| Class: | Grade I stakes |
| Horse Race: | Donn Handicap |
| Location: | Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida, USA |
| Inaugurated: | 1959 |
| Last Run: | 2016 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Distance: | 1-1/8 miles (9 furlongs) |
| Surface: | Turf (1959-1964), Dirt (1965-2016) |
| Track: | left-handed |
| Qualification: | Four-year-olds and up |
| Weight: | Handicap |
| Purse: | $500,000 |
The Donn Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1959 through 2016 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A race for horses age four and older, it was contested on turf from inception through 1964 at a distance of a mile and one-half. From 1965 onwards it was raced on dirt at a mile and one-eighth with the exception of 1976 when the distance was set at seven furlongs (7/8 mile).
The race was named after the Donn family, who for many years owned and operated the racetrack.
Three horses have won the race twice. Inaugurated at a distance of a mile and a half on turf, the only horse to ever win the race twice at that distance was One-Eyed-King who did it back-to-back in 1959 and 1960.[1] In 1965, future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Gun Bow won the first edition at its present distance of one and one-eighth miles on dirt.[2] Under those same race conditions, Pistols and Roses won it back-to-back in 1993 and 1994 as did another Hall of Fame inductee Cigar in the two ensuing years.[3] [4]
A total of three horses that have won the Donn Handicap went on to be named either the Eclipse Award for American Horse of the Year or American Champion Older Male Horse that year: Saint Liam, Skip Away and Cigar. In addition, reigning Horse of the Year Invasor won the Donn in 2007 prior to taking the Dubai World Cup.
The final running of the Donn Handicap took place on February 6, 2016.[5]
From 2017, the Donn Handicap was replaced on the Gulfstream racing calendar by the Pegasus World Cup.[6]
Speed record:
Most wins by a horse:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by an owner:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. | Time | Win$ | Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Mshawish | 6 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Al Shaqab Racing | 1-1/8 | 1:47.89 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2015 | Constitution | 5 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC (managers: Randy Gullatt & Steve Davison) | 1-1/8 | 1:49.51 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2014 | Lea | 5 | Joel Rosario | William I. Mott | Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider | 1-1/8 | 1:46.86 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2013 | Graydar | 4 | Edgar Prado | Todd A. Pletcher | Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC (managers: Randy Gullatt & Steve Davison) | 1-1/8 | 1:48.25 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2012 | Hymn Book | 6 | John Velazquez | C. R. McGaughey | Stuart S. Janney III | 1-1/8 | 1:49.16 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2011 | Giant Oak | 5 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Chris M. Block | Virginia H. Tarra Trust | 1-1/8 | 1:48.23 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2010 | Quality Road | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Edward P. Evans | 1-1/8 | 1:47.49 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2009 | Albertus Maximus | 5 | Alan Garcia | Kiaran McLaughlin | Shadwell Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:50.96 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2008 | Spring At Last | 4 | Eibar Coa | Doug O'Neill | J. Paul Reddam & WinStar | 1-1/8 | 1:48.35 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2007 | Invasor | 4 | Fernando Jara | Kiaran McLaughlin | Shadwell Racing | 1-1/8 | 1:48.43 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2006 | Brass Hat | 5 | Willie Martinez | William B. Bradley | Fred F. Bradley | 1-1/8 | 1:47.79 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2005 | Saint Liam | 5 | Edgar Prado | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | William & Suzanne Warren | 1-1/8 | 1:48.43 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2004 | Medaglia d'Oro | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 1-1/8 | 1:47.68 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2003 | Harlan's Holiday | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Stable LLC (Jack & Laurie Wolf) | 1-1/8 | 1:49.17 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2002 | Mongoose | 4 | Edgar Prado | H. James Bond | Mary & Gary West | 1-1/8 | 1:49.63 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2001 | Captain Steve | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 1-1/8 | 1:48.95 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 2000 | Stephen Got Even | 4 | Shane Sellers | Nick Zito | Stephen & Tomisue Hilbert | 1-1/8 | 1:48.50 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 1999 | Puerto Madero | 5 | Kent Desormeaux | Richard Mandella | Haras Santa Olga (Eugenio Zegers León) | 1-1/8 | 1:48.34 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 1998 | Skip Away | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Sonny