The Stuyvesant Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the fall of the year at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Inaugurated in 1916, after its 58th running in 2008, the race was discontinued.

A Grade III event for horses aged three and older, it was contested on dirt over nine furlongs—. The Stuyvesant, named for an area of New York settled by the Dutch in the dawn of what would become America, offered a purse of $100,000 added.

History The Stuyvesant was run at Jamaica Race Course for three-year-olds from 1916 to 1924, and from 1937 to 1939. In 1916, 1917, and 1918, and again from 1937 to 1939, it was a six furlong ( mile) sprint. It went off at a mile (eight furlongs) from 1919 to 1924. It was not run from 1925 to 1936, nor from 1940 to 1962.

In 1963, the race was resumed, at Aqueduct Racetrack over a distance of nine furlongs ( miles). The distance was reduced to a mile (eight furlongs) from 1964 to 1972, then restored to nine furlongs from 1973 until discontinued. The race remained at Aqueduct until discontinued, except for three runnings at Belmont Park (1990, 1995, and 2001).

+Stuyvesant Handicap Locations & DistancesYear(s) Location Distance 1916–1918 Jamaica Race Course 6 furlongs ( mile) 1919–1924 8 furlongs (1 mile) 1925–1936 not run 1937–1939 Jamaica Race Course 6 furlongs ( mile) 1940–1962 not run 1963 Aqueduct Racetrack 9 furlongs ( mile) 1964–1972 8 furlongs (1 mile) 1973–1989 9 furlongs ( mile) 1990 Belmont Park 1991–1994 Aqueduct Racetrack 1995 Belmont Park 1996–2000 Aqueduct Racetrack 2001 Belmont Park 2002–2008 Aqueduct Racetrack

August Belmont Jr.'s colt Fernrock won the May 23, 1916, inaugural edition of the Stuyvesant Handicap against what the Daily Racing Form described as "an above average field."

In 1920, with only one competitor willing to challenge him, the great Man o' War was sent off at odds of 1 to 100, the shortest odds in the history of American racing. Under a tight rein, he merely toyed with his opponent but still won by ten lengths.

Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Riva Ridge set a new track record of 1:47 flat for miles (9 furlongs) on dirt in winning the 1973 edition of the Stuyvesant Handicap.

The 1978 running marked the final race for the legendary Seattle Slew, the 1977 American Triple Crown winner. Seattle Slew, ridden by Angel Cordero Jr., won the race by four lengths. Sportscaster and Aqueduct track announcer Chic Anderson called the race's climax movingly: "Ladies and gentlemen, here he is, the champion of the world, Seattle Slew!"

The Stuyvesant Handicap had its final running on November 15, 2008, and was won by the gelding Dry Martini, owned by Carol Nyren. Dry Martini came from last to first to win by lengths over Stud Muffin, whose damsire was Seattle Dancer. In 1985, Seattle Dancer was sold for $13.1 million, a price that then made him the most expensive yearling ever sold at public auction.

Another running of the race had been planned for November 14, 2009. However, with only five entrants and heavy rain forecast for race day, organizers cancelled the event on November 12, while also citing a general lack of interest. The 2009 race was not rescheduled, and the Stuyvesant Handicap has not been staged since.

Records

Speed record: 1:34.00 @ 1 mile – Icecapade (1972) 1:47.00 @ 1 1/8 miles – Riva Ridge (1973)

Most wins: no horse ever won this race more than once

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Eddie Maple (1972, 1973, 1977) 3 – Jerry Bailey (1979, 1983, 1989) 3 – Mike E. Smith (1990, 1995, 1999) 3 – John R. Velazquez (1992, 1993, 2001)

