Roamer Handicap

Last updated
Roamer Handicap
ClassDiscontinued stakes
Location Aqueduct Racetrack, Queens, New York, United States
Inaugurated1944–1986
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
Website www.nyra.com/aqueduct/
Race information
Distance1 3/16 miles
(1,900 metres, 9.5 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree years old

The Roamer Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. It was open to three-year-old horses of either sex and contested on dirt over a distance of 9.5 furlongs (1 3/16 miles / 1,900 metres). Run forty-three times, the first ten editions were held between 1944 and 1958 at Jamaica Race Course in Jamaica, Queens, New York.

Contents

Historical notes

The inaugural running took place on April 11, 1944 and was run at a distance of 1 1/16 miles for the only time in its history. The race would see Lillian Christopher's Grey Wing defeat Stymie, a future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee owned by Ethel Jacobs. [1]

The filly Bridal Flower not only "beat the boys" in winning the 1946 Roamer Handicap, she beat the reigning U.S. Triple Crown Champion Assault.

The 1952 running saw Canadian jockey Hedley Woodhouse aboard 10-1 Quiet Step upset future Hall of Fame inductee Tom Fool who was also ridden by a Canadian, Ted Atkinson. [2]

In 1960, Elizabeth Lunn's Divine Comedy won the race by 8 lengths and set a new Aqueduct track record with a time of 1:55 4/5. [3] Seven years later, 1967 Kentucky Derby winner Proud Clarion broke that record by 4/5 of a second with a time of 1:55 flat. [4]

Sherluck's win in the 1961 Roamer Handicap followed an earlier victory in the Belmont Stakes that ended Carry Back's chance to win the U.S. Triple Crown. [5] [6]

Forego won the 1973 edition of the Roamer Handicap in stakes record time while carrying highweight. He beat runner-up My Gallant by five lengths with Twice A Prince in third another 2½ lengths back. The Roamer Handicap marked Forego's first stakes race win of what would become a career ranked among the best in U.S racing history. [7] Owned by Martha Gerry, Forego earned eight Eclipse Awards, including three American Horse of the Year titles, and would be inducted into the U.S Racing Hall of Fame.

The final running took place on December 26, 1986 and was won by Betty M. Peters' Scrimshaw. [8]

