduled
Tioga Downs. The race was held for the first time ever at Tioga Downs in September 2012. Beginning in 2015, the Shady Daisy joined Hambletonian Day at
Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marking the track as its fifth host. ==Distances==