Saratoga Cup

Last updated
Saratoga Cup
Discontinued stakes race
Location Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Inaugurated1865
Race type Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Race information
Distance1+3⁄4 miles
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree years and older

The Saratoga Cup was an American Thoroughbred horse race open to horses of either sex age three and older although geldings were not eligible from 1865 through 1918. Between 1865 and 1955 it was hosted by Saratoga Race Course, in Saratoga Springs, New York with the exception of 1943 through 1945 when wartime restrictions were in place and the race was held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. [1] [2]

Contents

The race was not run from 1887 to 1890, from 1892 to 1900, in 1908, 1911, 1912, from 1956 to 1962, and from 1964 to 1993. The 75 editions of the race were contested at four different distances:

"The seventy-sixth running Saratoga Cup"

In 1963, track owner/operator New York Racing Association held a one-time only commemorative event they called "The seventy-sixth running Saratoga Cup 'The Centennial Season Running.'" It was run at a distance of 1 5/8 miles and was won by Fitz Eugene Dixon, Jr.'s three-year-old gelding, Will I Rule. [3]

Historical notes

During his Hall of Fame career James E. "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons won numerous top races more than five times each including the Belmont Stakes. With ten wins, the Saratoga Cup was most and the race was also among his most memorable as the 1914 edition marked his first important major race win as a trainer. [4]

Exterminator, the 1918 Kentucky Derby winner and a U. S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, won this race four years in row from 1919 to 1922. In his 1920 win, Exterminator set a world record of 2:56 4/5 for 1+3⁄4 miles on dirt. [5] Exterminator's owner Willis Sharpe Kilmer was a notoriously difficult employer and for each of the four wins, Exterminator had a different jockey and a different trainer.

In 1875 a very rare event in horse racing occurred when Preakness and Springbok together set a new American record for the 2 1/4 mile distance in winning the Saratoga Cup in a dead heat. [6]

There were three walkovers in the 75-year history of the Saratoga Cup. Long-distance races were declining in popularity and by the 1920s the number of entrants was regularly only four or five horses. As such, the first walkover came in 1921 when Exterminator's dominance in racing scared away the competition. [7] The second occurred in 1940 and was unique in that it involved two horses, Isolater and Fenelon. Both horses were owned by the powerful Belair Sud Stable who declared Isolater to win. [8] The third time there was a walkover happened in 1946 with Ethel Jacob's Stymie. The future U. S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee had won the 1945 edition of the Saratoga Cup with ease in a year when it was held at Belmont Park. [9] Stymie's continued dominance in racing saw his competition avoiding him in the race's return to Saratoga in 1946. [10]

The 1911–1912 statewide shutdown of horse racing

On June 11, 1908, the Republican controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes passed the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation. [11] The owners of Saratoga Race Course, and other racing facilities in New York State, struggled to stay in business without income from betting. [12] In spite of strong opposition by prominent owners such as August Belmont Jr. and Harry Payne Whitney, reform legislators were not happy when they learned that betting was still going on at racetracks between individuals and they had further restrictive legislation passed by the New York Legislature in 1910. [13] The Agnew–Perkins Law, a series of four bills and recorded as the Executive Liability Act, made it possible for racetrack owners and members of its board of directors to be fined and imprisoned if anyone was found betting, even privately, anywhere on their premises. [14] After a 1911 amendment to the law that would limit the liability of owners and directors was defeated in the Legislature, every racetrack in New York State shut down. [15] As a result, the Saratoga Cup was not run in 1911 and 1912.

A February 21, 1913 ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division saw horse racing return in 1913. [16] However, it was too late for some racing facilities and financial difficulties meant that Brighton Beach Race Course, Gravesend Race Track and Sheepshead Bay Race Track never reopened. [17]

Records

Speed record:

Most wins:

