The Stuyvesant Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the fall of the year at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Inaugurated in 1916, after its 58th running in 2008, the race was discontinued.[1]

Stuyvesant Handicap
Grade III race (discontinued)
LocationAqueduct Racetrack
Queens, New York
Inaugurated1916
Last run2008
Race typeThoroughbred, Flat racing
Race information
Distance1+18 miles (9 furlongs)
TrackDirt, left-handed
QualificationThree-years-old & up
Purse$100,000+

A Grade III event for horses aged three and older, it was contested on dirt over nine furlongs1+18 miles (1.8 km). The Stuyvesant, named for an area of New York settled by the Dutch in the dawn of what would become America, offered a purse of $100,000 added.

History

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The Stuyvesant was run at Jamaica Race Course for three-year-olds from 1916 to 1924, and from 1937 to 1939. In 1916, 1917, and 1918, and again from 1937 to 1939, it was a six furlong (34 mile) sprint. It went off at a mile (eight furlongs) from 1919 to 1924. It was not run from 1925 to 1936, nor from 1940 to 1962.

In 1963, the race was resumed, at Aqueduct Racetrack over a distance of nine furlongs (1+18 miles). The distance was reduced to a mile (eight furlongs) from 1964 to 1972, then restored to nine furlongs from 1973 until discontinued. The race remained at Aqueduct until discontinued, except for three runnings at Belmont Park (1990, 1995, and 2001).

 
Seattle Slew, whose final race was a win in the 1978 Stuyvesant Handicap
Stuyvesant Handicap Locations & Distances
Year(s) Location Distance
1916–1918 Jamaica Race Course 6 furlongs (34 mile)
1919–1924 8 furlongs (1 mile)
1925–1936 not run
1937–1939 Jamaica Race Course 6 furlongs (34 mile)
1940–1962 not run
1963 Aqueduct Racetrack 9 furlongs (1+18 mile)
1964–1972 8 furlongs (1 mile)
1973–1989 9 furlongs (1+18 mile)
1990 Belmont Park
1991–1994 Aqueduct Racetrack
1995 Belmont Park
1996–2000 Aqueduct Racetrack
2001 Belmont Park
2002–2008 Aqueduct Racetrack
 
Notice in the Brooklyn Daily Times of May 20, 1918, for the Stuyvesant Handicap

August Belmont Jr.'s colt Fernrock won the May 23, 1916, inaugural edition of the Stuyvesant Handicap against what the Daily Racing Form described as "an above average field."[2]

In 1920, with only one competitor willing to challenge him, the great Man o' War was sent off at odds of 1 to 100, the shortest odds in the history of American racing.[3] Under a tight rein, he merely toyed with his opponent but still won by ten lengths.[4]

Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Riva Ridge set a new track record of 1:47 flat for 1+18 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt in winning the 1973 edition of the Stuyvesant Handicap.[5]

The 1978 running marked the final race for the legendary Seattle Slew, the 1977 American Triple Crown winner. Seattle Slew, ridden by Angel Cordero Jr., won the race by four lengths. Sportscaster and Aqueduct track announcer Chic Anderson called the race's climax movingly: "Ladies and gentlemen, here he is, the champion of the world, Seattle Slew!"[6]

The Stuyvesant Handicap had its final running on November 15, 2008, and was won by the gelding Dry Martini, owned by Carol Nyren. Dry Martini came from last to first to win by 3+14 lengths over Stud Muffin, whose damsire was Seattle Dancer. In 1985, Seattle Dancer was sold for $13.1 million, a price that then made him the most expensive yearling ever sold at public auction.[7]

Another running of the race had been planned for November 14, 2009.[1] However, with only five entrants and heavy rain forecast for race day, organizers cancelled the event on November 12, while also citing a general lack of interest.[1] The 2009 race was not rescheduled, and the Stuyvesant Handicap has not been staged since.