Hine | Carolyn Hine | 1-1/8 | 1:50.17 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 1997 | Formal Gold | 4 | Joe Bravo | William W. Perry | John D. Murphy | 1-1/8 | 1:47.49 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 1996 | Cigar | 6 | Jerry D. Bailey | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | 1-1/8 | 1:49.12 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 1995 | Cigar | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | 1-1/8 | 1:49.68 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 1994 | Pistols and Roses | 5 | Heberto Castillo Jr. | George Gianos | Willis Family Stables Inc. (Sheldon Willis) | 1-1/8 | 1:50.67 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 1993 | Pistols and Roses | 4 | Heberto Castillo Jr. | George Gianos | Willis Family Stables Inc. (Sheldon Willis) | 1-1/8 | 1:50.10 | $240,000 | G1 |
| 1992 | Sea Cadet | 4 | Alex Solis | Ron McAnally | Verne H. Winchell | 1-1/8 | 1:48.17 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 1991 | Jolie's Halo | 4 | Robin Platts | Happy Alter | Arthur I. Appleton | 1-1/8 | 1:47.50 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 1990 | Primal | 5 | Earlie Fires | James E. Bracken | Tartan Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:50.00 | $120,000 | G1 |
| 1989 | Cryptoclearance | 5 | José A. Santos | Scotty Schulhofer | Philip Teinowitz | 1-1/8 | 1:48.80 | $120,000 | G1 |
| 1988 | Jade Hunter | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Richard J. Lundy | Summa Stable & Allen E. Paulson | 1-1/8 | 1:48.80 | $120,000 | G1 |
| 1987 | Little Bold John | 5 | Mike A. Gonzalez | John J. "Jerry" Robb | Hidden Hill Farm et al. | 1-1/8 | 1:48.80 | $96,660 | G2 |
| 1986 | Creme Fraiche | 4 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Brushwood Stable (Elizabeth Ranney Moran) | 1-1/8 | 1:51.20 | $77,280 | G2 |
| 1985 | Mo Exception | 4 | Robert Breen | Ken Masters | Kenneth Kleier | 1-1/8 | 1:48.60 | $74,280 | G2 |
| 1984 | Play Fellow | 4 | Pat Day | Harvey L. Vanier | Nancy A. Vanier, Carl Lauer, Robert Victor | 1-1/8 | 1:49.00 | $53,955 | G2 |
| 1983 | Deputy Minister | 4 | Don MacBeth | Reynaldo H. Nobles | Due Process Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:48.60 | $60,840 | G2 |
| 1982 | Joanie's Chief | 5 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Gene Jacobs | M/M Peter Barbarino | 1-1/8 | 1:49.00 | $57,330 | G2 |
| 1981 | Hurry Up Blue | 4 | Carlos Lopez | Reynaldo H. Nobles | Due Process Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:49.00 | $51,345 | G2 |
| 1980 | Lot O' Gold | 4 | Don Brumfield | W. E. "Smiley" Adams | Frederick E. Lehmann | 1-1/8 | 1:48.80 | $54,600 | G2 |
| 1979 | Jumping Hill | 7 | Jeffrey Fell | Horatio Luro | El Peco Ranch (George A. Pope Jr.) | 1-1/8 | 1:46.40 | $60,150 | G2 |
| 1978 | Man's Man | 4 | Robert Woodhouse | Thomas W. Kelley | Glenn S. Bromagen | 1-1/16 | 1:42.20 | $39,000 | G2 |
| 1977 | Legion | 7 | Larry Saumell | Gerald F. Jabalee | Ralph E. Chapman | 1-1/8 | 1:48.80 | $37,400 | G2 |
| 1976 | Foolish Pleasure | 4 | Braulio Baeza | LeRoy Jolley | John L. Greer | 7/8 | 1:21.40 | $37,980 | G2 |
| 1975 | Proud And Bold | 5 | Gene St. Leon | John Zarthar | Robert Van Worp Sr. | 1-1/8 | 1:48.00 | $35,280 | G2 |
| 1974 | Forego | 4 | Heliodoro Gustines | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Lazy F Ranch | 1-1/8 | 1:48.60 | $36,000 | G3 |
| 1973 | Triumphant | 4 | Braulio Baeza | Joseph M. Bollero | Russell L. Reineman | 1-1/8 | 1:47.80 | $37,560 | G3 |
| 1972 | Going Straight | 4 | Elwood McCann | Donamire Farm (Don & Mira Ball) | 1-1/8 | 1:51.20 | $37,140 | ||
| 1971 | Judgable | 4 | Walter Blum | Herbert Nadler | Saul Nadler | 1-1/8 | 1:47.00 | $39,120 | |
| 1970 | Twogundan | 4 | Earlie Fires | Clyde Troutt | Ada L. Rice | 1-1/8 | 1:51.20 | $39,600 | |
| 1969 | Funny Fellow | 4 | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | $44,200 | |
| 1968 | Favorable Turn | 4 | Eddie Belmonte | Eugene Jacobs | Herbert A. Allen Sr. | 1-1/8 | 1:48.20 | $45,500 | |
| 1967 | Francis U. | 4 | Ronald J. Campbell | Del W. Carroll | Michael G. Phipps | 1-1/8 | 1:50.40 | $41,100 | |
| 1966 | Tronado | 6 | Balsamino Moreira | Arnold N. Winick | Herbert Herff & Joseph La Croix | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | $39,550 | |
| 1965 | Gun Bow | 5 | Walter Blum | Edward A. Neloy | Gedney Farm (Mrs. John T. Stanley & Harry P. Albert) | 1-1/8 | 1:50.00 | $36,650 | |
| 1964 | Cedar Key | 4 | Manuel Ycaza | Donald McCoy | Jerry Basta | 1-1/2 | 2:26.00 | $39,750 | |
| 1963 | Tutankhamen | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Frank J. McManus | Greentree Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:26.00 | $27,835 | |
| 1962 | Jay Fox | 4 | Larry Gilligan Jr. | James W. Smith | Brae Burn Farm (James O. McCue) | 1-1/2 | 2:28.40 | $26,505 | |
| 1961 | General Arthur | 7 | Larry Gilligan Jr. | James W. Smith | Brae Burn Farm (James O. McCue) | 1-1/2 | 2:25.80 | $28,395 | |
| 1960 | One-Eyed-King | 6 | Manuel Ycaza | Woody Stephens | Cain Hoy Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:27.20 | $17,375 | |
| 1959 | One-Eyed-King | 5 | Johnny Sellers | Woody Stephens | Cain Hoy Stable | 1-1/2 | 2:25.80 | $18,200 | |