The Merchants and Citizens Handicap is a discontinued American Thoroughbred horse race which was first run in 1900 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to horses aged three and older, it was contested on dirt. The inaugural event was won by Orville Richards' gelding Charentus and the final running in 1960 by Gustave Ring's Don Poggio. In between them, some of the races most notable winners include U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductees Roamer, Sir Barton, Exterminator (1921) and Discovery (1935).
The 1919 U. S. Triple Crown winner Sir Barton set a world record of 1:55 3/5 for 1 3/16 miles on dirt in winning the August 28, 1920 edition of the Merchants and Citizens Handicap.
Records Speed record: 2:55.80 – Don Poggio (1960) at 1 miles 1:54.60 – Reveille Boy (1932) at 1
Most wins: 2 – Herbert (1901, 1902) 2 – Sir John Johnson (1909, 1910)
Most wins by a jockey: 6 – Ted Atkinson (1943, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1955)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 – James E. Fitzsimmons (1914, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1940, 1941)
Most wins by an owner: 4 – Belair Stud (1930, 1934, 1940, 1941)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time1960Don Poggio4Sam Boulmetis Sr.Pancho MartinGustave Ring1 M2:55.801959Cross Channel5Manuel YcazaEdward A. ChristmasHowell E. Jackson1 M2:56.001958Civet5Raul SterlingT. F. McMahonByrnalnan Stable (E. Austin Byrne)1 M2:58.801957Admiral Vee5Willie LesterH. Allen JerkensEdward Seinfeld1 M2:59.601956Thinking Cap4Paul J. BaileyHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stables1 M3:02.801955First Aid5Ted AtkinsonPreston M. BurchBrookmeade Stable1 M1:58.001954Capeador4Nick ShukPreston M. BurchBrookmeade Stable1 M1:58.001953One Hitter7Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 M1:56.601952Crafty Admiral4Eric GuerinRobert B. OdomCharfran Stable (Charles & Frances Cohen)1 M1:57.401951County Delight4Eric GuerinJames E. RyanRokeby Stable1 M1:57.401950My Request5Ted AtkinsonJames P. ConwayFlorence Whitaker1 M1:56.601949Chains4Gordon GlissonPreston M. BurchBrookmeade Stable1 M1:57.201948Beauchef5Ruperto DonosoRobert B. OdomAndes Stable1 M1:59.001947Loyal Legion3Ted AtkinsonOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords Sr.1 M1:58.001946Lucky Draw5Conn McCrearyBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1 M1:55.401945Coronal5Ted AtkinsonGeorge P. "Maj" OdomDell Stables (Herman Delman)1 M1:56.201944Princequillo4George WoolfHoratio LuroBoone Hall Stable1 M1:56.201943Lochinvar4Ted AtkinsonAndy SchuttingerJoseph M. Roebling1 M1:55.001942Olympus7Don MeadeEddie HaywardBarrington Stable1 M1:58.001941Fenelon4James StoutJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 M1:58.801940Isolater7James StoutJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 M1:56.801939Sickle T4Ronnie NashJack HowardFlorence Whitaker1 M1:58.401938Great Union3Sam RenickLouis FeustelElizabeth Graham Lewis1 M1:57.801937Count Arthur5Lester BalaskiLon JohnsonFannie Hertz1 M1:58.001936Esposa4Nick WallMatthew P. BradyMiddleburg Stable 1 M2:00.401935Discovery4John BejshakJoseph H. StotlerAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1 M1:57.401934Faireno5Tommy MalleyJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 M1:58.601933Dark Secret4Hank MillsJames E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1 M1:57.401932Reveille Boy5Raymond WorkmanJohn A. BestJohn A. Best1 M1:54.601931Curate5Mack GarnerPeter W. CoyneJoseph E. Widener1 M1:56.601930Frisius4Whitey AbelJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 M1:56.601929Petee-Wrack4John MaibenWilliam M. BoothJohn R. Macomber1 M2:02.201928Chance Shot4Earl SandePeter W. CoyneJoseph E. Widener1 M2:03.201927Chance Play4Earl SandeJohn I. SmithArden Farm Stable1 M1:59.201926Flagstaff6Laverne FatorWillie KnappLa Brae Stable (H. H. Cotton)1 M1:59.001925Spot Cash5John MaibenJames W. HealyAlbert C. Bostwick Jr.1 M1:58.001924Sunsini4Willie KelsayFrank M. BrayLilane Stable (Mrs. William L. Walker)1 M2:05.201923Bunting4Clarence KummerJames G. Rowe Sr.Harry Payne Whitney1 M1:56.401922Devastation4Laverne FatorMax HirschStephen Petit1 M2:05.001921Exterminator6Willie KelsayWillie KnappWillis Sharpe Kilmer1 M1:57.401920Sir Barton4Earl SandeH. Guy BedwellJ. K. L. Ross1 M1:55.601919Cudgel5Earl SandeH. Guy BedwellJ. K. L. Ross1 M1:57.401918Midway4Harold ThurberJohn S. WardJames W. Parrish1 M1:56.201917Clematis4Merritt C. BuxtonThomas M. Murphy Oscar Lewisohn1 M2:02.401916The Finn4Andy SchuttingerEdward W. HeffnerHarry C. Hallenbeck1 M1:58.001915Roamer4James ButwellAndrew J. GoldsboroughAndrew Miller1 M1:59.001914Star Gaze4John McTaggartJames E. FitzsimmonsHerbert L. Pratt1 M2:03.801913Sam Jackson5Tommy DaviesJack L. McGinnisV. M. McGinnis1 M2:01.601911 – 1912 No racing due to Hart–Agnew Law1910Sir John Johnson5George ArchibaldDavid WoodfordBeverwyck Stable (Frank J. Nolan)1 M2:01.601909Sir John Johnson4James Butler Jr.David WoodfordBeverwyck Stable (Frank J. Nolan)1 M1:58.001908Dandelion6Carroll ShillingJohn E. MaddenFrancis R. Hitchcock1 M1:58.801907Running Water4Walter MillerThomas WelshNewcastle Stable1 M1:58.401906Red Leaf4Charles KoernerJ. Oliver KeeneJ. Oliver Keene1 M2:02.001905Outcome4Harry W. BairdWoodford ClayWoodford Clay1 M2:02.601904Molly Brant4George M. OdomHubert H. HynerJohn Sanford 1 M1:51.601903Hermis4George M. OdomWilliam ShieldsEdward R. Thomas1 M1:51.601902Herbert5Lewis SmithWalter C. RollinsWalter C. Rollins1 M1:56.401901Herbert4Lewis SmithWalter C. RollinsWalter C. Rollins1 M1:51.201900Charentus6Willie ShawJim McLaughlinOrville L. Richards1 M1:45.50
References