The Razorback Handicap is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in February at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The event currently offers a purse of $500,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 20 February 1960 as a $3,200 allowance race over the sprinting distance of furlongs and was won by Cyrob in a time of 1:05.80. The next season the race was scheduled later in March with an increased purse and distance of one mile and seventy yards thus becoming a natural preparatory race for the track's signature event for older horses - the Oaklawn Handicap which is held in April. The first horse to perform the double feat was Swift Ruler in 1966. That year Swift Ruler set a new track and stakes record for the Razorback winning in a time of 1:39.

In 1968 the event was run in split divisions. The winner of the second division, Barb's Delight had finished second in the 1967 Kentucky Derby The following year the distance of the event was increased to miles.

In 1978 the event was upgraded to Grade III.

Other notable winners of the event include Cox's Ridge in 1978 and 1981 winner Temperence Hill who resumed after being crowned the 1980 United States Champion Three-Year-Old Colt. The 1989 winner, Allen E. Paulson's Blushing John went onto be crowned United States Champion Older Male Horse. The 2017 United States Champion Older Male Horse Gun Runner began his championship campaign with an emphatic length victory as the 1/5on favorite.

Between 2005 and 2008, the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event.

Records Speed record: miles – 1:40.40 Lost Code (1988) 1 mile and 70 yards – 1:39.20 Swift Ruler (1966)

Largest Winning Margin: lengths – Golden Lad (2014)

Most wins by a jockey: 6 – Pat Day (1982, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 – Joseph B. Cantey (1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Earl Allen (1966, 1967) 2 – Loblolly Stable (1978, 1981) 2 – Happy Valley Farm (1982, 1983) 2 – Allen E. Paulson (1982, 1983) 2 – Don C. McNeill (2001, 2002) 2 - Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (2017, 2026)

Razorback Handicap – Oaklawn Handicap double: Swift Ruler (1966), Charlie Jr. (1970), Gage Line (1972), Cox's Ridge (1978), Temperence Hill (1981), Eminency (1982), Lost Code (1988), Opening Verse (1990), Alternation (2012), Cyber Secret (2013), Raceday (2015)