Records

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Speed record:

Most wins:

  • no horse ever won this race more than once

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

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Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Win$
Gr.
2008 Dry Martini 5 Channing Hill William H. Turner Jr. Carol Nyren 118 m 1:51.18 $66,300 G3
2007 Hunting 4 Alan Garcia C. R. McGaughey III Stuart S. Janney III 118 m 1:48.08 $65,100 G3
2006 Accountforthegold 4 Mike Luzzi Gary C. Contessa Winning Move Stable & Harold Lerner 118 m 1:48.80 $66,060 G3
2005 Evening Attire 7 José A. Santos Patrick J. Kelly Joseph & Mary Grant, Thomas J. Kelly 118 m 1:51.20 $65,160 G3
2004 Classic Endeavor 6 Edgar Prado Richard E. Dutrow Jr. Sullivan Lane Stable et al. 118 m 1:49.60 $65,940 G3
2003 Presidentialaffair 4 Richard Migliore Martin Ciresa Papandrea, Ciresa 118 m 1:50.80 $66,180 G3
2002 Snake Mountain 4 José A. Santos James A. Jerkens Berkshire Stud et al. 118 m 1:50.40 $68,040 G3
2001 Graeme Hall 4 John Velazquez Todd Pletcher Eugene Melnyk 118 m 1:47.80 $64,620 G3
2000 Lager 6 Herberto Castillo Jr. James A. Jerkens Susan & John Moore 118 m 1:50.00 $64,860 G3
1999 Best of Luck 3 Mike E. Smith H. Allen Jerkens Bohemia Stable 118 m 1:49.60 $67,200 G3
1998 Mr. Sinatra 4 Aaron Gryder Gasper Moschera Barbara J. Davis 118 m 1:48.00 $65,280 G3
1997 Delay of Game 4 Jean-Luc Samyn George R. Arnold II John H. Peace 118 m 1:47.60 $66,060 G3
1996 Poor But Honest 6 Jorge F. Chavez Juan Serey Vincent S. Scuderi 118 m 1:49.40 $66,480 G3
1995 Silver Fox 4 Mike E. Smith Anthony Margotta William Blasland Jr. 118 m 1:48.00 $68,940 G3
1994 Wallenda 4 Herb McCauley Frank A. Alexander Dogwood Stable 118 m 1:50.69 $64,560 G3
1993 Michelle Can Pass 5 John Velazquez John M. DeStefano Jr. Jay Cee Jay Stable 118 m 1:51.00 $70,200 G3
1992 Shot's Are Ringing 5 John Velazquez Peter R. Ferriola Jewel E Stable 118 m 1:49.20 $69,120 G3
1991 Montubio 6 Julio Pezua Angel Penna Jr. Dogwood Stable 118 m 1:48.20 $72,480 G3
1990 I'm Sky High 4 Mike E. Smith Edward I. Kelly Brookfield Farm 118 m 1:48.20 $71,760 G3
1989 Its Academic 5 Jerry D. Bailey Luis Barrera Marcus Vogel 118 m 1:48.80 $70,560 G2
1988 Talinum 4 Marco Castaneda D. Wayne Lukas John G. Sikura 118 m 1:51.20 $112,240 G2
1987 Moment of Hope 4 Michael Venezia Bob G. Dunham Four Fifths Stable (Robert Shapiro) 118 m 1:49.60 $109,080 G2
1986 Little Missouri 4 Robbie Davis George R. Arnold II Loblolly Stable 118 m 1:50.00 $125,280 G2
1985 Garthorn 5 Rafael Meza Robert J. Frankel Jerry Moss 118 m 1:48.40 $70,320 G2
1984 Valiant Lark 4 Vince Bracciale Jr. Henry L. Carroll Dee-Jo-Stable (Basil J. Plasteras) 118 m 1:51.40 $70,080 G2
1983 Fit to Fight 4 Jerry D. Bailey MacKenzie Miller Rokeby Stable 118 m 1:49.00 $68,280 G2
1982 Engine One 4 Ruben Hernandez Sylvester E. Veitch Benjamin F. Ferguson II 118 m 1:49.60 $67,200 G3
1981 Idyll 4 Cash Asmussen Jan H. Nerud Tartan Stable 118 m 1:48.80 $68,280 G3
1980 Plugged Nickle 3 Cash Asmussen Thomas J. Kelly John M. Schiff 118 m 1:50.20 $68,880 G3
1979 Music of Time 4 Jerry D. Bailey MacKenzie Miller Rokeby Stable 118 m 1:50.40 $68,280 G3
1978 Seattle Slew 4 Angel Cordero Jr. Douglas R. Peterson Tayhill Stable (Karen & Mickey Taylor & Dr. Jim Hill) 118 m 1:47.40 $62,310 G3
1977 Cox's Ridge 3 Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey Loblolly Stable 118 m 1:48.40 $32,760 G3
1976 Distant Land 4 Heliodoro Gustines William J. Hirsch King Ranch 118 m 1:49.00 $32,610 G3
