The Empire City Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race inaugurated on October 22, 1900, as part of the opening day racecard at Empire City Race Track in Yonkers, New York. Sometimes referred in newspaper reports as the Empire City Stakes, it was raced at the Empire City track through 1942 then the following year it moved to the Jamaica Race Course in Jamaica, Queens where it remained until its final running on November 7, 1953.
The first edition of the Empire City Handicap was open to horses age three and older. From 1937 until its final running in 1953, the race was restricted to three-year-old horses. There was no race run 1901–1906, and 1911–1913. That inaugural running was won by Charentus in a World record time of 2:04 flat for a mile and a quarter on dirt.
During its tenure, the Empire City Handicap was contested at various distances: 1 mile : 1907 miles : 1908–1910, 1914–1922, 1934–1941 miles : 1942-1953 miles : 1900, 1923–1933
Records Speed record: 1:50.00 @ 1 M : Swing And Sway (1941) 1:56.00 @ 1 M : Apache (1942) 2:03.00 @ 1 M : Sting (1924)
Most wins: 2 - Peanuts (1926, 1927)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 - Laverne Fator (1922, 1925) 2 - Johnny Longden (1935, 1943) 2 - Nick Wall (1939, 1950) 2 - James Stout (1940, 1942) 2 - Eddie Arcaro (1944, 1949) 2 - Ted Atkinson (1945, 1952) 2 - Eric Guerin (1946, 1953)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 - James E. Fitzsimmons (1930, 1932, 1934, 1940, 1942, 1946)
Most wins by an owner: 5 - Belair Stud (1930, 1934, 1940, 1942, 1946)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time1953Find3Eric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt Jr.1 M1:58.001952Tom Fool3Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 M1:58.001951Counterpoint3Dave GormanSylvester VeitchC. V. Whitney1 M1:58.601950All At Once3Nick WallW. M. LyonsJohn W. Nizlek1 M1:59.001949Palestinian3Eddie ArcaroHirsch JacobsIsadore Bieber1 M1:57.201948Miss Request3Ovie ScurlockJames P. ConwayFlorence Whitaker1 M1:57.401947Phalanx 3Ruperto DonosoSylvester VeitchC. V. Whitney1 M1:57.801946Bonnie Beryl3Eric GuerinJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 M1:56.801945Gallorette 3Ted AtkinsonEdward A. ChristmasWilliam L. Brann1 M1:56.801944Stir Up3Eddie ArcaroJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 M1:56.201943Chop Chop3Johnny LongdenHarris B. BrownJosephine Douglas1 M1:57.201942Apache3James StoutJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 M1:56.001941Swing And Sway3Don MeadeJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 M1:50.001940Fenelon3James StoutJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud 1 M1:53.001939Lovely Night3Nick WallHenry McDanielFlorence Clark1 M1:52.001938Stagehand3Jack WestropeEarl SandeCol. Maxwell Howard1 M1:51.001937Rex Flag3Robert MerrittJohn P. JonesLouise Viau1 M1:52.401936Esposa4Russell KastnerMatthew P. BradyWilliam Ziegler Jr.1 M1:52.601935Top Row4Johnny LongdenAlbert A. BaroniAlbert A. Baroni1 M1:51.001934Faireno5Silvio CoucciJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 M1:51.801933Dark Secret4John GilbertGeorge TappenWheatley Stable1 M2:05.001932Blenheim4Hank MillsJames E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1 M2:06.601931Questionnaire4Raymond WorkmanEdward J. BennettJames Butler1 M2:07.001930Frisius4Whitey AbelJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1 M2:06.001929Sun Edwin4Linus McAteeLouis FeustelArden Farm1 M2:05.751928Recreation4Pete GoodwinJefferson Livingston 1 M2:08.401927Peanuts5Harold ThurberGeorge M. OdomRobert L. Gerry Sr.1 M2:08.001926Peanuts4Harry RichardsGeorge M. OdomRobert L. Gerry Sr.1 M2:06.001925Mad Play4Laverne FatorSam HildrethRancocas Stable1 M2:08.001924Sting3Benjamin BreuningJimmy JohnsonJames Butler1 M2:03.001923Tryster5Earl SandeScott P. HarlanWestmont Stable 1 M2:05.401922Grey Lag4Laverne FatorSam HildrethRancocas Stable1 M1:54.001921Yellow Hand4Charles H. MillerA. J. GoldsboroughCharles A. Stoneham1 M1:51.001920Naturalist6Clarence TurnerThomas Welsh Joseph E. Widener1 M1:53.001919Lanius8Johnny LoftusA. Jack JoynerGeorge D. Widener Jr.1 M1:51.801918Roamer7Lawrence LykeA. J. GoldsboroughAndrew Miller1 M1:51.001917Spur4Willie KnappJohn H. McCormackJames Butler1 M1:56.601916Short Grass8Frank KeoghJohn J. Flanigan Emil Herz1 M1:51.201915Gainer4Tommy McTaggartJames G. Rowe Sr.Greentree Stable1 M1:51.601914Buckhorn5Joe McCaheyJack D. AdkinsRoderick J. Mackenzie1 M1:54.001913 Race not held1912 No races held due to the Hart–Agnew Law.19111910Dalmatian3George Archibald Sam HildrethSam Hildreth1 M1:51.001909Maltbie4Stanley B. Page James Gass George Reif1 M1:53.801908Pinkola3James ButlerWilliam H. FizerWilliam H. Fizer1 M1:54.801907Prince Ahmed3Walter OttJohn C. Ferris Jr.John C. Ferris Jr.1 M1:40.601900Charentus6Willie ShawJim McLaughlinOrville L. Richards1 M2:04.00
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