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026Magnitude4Jose L. OrtizSteven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds miles1:42.10$500,000III2025Alexander Helios 5Tyler Gaffalione Saffie Joseph Jr.John & Diane Fradkin miles1:41.88$500,000III2024Octane 5Julien Leparoux Juan AlvaradoArindel miles1:43.57$600,000III2023Last Samurai 5Cristian Torres D. Wayne LukasStonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings miles1:42.19$600,000III2022Plainsman 7Joel RosarioBrad H. CoxShortleaf Stable miles1:43.79$600,000III2021Mystic Guide 4Luis SaezMichael Stidham Godolphin Racing miles1:44.33$600,000III2020Warrior's Charge 4Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxTen Strike Racing & Madaket Stables miles1:43.00$500,000III2019Coal Front 5John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherRobert V. LaPenta & Head of Plains Partners miles1:43.45$500,000III2018Hawaakom 8Corey J. LanerieWesley E. HawleyStephan H. Smoot & Wesley E. Hawley miles1:45.14$500,000III2017Gun Runner 4Florent GerouxSteven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm miles1:40.97$500,000III2016Upstart 4Joe Bravo Ralph M. Evans & WinStar Farm miles1:44.12$350,000III2015Race Day 4John R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher Matthew Schera miles1:44.88$250,000III2014Golden Lad 4Jose LezcanoTodd A. Pletcher E. Paul Robsham Stables miles1:43.72$200,000III2013Cyber Secret 4Robby AlbaradoLynn S. WhitingCharles J. Cella miles1:44.80$150,000III2012Alternation 4Luis S. QuinonezPin Oak Stable miles1:43.50$125,000III2011It Happened Again 5Michael BazeSteven M. Asmussen Maggi Moss miles1:43.58$125,000III2010† Spotsgone 7Jon CourtWilliam H. Fires Robert Yagos miles1:43.83$150,000III2009Let It Rock 4Terry J. ThompsonJudi A. Hicklin Hicklin Farms & Tom Gregerson miles1:44.18$120,000III2008Jonesboro 6Calvin H. BorelRandy L. Morse Michael Langford miles1:44.21$149,000III2007Magna Graduate 5John R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher Elisabeth H. Alexander miles1:44.17$150,000III2006Purim 4Robby AlbaradoThomas F. Proctor Edward Joseph Sukley miles1:43.77$150,000III2005Added Edge 5Luis S. QuinonezDale L. Romans Team Valor Stables & Robert J. Wilson miles1:43.88$125,000III2004Sonic West 5Willie MartinezThomas L. Van Berg Stone Spire miles1:43.56$100,000III2003Colorful Tour 4Luis S. QuinonezP. Noel HickeyIrish Acres Farm (P. Noel Hickey) miles1:43.53$100,000III2002Mr Ross 7Donald R. PettingerDonnie K. Von Hemel Don C. McNeill miles1:44.13$100,000III2001Mr Ross 6Donald R. PettingerDonnie K. Von Hemel Don C. McNeill miles1:42.60$125,000III2000Well Noted 5Timothy T. DoocyRandy L. Morse Robert S. Mitchell Trust miles1:43.21$125,000III1999Desert Air 4Corey J. LanerieMichael Stidham Mount Brilliant Stable miles1:44.75$125,000III1998Brush With Pride 6Timothy T. DoocySteve HobbyBarbara R. & John E. Smicklas miles1:43.55$125,000III1997 5Robert Neal LesterDonnie K. Von Hemel E. J. Dullea Partnership miles1:43.38$150,000III1996Juliannus 7Robby AlbaradoAlbert Stall Jr.Francis Foret, Joe Gee, David Hulkewicz & Robert Wilensky miles1:43.37$150,000II1995Silver Goblin 4Dale W. CordovaKenny P. Smith Al J. Horton miles1:42.79$200,000II1994Prize Fight 5Patrick A. JohnsonJames O. Keefer L. William Heiligbrodt, Ted Keefer & Walter New miles1:43.70$150,000II1993Lil E. Tee 4Pat DayLynn S. WhitingW. Cal Partee miles1:41.55$150,000II1992Tokatee 6Garrett K. GomezRon McAnally Marie D Jones miles1:42.87$150,000II1991Bedeviled 4Donald Lee HowardJack Van Berg John A. Franks miles1:42.50$150,000II1990Opening Verse 4Pat DayRichard J. LundyAllen E. Paulson miles1:41.40$150,000II1989Blushing John 4Pat DayRichard J. LundyAllen E. Paulson miles1:43.00$100,000II1988Lost Code 4Craig PerretWilliam L. Donovan Wendover Stable miles1:40.40$122,500II1987Bolshoi Boy 4Randy RomeroHoward M. Tesher Art Belford & John Greathouse Jr. miles1:40.80$147,700II1986Red Attack 4Larry SnyderA. J. Foyt III Calumet Farm miles1:42.00$143,500II1985Imp Society 4Pat DayD. Wayne Lukas Heslop Stable miles1:42.60$167,900II1984Dew Line 5Sam MapleJoseph B. CanteyJerold Hoffberger miles1:41.60$124,200III1983Eminency 5Pat DayJoseph B. Cantey Happy Valley Farm miles1:43.60$117,900III1982Eminency 4Pat DayJoseph B. Cantey Happy Valley Farm miles1:45.20$127,000III1981Temperence Hill 4Eddie MapleJoseph B. Cantey Loblolly Stable miles1:44.20$111,100III 1980All the More 7Larry SnyderDel W. CarrollFrank J. Cullerton miles1:45.40$94,000III1979Cisk 5Garth PattersonGlenn L. Hild Carolyn Manning miles1:45.40$89,500III1978Cox's Ridge 4Eddie MapleJoseph B. Cantey Loblolly Stable miles1:43.00$61,850III1977Dragset 6 Jon KunitakeGlenn L. Hild Jim Manning miles1:44.40$59,850 1976Royal Glint 6Gordon R. PotterDan Lasater miles1:42.40$60,750 1975Navajo 5James D. NicholsJames O. KeeferJoseph Stevenson & Raymond Stump miles1:43.20$50,000 1974Model Husband 5John LivelyJim E. O'BryantMrs. Hugh L. Hembree miles1:43.80$50,000 1973The Cutter 4Alberto RamosRobert L. IrwinRedbob Farms miles1:44:00$30,000 1972Gage Line 6 Louis SpindlerDavid R. Vance Robert Ballis miles1:43.80$25,000 1971Francesco 5 Jon KunitakeA. J. Moidell A. J. Moidell miles1:42.60$30,000 1970§ Charlie Jr. 4Larry SnyderDewey P. SmithT. Allie & James E. Grissom miles1:43.80$25,000 1969Hy Frost 4 Billy J. PhelpsForrest Kaelin Fleming B. Fraser miles1:44.60$15,000 1968Missouri Gent 4 Hector Viera Edmond Waller Edmond & John Waller1:42.40$12,500 Barb's Delight 4 Earl Knapp Henry W. Steele Jr.Guy Huguelot, Gene Spading & Henry W. Steele Jr.1:41.00$12,500 1967Swift Ruler 5 Wayne Chambers Gin L. Collins Earl Allen1:41.20$10,000 1966Swift Ruler 4 Larry R. Spraker Gin L. Collins Earl Allen1:39.20$10,000 1965El Bora 5 Rudy Campas C. Vinvi Ace Hi Stable1:40.80$10,000 1964Jaywalking 7 Frank Pacheco Bryan Wise Perne L. Grissom1:41.00$10,000 1963Loyal Son 7 William Carstens Roy Gillem Eastwood Stable1:41.00$10,000 1962Natego 5 Eugene CurryJ. J. LombardoMarilynn V. Landy1:39.60$10,000 1961§ Eight Again 4Willie CookVester R. Wright T. Allie Grissom1:39.60$10,000 1960Cyrob 4James D. NicholsJ. McFarlanJ. Davidson furlongs1:05.80$3,200

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

† In the 2010 running of the event Win Willy was first past the post and wagering was paid out as the winner, however the horse returned a positive swab for the presence of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and consequently was disqualified from the prizemoney and was placed eighth (last). As a result, the first-place purse was awarded to Spotsgone and all other finishers were advanced one position for the purposes of purses.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links Oaklawn Park Media Guide 2020

References