Most wins by a trainer: 3 – MacKenzie Miller (1971, 1979, 1983)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – August Belmont Jr. (1916, 1924) 2 – Wheatley Stable (1938, 1969) 2 – Loblolly Stable (1977, 1986) 2 – Rokeby Stables (1979, 1983) 2 – Dogwood Stable (1991, 1994)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$ Gr.2008Dry Martini5Channing HillWilliam H. Turner Jr.Carol Nyren1 m1:51.18$66,300G32007Hunting4Alan GarciaC. R. McGaughey IIIStuart S. Janney III1 m1:48.08$65,100G32006Accountforthegold4Mike LuzziGary C. ContessaWinning Move Stable & Harold Lerner1 m1:48.80$66,060G32005Evening Attire7José A. SantosPatrick J. KellyJoseph & Mary Grant, Thomas J. Kelly1 m1:51.20$65,160G32004Classic Endeavor6Edgar PradoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.Sullivan Lane Stable et al.1 m1:49.60$65,940G32003Presidentialaffair4Richard MiglioreMartin CiresaPapandrea, Ciresa1 m1:50.80$66,180G32002Snake Mountain4José A. SantosJames A. JerkensBerkshire Stud et al.1 m1:50.40$68,040G32001Graeme Hall4John VelazquezTodd PletcherEugene Melnyk1 m1:47.80$64,620G32000Lager6Herberto Castillo Jr.James A. JerkensSusan & John Moore1 m1:50.00$64,860G31999Best of Luck3Mike E. SmithH. Allen JerkensBohemia Stable1 m1:49.60$67,200G31998Mr. Sinatra4Aaron GryderGasper MoscheraBarbara J. Davis1 m1:48.00$65,280G31997Delay of Game4Jean-Luc SamynGeorge R. Arnold IIJohn H. Peace1 m1:47.60$66,060G31996Poor But Honest6Jorge F. ChavezJuan SereyVincent S. Scuderi1 m1:49.40$66,480G31995Silver Fox4Mike E. SmithAnthony MargottaWilliam Blasland Jr.1 m1:48.00$68,940G31994Wallenda4Herb McCauleyFrank A. AlexanderDogwood Stable1 m1:50.69$64,560G31993Michelle Can Pass5John VelazquezJohn M. DeStefano Jr.Jay Cee Jay Stable1 m1:51.00$70,200G31992Shot's Are Ringing5John VelazquezPeter R. FerriolaJewel E Stable1 m1:49.20$69,120G31991Montubio6Julio PezuaAngel Penna Jr.Dogwood Stable1 m1:48.20$72,480G31990I'm Sky High4Mike E. SmithEdward I. KellyBrookfield Farm1 m1:48.20$71,760G31989Its Academic5Jerry D. BaileyLuis BarreraMarcus Vogel1 m1:48.80$70,560G21988Talinum4Marco CastanedaD. Wayne LukasJohn G. Sikura1 m1:51.20$112,240G21987Moment of Hope4Michael VeneziaBob G. DunhamFour Fifths Stable (Robert Shapiro)1 m1:49.60$109,080G21986Little Missouri4Robbie DavisGeorge R. Arnold IILoblolly Stable1 m1:50.00$125,280G21985Garthorn5Rafael MezaRobert J. FrankelJerry Moss1 m1:48.40$70,320G21984Valiant Lark4Vince Bracciale Jr.Henry L. CarrollDee-Jo-Stable (Basil J. Plasteras)1 m1:51.40$70,080G21983Fit to Fight4Jerry D. BaileyMacKenzie MillerRokeby Stable1 m1:49.00$68,280G21982Engine One4Ruben Hernandez Sylvester E. VeitchBenjamin F. Ferguson II1 m1:49.60$67,200G31981Idyll4Cash AsmussenJan H. NerudTartan Stable1 m1:48.80$68,280G31980Plugged Nickle3Cash AsmussenThomas J. KellyJohn M. Schiff1 m1:50.20$68,880G31979Music of Time4Jerry D. BaileyMacKenzie MillerRokeby Stable1 m1:50.40$68,280G31978Seattle Slew4Angel Cordero Jr.Douglas R. PetersonTayhill Stable (Karen & Mickey Taylor & Dr. Jim Hill)1 m1:47.40$62,310G31977Cox's Ridge3Eddie MapleJoseph B. CanteyLoblolly Stable1 m1:48.40$32,760G31976Distant Land4Heliodoro GustinesWilliam J. HirschKing Ranch1 m1:49.00$32,610G31975Festive Mood6Herberto HinojosaRichard W. SmallSally M. Gibson1 m1:48.40$33,210G31974Crafty Khale5Jean CruguetRobert L. DotterMrs. Nelson I. Asiel1 m1:48.00$34,890G31973Riva Ridge4Eddie MapleLucien LaurinMeadow Stable1 m1:47.00$34,470G31972Icecapade3Eddie MapleDavid A. WhiteleyLocust Hill Farm1 m1:34.00$36,5701971Red Reality5Laffit Pincay Jr.MacKenzie MillerCragwood Stables1 m1:34.60$36,3001970Never Bow4Eddie BelmonteH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm1 m1:35.80$36,4201969King Emperor3Carlos H. MarquezEdward A. NeloyWheatley Stable1 m1:34.40$39,5201968Spring Double5Chuck BaltazarJ. Bowes BondWoodside Stud (Alene Erlanger)1 m1:36.20$38,4801967Sun Gala3Ron TurcotteRandy SechrestGedney Farm (Harry P. Albert & Mrs. John T. Stanley)1 m1:36.80$37,1801966Understanding3Angel Cordero Jr.Hirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs1 m1:36.00$37,7651965Flag Raiser3Robert UsseryHirsch JacobsIsidor Bieber1 m1:35.60$39,7801964Macedonia4Heliodoro GustinesBuddy JacobsonMrs. Samuel J. Lefrak1 m1:37.20$18,6231963Rocky Link3Sandino HernandezStephen A. DiMauroGolden Triangle Stable1 m1:49.20$18,298 Race not held (1940–1962)1939T. M. Dorsett3Leon HaasJohn B. TheallDorothy Dorsett Brown6 f1:12.20$3,9251938Merry Lassie3James StoutJames E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable6 f1:11.00$3,7001937Chicolorado3Eddie ArcaroWilliam BrennanGreentree Stable6 f1:13.00$4,425 Race not held (1925–1936)1924Ordinance3Edward LegereLouis FeustelAugust Belmont Jr.1 m1:38.40$4,6501923Dot3Earl SandeNat L. ByerJake Byer1 m1:39.40$4,6501922Snob II3Earl SandeHollie HughesSanford Stud Farms1 m1:39.60$4,6501921Sedgefield3Frank ColtilettiThomas J. HealeyRichard T. Wilson Jr.1 m1:39.60$4,6501920Man o' War3Clarence KummerLouis FeustelGlen Riddle Farm1 m1:41.60$3,8501919Purchase3Johnny LoftusSam HildrethSam Hildreth1 m1:38.80$3,8501918Motor Cop3Johnny LoftusWalter B. JenningsA. Kingsley Macomber6 f1:12.20$2,8251917Julialeon3Roscoe TroxlerMax HirschGeorge W. Loft6 f1:14.80$3,1751916Fernrock3Everett HaynesSam HildrethAugust Belmont Jr.6 f1:13.00$2,350

References

External links Seattle Slew's 1978 Stuyvesant Handicap