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$
1955Chevation4 Eric Guerin Richard E. Handlen Foxcatcher Farm 13⁄43:02.60$10,525
1954Great Captain5 Eddie Arcaro James E. Fitzsimmons Ogden Phipps 13⁄43:02.60$11,075
1953Alerted5 Conn McCreary Ray De StefanoHampton Stable (Frank Stout)13⁄43:01.40$10,875
1952 Busanda 5 Ted Atkinson James E. FitzsimmonsOgden Phipps13⁄42:59.80$11,325
1951 Busanda 4Eric GuerinJames E. FitzsimmonsOgden Phipps13⁄42:59.00$10,950
1950Cochise4Eddie Arcaro Virgil W. Raines Brandywine Stable (Donald P. Ross 13⁄42:57.60$11,900
1949Doubtless5Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 13⁄42:57.40$11,650
1948Snow Goose4 Job Dean Jessop Oscar White Walter M. Jeffords Sr. 13⁄42:57.80$11,000
1947Talon5 John Adams Horatio Luro Richard N. Ryan13⁄42:58.40$12,300
1946 Stymie 5 Basil James Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 13⁄43:07.40$5,975
1945Stymie4 Johnny Longden Hirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs13⁄42:58.00$18,700
1944Bolingbroke7 Robert Permane Walter Burrows Townsend B. Martin 13⁄42:57.60$18,000
1943 Princequillo 3 Steve Brooks Horatio Luro Boone Hall Stable 13⁄42:56.60$18,200
1942Bolingbroke5 Herb Lindberg Walter BurrowsTownsend B. Martin13⁄42:58.20$9,550
1941Dorimar4Conn McCreary James W. Healy Woodvale Farm (Royce G. Martin)13⁄42:58.40$9,850
1940Isolater7 James Stout James E. Fitzsimmons Belair Stud Stable 13⁄43:02.00$4,825
1939Isolater6James StoutJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud Stable13⁄42:56.20$6,400
1938 War Admiral 4 Maurice Peters George H. Conway Glen Riddle Farm 13⁄42:55.80$6,600
1937Count Arthur5 Lester Balaski Lon Johnson Fannie Hertz 13⁄43:02.20$6,425
1936 Granville 3James StoutJames E. Fitzsimmons William Woodward Sr. 13⁄43:00.80$6,520
1935 Count Arthur 3 Wayne Wright Frank S. HackettFannie Hertz13⁄42:58.40$7,145
1934 Dark Secret 5 Charles Kurtsinger James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 13⁄42:59.20$5,525
1933 Equipoise 5 Raymond Workman T. J. Healey Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 13⁄43:00.00$6,050
1932War Hero3 John Gilbert George H. Conway Glen Riddle Farm13⁄42:59.20$7,825
1931 Twenty Grand 3 Linus McAtee James G. Rowe Jr. Greentree Stable13⁄43:01.20$8,250
1930 Gallant Fox 3 Earl Sande James E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud Stable13⁄42:56.00$9,275
1929 Diavolo 4 John Maiben James E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable13⁄42:58.00$7,350
1928 Reigh Count 3 Chick Lang Bert S. Michell Fannie Hertz13⁄42:55.00$6,500
1927 Chance Play 4John Maiben John I. Smith Log Cabin Stable 13⁄43:03.60$6,850
1926Espino3 Laverne Fator William J. Speirs William Ziegler Jr. 13⁄43:00.40$7,650
1925 Mad Play 4Laverne Fator Sam Hildreth Rancocas Stable 13⁄42:59.40$7,150
1924Mr. Mutt3 Harold Thurber Alex Gordon Bud Fisher 13⁄43:00.80$8,300
1923My Own3 Earl Sande William H. BrooksSalubria Stable (Cary T. Grayson)13⁄42:57.20$6,850
1922 Exterminator 7 Albert Johnson Eugene Wayland Willis Sharpe Kilmer 13⁄43:00.40$6,550
1921Exterminator6 Willie Kelsay Willie Knapp Willis Sharpe Kilmer13⁄43:04.60$4,500
1920Exterminator5Charles Fairbrother J. Simon Healy Willis Sharpe Kilmer13⁄42:56.80$4,950
1919Exterminator4 Andy Schuttinger Henry McDaniel Willis Sharpe Kilmer13⁄42:58.00$5,350
1918 Johren 3 Frank Robinson Albert Simons Harry Payne Whitney 13⁄43:02.20$5,250
1917 Omar Khayyam 3 James Butwell Richard F. Carman Sr. Wilfrid Viau13⁄43:07.60$5,050
1916 Friar Rock 3 John McTaggart Sam Hildreth August Belmont Jr. 13⁄43:03.00$3,375
1915 Roamer 4James Butwell A. J. Goldsborough Andrew Miller 13⁄43:01.80$2,225
1914Star Gaze4 Joe McCahey James E. FitzsimmonsHerbert L. Pratt13⁄43:10.00$1,925
1913Sam Jackson5 Johnny Loftus Jack L. McGinnisV. M. McGinnis13⁄43:08.40$1,650
1912No races held due to the Hart–Agnew Law.
1911
1910 Countless 3 Vincent Powers John W. MayJohn G. Greener13⁄42:58.60$3,850
1909 Olambala 3James Butwell T. J. Healey Montpelier Stable 13⁄42:58.00$2,175
1908Race not held
1907 Running Water 4 Walter Miller Thomas Welsh Newcastle Stable 13⁄43:06.20$6,050
1906Go Between5 Willie Shaw William Shields Edward R. Thomas 13⁄43:05.40$6,050
1905Caughnawaga6 Arthur Redfern Hubert H. Hyner John Sanford 13⁄43:00.80$5,800
1904 Beldame 3 Frank O'Neill Fred Burlew Newton Bennington (Lessee)13⁄43:03.80$8,100
1903 Africander 3 Grover Fuller Richard O. Miller Hampton Stable (Simon Deimel & Charles F. Dwyer)13⁄42:58.00$3,350
1902Advance Guard5Patrick A. McCueAlexander ShieldsJames Carruthers & Alexander Shields13⁄43:01.80$3,350
1901 Blues 3Willie ShawThomas Welsh Frank J. Farrell 15⁄82:52.40$3,350
1892- 1900Race not held
1891 Los Angeles 6Isaac E. Lewis Albert Cooper Santa Anita Stable 20⁄03:43.50$2,900
1887- 1990Race not held
1886 Volante 4 Isaac Burns Murphy Albert Cooper Santa Anita Stable 21⁄44:25.00$1,700
1885Bob Miles4 William J. Fitzpatrick Abraham Perry James T. Williams21⁄44:02.00$2,150
1884General Monroe6 Harry Blaylock Walter C. Rollins Edward J. McElmeel21⁄44:05.00$1,650
1883General Monroe5William J. FitzpatrickWalter C. RollinsEdward J. McElmeel21⁄44:21.50$1,950
1882Thora4BrophyCharles Reed21⁄44:05.50$1,850
1881Checkmate6Isaac Burns MurphyJames T. Williams21⁄44:09.75$1,800
1880Long Taw5G. Wolfe Green B. Morris Green B. Morris21⁄44:08.00$1,300
1879Bramble4 Jim McLaughlin James G. Rowe Sr. Dwyer Brothers Stable 21⁄44:11.75$1,500
1878 Parole 5 William Barrett William Brown Pierre Lorillard 21⁄44:08.50$1,700
1877Parole4William BarrettWilliam BrownPierre Lorillard21⁄44:04.50$2,150
1876 Tom Ochiltree 4 George Barbee R. Wyndham Walden George L. Lorillard 21⁄44:06.50$1,850
1875 (DH) Preakness
Springbok 		6
5		 William Hayward Sr.
W. Clark		 Charles Littlefield Sr.
David McDaniel 		Milton H. Sanford
David McDaniel 		21⁄4
21⁄4		3:56.25
3:56.25		$1,125
$1,125
1874Springbok4George BarbeeDavid McDanielDavid McDaniel21⁄44:11.75$2,450
1873 Joe Daniels 4 Frank McCabe David McDanielDavid McDaniel21⁄44:10.75$1,700
1872 Harry Bassett 4 James G. Rowe Sr. David McDanielDavid McDaniel21⁄43:59.00$1,550
1871 Longfellow 4 Robert Swim John HarperJohn Harper21⁄44:02.75$1,550
1870Helmbold4RobinsonW. R. Babcock21⁄44:03.75$1,850
1869Bayonet4MillerT. G. Moore21⁄44:10.00$2,250
1868Lancaster5William Hayward Sr. Milton H. Sanford 21⁄44:14.00$1,950
1867Muggins4ClarkDouglas & Co.21⁄44:03.00$1,850
1866 Kentucky 5 Charles Littlefield Sr. A. Jackson MinorAnnieswood Stable (Belmont/Hunter/Jerome/Cameron/Travers)21⁄44:04.00$2,250
1865Kentucky4 Gilbert W. Patrick A. Jackson Minor John Hunter, William R. Travers, George Osgood21⁄44:01.50$1,850