1975 Festive Mood 6 Herberto Hinojosa Richard W. Small Sally M. Gibson 118 m 1:48.40 $33,210 G3
1974 Crafty Khale 5 Jean Cruguet Robert L. Dotter Mrs. Nelson I. Asiel 118 m 1:48.00 $34,890 G3
1973 Riva Ridge 4 Eddie Maple Lucien Laurin Meadow Stable 118 m 1:47.00 $34,470 G3
1972 Icecapade 3 Eddie Maple David A. Whiteley Locust Hill Farm 1 m 1:34.00 $36,570
1971 Red Reality 5 Laffit Pincay Jr. MacKenzie Miller Cragwood Stables 1 m 1:34.60 $36,300
1970 Never Bow 4 Eddie Belmonte H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 1 m 1:35.80 $36,420
1969 King Emperor 3 Carlos H. Marquez Edward A. Neloy Wheatley Stable 1 m 1:34.40 $39,520
1968 Spring Double 5 Chuck Baltazar J. Bowes Bond Woodside Stud (Alene Erlanger) 1 m 1:36.20 $38,480
1967 Sun Gala 3 Ron Turcotte Randy Sechrest Gedney Farm (Harry P. Albert & Mrs. John T. Stanley) 1 m 1:36.80 $37,180
1966 Understanding 3 Angel Cordero Jr. Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1 m 1:36.00 $37,765
1965 Flag Raiser 3 Robert Ussery Hirsch Jacobs Isidor Bieber 1 m 1:35.60 $39,780
1964 Macedonia 4 Heliodoro Gustines Buddy Jacobson Mrs. Samuel J. Lefrak 1 m 1:37.20 $18,623
1963 Rocky Link 3 Sandino Hernandez Stephen A. DiMauro Golden Triangle Stable 118 m 1:49.20 $18,298
Race not held (1940–1962)
1939 T. M. Dorsett 3 Leon Haas John B. Theall Dorothy Dorsett Brown 6 f 1:12.20 $3,925
1938 Merry Lassie 3 James Stout James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 6 f 1:11.00 $3,700
1937 Chicolorado 3 Eddie Arcaro William Brennan Greentree Stable 6 f 1:13.00 $4,425
Race not held (1925–1936)
1924 Ordinance 3 Edward Legere Louis Feustel August Belmont Jr. 1 m 1:38.40 $4,650
1923 Dot 3 Earl Sande Nat L. Byer Jake Byer 1 m 1:39.40 $4,650
1922 Snob II 3 Earl Sande Hollie Hughes Sanford Stud Farms 1 m 1:39.60 $4,650
1921 Sedgefield 3 Frank Coltiletti Thomas J. Healey Richard T. Wilson Jr. 1 m 1:39.60 $4,650
1920 Man o' War 3 Clarence Kummer Louis Feustel Glen Riddle Farm 1 m 1:41.60 $3,850
1919 Purchase 3 Johnny Loftus Sam Hildreth Sam Hildreth 1 m 1:38.80 $3,850
1918 Motor Cop 3 Johnny Loftus Walter B. Jennings A. Kingsley Macomber 6 f 1:12.20 $2,825
1917 Julialeon 3 Roscoe Troxler Max Hirsch George W. Loft 6 f 1:14.80 $3,175
1916 Fernrock 3 Everett Haynes Sam Hildreth August Belmont Jr. 6 f 1:13.00 $2,350

References

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  1. ^ a b c Shandler, Jason (2009-09-14). "Aqueduct Cancels Stuyvesant handicap". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  2. ^ "Mr. Belmont Captures A Stake Race.: Fernrock First in the Stuyvesant Handicap in a Close Finish with Mustard". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1916-05-24. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  3. ^ "Man o' War Sets New Price Record". The New York Times. June 23, 1920. p. 13. Retrieved June 21, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Man o'War Wins on Jamaica Track". Philadelphia Inquirer. June 23, 1920. p. 15. Retrieved June 21, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Remembering the Fall of '73 - Hangin' With Haskin". The Blood-Horse. 2011-09-12. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  6. ^ Harris, Russ (November 15, 1978). "OTB surcharges scheduled to expire". Daily News. New York City. p. 86. Retrieved June 21, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Dry Martini quenches his thirst in winner's circle". Ocala Star Banner. 2008-11-17. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
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