Metropolitan Handicap

Last updated

Metropolitan Handicap
Grade 1 race
Location Belmont Park
Elmont, New York, USA
Inaugurated1891
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
WebsiteMetropolitan (NYRA) [1]
Race information
Distance1 mile (8 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds & up
WeightHandicap
Purse$1,000,000 (2024)

The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile", is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs). Starting in 2014, it is now run on the same day as the Belmont Stakes in early June.

Contents

The Met Mile is one of the most prestigious American races outside of the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup. It is known as a "stallion-making race" as the distance of a mile often displays the winner's "brilliance", referring to an exceptional turn of foot. Winners of the race who went on to become notable stallions include Tom Fool (1953), Native Dancer (1954), Buckpasser (1967), Fappiano (1981), Gulch (1987–88), and Ghostzapper (2005). [2]

History

The Met Mile was first run in 1891 at Morris Park Racetrack. Prior to 1897, it was run at a distance of 1+18 miles. In 1904, its location was moved to Belmont Park. There it remained except for nine years; 1960 to 1967, 1969, and 1975 when it was hosted by Aqueduct Racetrack. It was not run in 1895, 1911, and 1912.

The Met Mile was the first of three races in the New York Handicap Triple series, followed by the Suburban Handicap and Brooklyn Handicap. Four horses have won the Handicap Triple:

The Met Mile and the Brooklyn are now run on the same day as part of the Belmont Stakes undercard, [3] so it is no longer possible to complete the Handicap Triple.

There was a Dead Heat for first in 1905. [4]

Records

Time record:

