Winged Foot Handicap Explained

Class:Discontinued stakes
Horse Race:Winged Foot Handicap
Location:Empire City Race Track, Yonkers, New York,
United States
Brighton Beach Race Course, Brighton Beach, New York,
United States
Inaugurated:1896
Race Type:Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Distance:6 furlongs
Surface:Dirt
Track:left-handed
Qualification:Two-year-olds

The Winged Foot Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race open to two-year-olds of either sex. A race on dirt, it was run annually at Brighton Beach Race Course in Brighton Beach, New York from inception in 1896 through 1908 before being canceled for the next two years as a result of New York state's Hart–Agnew Law anti-betting legislation. The ensuing financial losses meant that the Brighton Beach Race Course was never able to reopen and in 1910 the race was revived at the Empire City Race Track for what would turn out to be its final running.

Historical notes

The August 1, 1896 inaugural running of the Winged Foot Handicap was won by Voter, the second choice of the betting public. Ridden by Alonzo Clayton for the very prominent owner James R. Keene, Voter would go on to a successful career that would see him recognized as the American Champion Older Male Horse of 1899.[1] [2]

In 1899, Killashandra became the first of three fillies to win the Winged Foot Handicap.[3] She continued to race successfully and in her three-year-old season was the dominant filly in her age group and would be recognized as the 1900 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.[2]

Africander's winning time in 1902 of 1:06 3/5 for the six-furlong distance was not only the fastest time for the Winged Foot Handicap but equaled the track record.[4] The following year, Africander would earn American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse honors. [2]

Jockey LaVerne Sewell won the 1906 edition aboard Salvidere.[3] The colt would earn recognition as that year's American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse.[2] Tragically, Salvidere's eighteen-year-old jockey Sewell would be killed on November 9 as a result of a racing accident at Aqueduct Racetrack. In their story on the accident, The Pittsburgh Press called Sewell one of the most promising riders in the East.[5]

The July 12, 1910 final running of the Winged Foot Handicap was the feature race of the day at Empire City Race Track. Newcastle Stable horses Danger Mark and Royal Meteor finished one-two in the field of five runners.[6]

Records

Speed record:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwner

(Furlongs)
TimeWin $
1910Danger Mark2Joe NotterThomas WelshNewcastle Stable6 f1:13.60$925
1908- 1909align=center colspan=7Race not held
1907Master Robert2Joe NotterAndrew G. BlakelySamuel Emery6 f1:12.60$2,520
1906Salvidere2LaVerne SewellJohn E. MaddenThomas Hitchcock Sr.6 f1:15.00$3,265
1905George C. Bennett2David NicolWilliam E. PhillipsFrederick Cook6 f1:13.40$2,770
1904Tradition2Tommy BurnsA. Jack JoynerSydney Paget6 f1:13.80$2,940
1903align=center colspan=8Race not held
1902Africander2Jack MartinRichard O. MillerHampton Stable (Sam Deimel & Charles F. Dwyer)5.5 f1:06.60$2,590
1901Alibert2Willie ShawThomas WelshJulius Fleischmann5.5 f1:07.20$2,430
1900Princess Pepper2Henry SpencerWilliam M. RogersJames E. Pepper Stable5 f1:01.00$1,690
1899Killashandra2Sydney PagetWilliam C. Whitney5 f1:01.00$1,820
1898Autumn2Danny MaherA. Jack JoynerA. Jack Joyner5 f1:02.25$1,870
1897Don't Care2Frank StanhopeR. Wyndham WaldenR. W. Walden & Son6 f1:19.75$1,420
1896Voter2Alonzo ClaytonWilliam LakelandJames R. Keene5 f1:01.75$1,130

Notes and References

  1. Web site: At Brighton Beach . Richmond Dispatch. 11. Library of Congress. 1896-08-02. 2019-01-01.
  2. http://www.bloodhorse.com/eclipsewinners/pdf/History_Charts.pdf The Bloodhorse.com Champion's history charts
  3. Web site: Condensed History of the Winged Foot Handicap . Daily Racing Form. University of Kentucky Archives . 1910-07-12 . 2021-02-23.
  4. Web site: Winged Foot Handicap Won by the Colt Africander -- The Track Record Equaled. New York Times. 6 . 1902-07-30 . 2021-07-23.
  5. Web site: Rider's Mother Is Penniless . The Pittsburgh Press . 1906-11-12 . 2019-01-25.
  6. Web site: Danger Mark and Royal Meteor in Hard Race for Winged Foot Handicap . New York Times. 8 . 1910-07-13 . 2021-07-23.