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References

  1. ↑ "Saratoga Cup a Famous Old Race". Daily Racing Form. 1919-07-16. Retrieved 2019-10-25– via University of Kentucky Archives.
  2. ↑ "Geldings Eligible to Saratoga Cup". Daily Racing Form. 1919-02-22. Retrieved 2019-10-24– via University of Kentucky Archives.
  3. ↑ Carter & Kane, Allan & Mike (2013-06-14). 150 Years of Racing in Saratoga. The History Press. p. 114. ISBN   9781625845559.
  4. ↑ "James E. Fitzsimmons". Racingmuseum.org. 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  5. ↑ "Exterminator". Racingmuseum.org. 1942-06-27. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  6. ↑ Robertson, William H. P. (1964-01-01). The History of Thoroughbred Racing In America. Prentice Hall. p. 228.
  7. ↑ "Saratoga Cup A Walkover". Daily Racing Form. 1921-09-01. Retrieved 2019-10-27– via University of Kentucky Archives.
  8. ↑ "Belair Pair In Walkover". New York Times. 1940-09-01. Section 5 Sports, page 1. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  9. ↑ "Stymie, 3-4, Takes 65th Saratoga Cup Easily at Belmont". New York Times. 1945-08-26. Sports Section 5, page 9. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  10. ↑ "Blue Border Ties Track Mark to Win Hopeful By A Nose". New York Times. 1946-09-01. Section Sports, page 70. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  11. ↑ "Penalties in the New York Bills". Daily Racing Form. 1908-01-18. Retrieved 2018-10-26– via University of Kentucky Archives.
  12. ↑ "Keep Up Betting Ban". New York Times. 1908-09-01. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  13. ↑ Liebman, Bennett (May 24, 2009). "The First American Triple Crown Series". The Rail. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Racing Men Attack Anti-Betting Bills – Place Every Man Who Makes Private Wager in Jeopardy". New York Times. 1910-04-07. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  15. ↑ "Race Track Bill Defeated In Senate; Measure Modifying Directors' Liability for Gambling Fails of Passage". The New York Times. July 14, 1911. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Oral Betting Held Legal: Appellate Division of New York Supreme Court Renders Important Decision". Daily Racing Form. 1913-02-22. Retrieved 2019-06-29– via University of Kentucky Archives.
  17. ↑ "Destruction Wrought by Hughes". Daily Racing Form. 1908-12-15. Retrieved 2018-11-30– via University of Kentucky Archives.
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