Largest Margin

Most wins by an owner

Most wins by a jockey

Most wins by a trainer

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
Gr.
2023 Cody's Wish 5 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott Godolphin 1:34.36I
2022 Flightline 4 Flavien Prat John W. Sadler Horonis Racing, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, & Siena Farm1:33.59I
2021Silver State4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steve Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton Racing LLC1:35.45I
2020Vekoma4 Javier Castellano George Weaver R A Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables1:32.88I
2019 Mitole 4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen William & Corinne Heiligbrodt1:32.75I
2018Bee Jersey4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Charles E. Fipke 1:33.13I
2017 Mor Spirit 4 Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen 1:33.71I
2016 Frosted 4 Joel Rosario Kiaran McLaughlin Godolphin 1:32.73I
2015 Honor Code 4 Javier Castellano Shug McGaughey Lane's End Racing1:33.18I
2014 Palace Malice 4 John Velazquez Todd Pletcher Dogwood Stable1:33.56I
2013 Sahara Sky 4 Joel Rosario Jerry Hollendorfer Goldmark Farm1:34.17I
2012 Shackleford 4 John Velazquez Dale Romans Lauffer/Cubbedge1:33.30I
2011 Tizway 6 Rajiv Maragh H. James Bond William Clifton Jr.1:32.90I
2010 Quality Road 4 John Velazquez Todd Pletcher Edward P. Evans 1:33.11I
2009Bribon6 Alan Garcia Rob Ribaudo Marc Keller1:34.15I
2008 Divine Park 4 Alan Garcia Kiaran McLaughlin James J. Barry1:36.91I
2007 Corinthian 4 Kent Desormeaux James A. Jerkens Centennial Farms1:34.77I
2006 Silver Train 4 Edgar Prado Richard E. Dutrow Jr. Buckram Oak Farm1:34.27I
2005 Ghostzapper 5 Javier Castellano Robert J. Frankel Stronach Stables 1:33.20I
2004Pico Central5 Alex Solis Paulo Lobo Gary A. Tanaka 1:35.40I
2003Aldebaran5 Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Flaxman Holdings 1:34.00I
2002 Swept Overboard 5 Jorge F. Chavez Craig Dollase J. Paul Reddam 1:33.20I
2001Exciting Story4 Patrick Husbands Mark E. Casse Harry T. Mangurian Jr. 1:37.00I
2000Yankee Victor4 Heberto Castillo Jr. Carlos Morales Moreton Binn1:34.60I
1999 Sir Bear 6 John Velazquez Ralph Ziade Barbara Smollin1:34.40I
1998Wild Rush4 Jerry D. Bailey Richard Mandella Stronach Stables 1:33.40I
1997 Langfuhr 5 Jorge F. Chavez Mike Keogh Gus Schickedanz1:33.00I
1996 Honour and Glory 3 John Velazquez D. Wayne Lukas Michael Tabor 1:32.80I
1995You And I4 Jorge F. Chavez Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann 1:34.60I
1994 Holy Bull 3 Mike E. Smith Jimmy Croll Jimmy Croll 1:33.80I
1993Ibero6 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Frank E. Whitham1:34.20I
1992 Dixie Brass 3 Julio Pezua Dennis J. Brida Michael Watral1:33.60I
1991 In Excess 4 Pat Valenzuela Bruce L. Jackson Jack J. Munari1:35.40I
1990 Criminal Type 5 José A. Santos D. Wayne Lukas Calumet Farm 1:34.40I
1989Proper Reality4 Jerry D. Bailey Robert E. Holthus Mrs. James A. Winn1:34.00I
1988 Gulch 4 José A. Santos D. Wayne Lukas Peter M. Brant 1:34.60I
1987 Gulch 3 Pat Day LeRoy Jolley Peter M. Brant 1:34.80I
1986Garthorn6 Rafael Meza Robert J. Frankel Jerome S. Moss 1:33.60I
1985Forzando4 Don MacBeth John Sullivan S. C. Chillingworth1:34.40I
1984 Fit to Fight 5 Jerry D. Bailey MacKenzie Miller Rokeby Stable 1:34.00I
1983Star Choice4 Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Frances A. Genter 1:33.80I
1982 Conquistador Cielo 3 Eddie Maple Woody Stephens Henryk de Kwiatkowski 1:33.00I
1981 Fappiano 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. Jan H. Nerud John A. Nerud 1:33.80I
1980Czaravich4 Laffit Pincay Jr. William H. Turner Jr. William L. Reynolds1:35.80I
1979State Dinner4 Chris McCarron William E. Burch C. V. Whitney 1:34.00I
1978 Cox's Ridge 4 Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey Loblolly Stable 1:34.60I
1977 Forego 7 Bill Shoemaker Frank Whiteley Lazy F Ranch 1:34.80I
1976 Forego 6 Heliodoro Gustines Frank Whiteley Lazy F Ranch 1:34.80I
1975Gold and Myrrh4 Walter Blum William F. Wilmot William B. Wilmot1:33.60I
1974Arbees Boy4 Eddie Maple George Weckerle Otly Stable1:34.40I
1973 Tentam 4 Jorge Velásquez MacKenzie Miller Cragwood Stables 1:35.00I
1972Executioner4 Eddie Belmonte Eddie Yowell October House Farm1:35.40
1971Tunex5 John Ruane H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 1:35.80
1970 Nodouble 5 Jorge Tejeira J. Bert Sonnier Verna Lea Farm1:34.60
1969 Arts and Letters 3 Jean Cruguet J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stable 1:34.00
1968 In Reality 4 John L. Rotz Melvin Calvert Frances A. Genter 1:35.00
1967 Buckpasser 4 Braulio Baeza Edward A. Neloy Ogden Phipps 1:34.60
1966 Bold Lad 4 Braulio Baeza Edward A. Neloy Wheatley Stable 1:34.20
1965 Gun Bow 5 Walter Blum Edward A. Neloy Gedney Farm1:34.40
1964 Olden Times 6 Henry Moreno Mesh Tenney Rex C. Ellsworth 1:34.40
1963Cyrano4 Bobby Ussery John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:35.00
1962 Carry Back 4 John L. Rotz Jack A. Price Katherine Price1:33.60
1961 Kelso 4 Eddie Arcaro Carl Hanford Bohemia Stable 1:35.60
1960 Bald Eagle 5 Manuel Ycaza Woody Stephens Cain Hoy Stable 1:33.60
1959 Sword Dancer 3 Bill Shoemaker J. Elliott Burch Brookmeade Stable 1:35.20
1958 Gallant Man 4 Bill Shoemaker John A. Nerud Ralph Lowe1:35.60
1957 Traffic Judge 5 Eddie Arcaro James W. Maloney Louis P. Doherty1:36.00