Records

Speed record:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Win$
Gr.
1986Scrimshaw3 Eddie Maple Larry A. KellyBetty M. Peters13161:55.40$44,700Listed
1985Taj Alriyadh3 Jorge Velásquez D. Wayne Lukas Ahmed Salman13161:58.80$39,180Listed
1984Fight Over3 Ángel Cordero Jr. John Parisella Theodore M. Sabarese13161:59.40$55,260Listed
1983Megaturn3Kenny SkinnerRichard NieminskiJohn H. Peace13161:59.00$33,240Gr. 3
1982Dew Line3Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey Ryehill Farm13161:59.00$34,800Gr. 3
1981Thirty Eight Paces3Ángel Cordero Jr. King T. Leatherbury Double Paces Stable13161:56.00$33,600Gr. 3
1980Bar Dexter3 Jean-Luc Samyn Louis MondelloWoodside Stud13161:56.20$34,260Gr. 2
1979Rivalero3 Jeffrey Fell John M. Veitch Calumet Farm 13161:58.60$32,700Gr. 2
1978Silent Cal3Doug Thomas Benjamin W. Perkins Sr. Mrs. Arnold A. Willcox13161:56.80$31,710Gr. 2
1977Soldier's Lark3 Mike Venezia Victor J. Nickerson Philip Wise13161:59.20$32,010Gr. 2
1976Turn and Count3 Jacinto Vásquez Pancho Martin Sigmund Sommer 13161:56.60$32,220Gr. 2
1975General Beauregard3Mike VeneziaWilliam F. SchmittBrazil Stable13161:54.80$32,640Gr. 2
1974Green Gambados3Ángel Cordero Jr. Laz Barrera Harbor View Farm 13161:55.60$33,600Gr. 2
1973 Forego 3 Heliodoro Gustines Eddie Hayward Lazy F Ranch 13161:54.60$34,080Gr. 2
1972True Knight3 Eddie Belmonte Lou Rondinello Darby Dan Farm 13161:55.40$34,860
1971Tinajero3Eddie BelmonteLaz BarreraRafael Escudero13161:56.40$33,540
1970Protanto3 Chuck Baltazar MacKenzie Miller Cragwood Stables 13161:55.20$37.830
1969Ship Leave3 John L. Rotz Angel Penna Sr. Gustave Ring13161:54.80$36,660
1968Funny Fellow3Ángel Cordero Jr. Edward A. Neloy Wheatley Stable 13161:55.60$36,855
1967 Proud Clarion 3 Braulio Baeza Loyd Gentry Jr. Darby Dan Farm13161:55.00$36,595
1966Mr. Right3 Bobby Ussery Evan S. Jackson Cheray Duchin 13161:57.60$38,350
1965Terry's Secret3Alex Maese Carl A. Roles Poltex Stable13161:56.40$37,750
1964Point du Jour3 Jimmy Combest Nick CombestEdith Baily Dent13161:56.60$36,140
1963Dean Carl3Bobby UsseryPaul BongarzonePaul Bongarzone13161:57.60$37,245
1962Dead Ahead3 Avelino Gomez Woody Stephens Cain Hoy Stable 13161:56.80$37,245
1961 Sherluck 3 Bill Shoemaker Harold YoungJacob Sher13161:56.80$36,530
1960Divine Comedy3Bill Shoemaker Charles E. Whittingham Elizabeth Lunn 13161:55.80$36,190
1959Polylad3 Eldon Nelson James B. RoweMrs. Q. A. Shaw McKean13161:57.60$36,645
1958Warhead3 Eddie Arcaro Kay Erik Jensen Mabel C. Schiltz13161:56.80$56,675
1957Promised Land3 Ismael Valenzuela Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 13161:55.60$37,500
1956Third Brother3Angel Valenzuela Casey Hayes Christopher Chenery 13161:56.40$40,700
1955 Sailor II 3 Hedley Woodhouse Preston M. Burch Brookmeade Stable 13161:56.00$40,500
1954Jet Action3 Bill Hartack Isaac K. Mourar Maine Chance Farm 13161:57.20$40,100
1953Race not held
1952Quiet Step3Hedley WoodhouseKay Erik JensenApheim Stable (Bernard H. Heiman)13161:55.80$32,600
1948– 1951Race not held
1947 Cosmic Bomb 3 Ovie Scurlock William M. Booth William G. Helis Sr. 13161:58.20$21,500
1946 Bridal Flower 3Abelarado DeLara James W. Smith John R. Bradley 13161:57.40$22,700
1945Chief Barker3Patrick F. DwyerPatrick F. Dwyer Ben F. Whitaker 13161:58.20$19,750
1944Grey Wing3Charles Wahler Harris B. Brown Lillian Christopher11161:45.00$3,275

References

  1. "Official Racing Charts". Daily Racing Form. 1944-04-12. Retrieved 2019-12-07 via University of Kentucky Archives.
  2. "Quiet Step, $21.90, Outruns Tom Fool; Risque Rogue Third in Roamer Handicap". New York Times . 1952-10-12. Section Sports, page 1. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  3. "Favored Divine Comedy Sets Aqueduct Record in Roamer". New York Times. 1960-11-06. Section 5 Sports, page 1. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  4. "Favored Proud Clarion Captures Roamer at Aqueduct and Sets Track Record". New York Times. 1967-11-12. Section 5 Sports, page 11 (231). Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  5. "Sherluck Triumps In Roamer by Nose". New York Times. 1961-11-12. Sports Section 5, page 1 (351). Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  6. "Carry Back Was Way Back at Belmont". Sports Illustrated . 1961-06-12. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  7. "Favored Forego Takes Roamer by Five Lengths". New York Times. 1973-11-25. Section 5 Sports, page 1. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  8. "Scrimshaw closed fast". Associated Press News. 1986-12-27. Retrieved 2019-12-09.