1956 Midafternoon 4 William Boland Thomas M. Waller Mrs. Edward E. Robbins1:35.00
1955 High Gun 4 Anthony DeSpirito Max Hirsch King Ranch 1:35.60
1954 Native Dancer 4 Eric Guerin Bill Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1:35.20
1953 Tom Fool 4 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:35.80
1952 Mameluke 4 Gerald Porch Sylvester Veitch C. V. Whitney 1:36.40
1951Casemate4 Dave Gorman Robert Dotter James Cox Brady Jr. 1:35.40
1950 Greek Ship 3 Hedley Woodhouse Preston M. Burch Brookmeade Stable 1:36.60
1949 Loser Weeper 4 Hedley Woodhouse Bill Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1:36.40
1948 Stymie 7 Conn McCreary Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1:36.80
1947 Stymie 6 Basil James Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1:37.40
1946 Gallorette 4 Job Dean Jessop Edward A. Christmas William L. Brann 1:37.00
1945 Devil Diver 6 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:36.40
1944 Devil Diver 5 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:35.80
1943 Devil Diver 4 George Woolf John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:36.60
1942Attention4 Don Meade Max Hirsch Mrs. Parker Corning 1:36.40
1941 Eight Thirty 5 Harry Richards Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 1:37.20
1940Third Degree4 Eddie Arcaro John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:35.40
1939Knickerbocker3 Fred A. Smith Pete Coyne Joseph E. Widener 1:37.20
1938Danger Point4 Eddie Arcaro Eddie Hayward James D. Norris 1:38.00
1937Snark4 Johnny Longden James Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1:37.80
1936Good Harvest4 Sam Renick Bud Stotler Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1:36.40
1935 King Saxon 4 Calvin Rainey Charles H. Knebelkamp Charles H. Knebelkamp1:38.20
1934Mr. Khayyam4 Robert Jones Matthew P. Brady Catawba Farm1:37.00
1933 Equipoise 5 Raymond Workman Thomas J. Healey C. V. whitney 1:37.40
1932 Equipoise 4 Raymond Workman Thomas J. Healey C. V. whitney 1:37.00
1931 Questionnaire 4 Raymond Workman Andy Schuttinger James Butler 1:38.60
1930Jack High4 Linus McAtee A. Jack Joyner George D. Widener Jr. 1:35.00
1929Petee-Wrack4 Steve O'Donnell Willie Booth John R. Macomber 1:40.00
1928 Nimba 4 Harold Thurber George M. Odom Marshall Field III 1:40.00
1927 Black Maria 4 Frank Coltiletti William H. Karrick William R. Coe 1:37.40
1926 Sarazen 5 Fred Weiner Max Hirsch Fair Stable 1:38.00
1925 Sting 4 Bennie Breuning Jimmy Johnson James Butler 1:37.00
1924Laurano3 Harold Thurber Johnny Loftus Oak Ridge Stable1:38.20
1923 Grey Lag 5 Earl Sande Sam Hildreth Rancocas Stable 1:38.00
1922 Mad Hatter 6 Earl Sande Sam Hildreth Rancocas Stable 1:36.60
1921 Mad Hatter 5 Earl Sande Sam Hildreth Rancocas Stable 1:37.40
1920 Wildair 3 Eddie Ambrose James G. Rowe Sr. Harry Payne Whitney 1:38.80
1919Lanius4 Johnny Loftus A. Jack Joyner George D. Widener Jr. 1:42.40
1918Trompe La Mort3 Linus McAtee Thomas Welsh Joseph E. Widener 1:38.40
1917Ormesdale4 John McTaggart Thomas J. Healey Richard T. Wilson Jr. 1:39.20
1916 The Finn 4 Andy Schuttinger Edward W. Heffner Harry C. Hallenbeck 1:38.00
1915 Stromboli 4 Clarence Turner Sam Hildreth August Belmont Jr. 1:39.80
1914 Buskin 4 Charles Fairbrother John Whalen John Whalen1:37.80
1913 Whisk Broom II 6 Joe Notter James G. Rowe Sr. Harry Payne Whitney 1:39.00
1912no race
1911no race
1910 Fashion Plate 4 Matt McGee William H. Karrick Oneck Stable 1:37.80
1909 King James 4 Guy Burns John E. Madden Sam Hildreth 1:40.00
1908Jack Atkin4 Carroll H. Shilling Herman R. Brandt Barney Schreiber1:38.60
1907Glorifier5 Charles Garner James H. McCormick James H. McCormick 1:40.80
1906Grapple4 Charles Garner Enoch Wishard John A. Drake1:39.00
1905Race King (DH)4L. Smith Jim McLaughlin Orville L. Richards1:41.60
1905 Sysonby (DH)3 Willie Shaw James G. Rowe Sr. James R. Keene 1:41.60
1904 Irish Lad 4 Willie Shaw John E. Madden Herman B. Duryea 1:40.00
1903Gunfire4 Tommy Burns John W. Rogers William C. Whitney 1:38.00
1902Arsenal3J. Daly Julius Bauer Arthur L. Featherstone1:42.50
1901Banastar6 George M. Odom Charles F. Hill Charles H. Mackay1:42.00
1900Ethelbert4 Danny Maher A. Jack Joyner Perry Belmont 1:41.00
1899Filigrane4 Richard Clawson R. Wyndham Walden A. H. Morris & D. H. Morris 1:39.25
1898 Bowling Brook 3 Pete Clay R. Wyndham Walden A. H. Morris & D. H. Morris 1:44.00
1897 Voter 3 John Lamley William Lakeland James R. Keene 1:40.00
1896Counter Tenor4 Anthony Hamilton William Lakeland Jacob Ruppert Jr. 1:53.00
1895no race
1894 Ramapo 4 Fred Taral John J. Hyland Gideon & Daly 1:52.50
1893 Charade 4 Samuel Doggett William R. JonesWilliam R. Jones1:52.25
1892Pessara4 Fred Taral John S. Campbell Alfred F. Walcott & J. S. Campbell1:54.00
1891Tristan3 George Taylor Louis StuartL. Stuart & Co.1:51.50

See also

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References

  1. "Metropolitan". NYRA. February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  2. Russo, Nicole. "Met Mile still a source of successful stallions | Daily Racing Form". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  3. "Belmont Stakes 2016 Schedule". www.belmontstakes.org. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  4. "BELMONT PARK OPEN, METROPOLITAN a TIE; 40,000 See Sysonby and Race King Divide the Big Purse. COURSE a MARVEL OF BIGNESS Mr. Belmont Watches His Blandy Win the First Race -- Fickle May Fooled the Multitude". The New York Times. May 5, 1905.