The Wilson Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run from 1930 through 1958. Inaugurated as the Wilson Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, it was named in honor of the late Richard Thornton Wilson Jr., a prominent Thoroughbred owner and president of Saratoga Race Course.
Historical notes The first running took place on August 2, 1930 and was contested at a distance of one mile (8 furlongs). It was won by the Glen Riddle Farm colt Battleship Gray who owned his sire, the legendary Man o' War.
Due to government wartime restrictions, the 1943 to 1945 runnings of the Wilson Stakes took place at Belmont Park. In July 1954, the race was shifted permanently to Jamaica Racetrack in Jamaica, New York where it was renamed the Wilson Handicap and run as a six furlong sprint. The event remained at the Jamaica track through 1958 and was then canceled due to the closure of the Jamaica facility on August 1, 1959.
In 1946 the future Hall of Fame filly Gallorette ran second in the Wilson Stakes but came back the next year to win the August 4, 1947 edition in a Saratoga track record time of 1:35 2/5 for the mile on dirt. In 1948 Gallorette returned to compete and her second straight Wilson Stakes.
The final running of the Wilson was held on July 29, 1958 and was won by Nahodah, a Marion duPont Scott homebred gelding.
Seven horses that won the Wilson Stakes, Devil Diver, Discovery, Eight Thirty, Equipoise, Gallorette, Tom Fool, War Admiral, all went on to have racing careers that would earn them induction into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame.
Records Speed record: 1:10.40 @ 6 furlongs : Nahodah (1950) 1:35.40 @ 1 mile (8 furlongs) : Gallorette (1947)
Most wins: 2 - Equipoise (1932, 1933) 2 - Discovery (1935, 1936) 2 - Eight Thirty (1939, 1940) 2 - Gallorette (1947, 1948) 2 - Tom Fool (1952, 1953)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Ted Atkinson (1944, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954)
Most wins by a trainer: 6 - John M. Gaver Sr. (1943, 1944, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953)
Most wins by an owner: 6 - Greentree Stable (1943, 1944, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Furlongs)(Miles) Time1958Nahodah5Joe CulmoneFrank A. BonsalMontpelier Stable6 f1:10.401957Jovial Jove4Sam Boulmetis Sr.Charles P. SanbornBwamazon Farm6 f1:11.201956Ambergris4Hedley WoodhouseWinbert F. MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.6 f1:10.601955Mr. Turf6James D. NicholsFrancis J. HoranJack J. Amiel6 f1:11.601954First Glance7Hedley WoodhouseWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt Jr.6 f1:11.601953Tom Fool4Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 m1:37.201952Tom Fool3Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 m1:39.401951Hall of Fame3Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 m1:37.601950Capot4Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 m1:38.401949Manyunk4Gordon GlissonGeorge E. RobertsBarney Foster & Henry W. Collins1 m1:40.001948Gallorette6Job Dean JessopEdward A. ChristmasWilliam L. Brann1 m1:38.401947Gallorette5Job Dean JessopEdward A. ChristmasWilliam L. Brann1 m1:35.401946Pavot4Arnold KirklandOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords Sr.1 m1:36.601945Brownie6Eric GuerinJohn B. TheallJohn B. Theall1 m1:37.001944Devil Diver5Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 m1:36.201943Shut Out4Wayne D. WrightJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 m1:36.401942Apache3James StoutJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud Stable1 m1:37.001941Parasang4Basil JamesEdward L. SnyderCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1 m1:38.801940Eight Thirty4Harry RichardsWinbert F. MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1 m1:39.001939Eight Thirty3Harry RichardsWinbert F. MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1 m1:37.001938War Admiral4Charles KurtsingerGeorge H. ConwayGlen Riddle Farm1 m1:39.401937Esposa5Nick WallMatthew P. BradyMiddleburg Stable (William Ziegler Jr.)1 m1:38.401936Discovery5John BejshakJoseph H. StotlerAlfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. 1 m1:38.801935Discovery4John BejshakJoseph H. StotlerAlfred G. Vanderbilt Jr.1 m1:37.20 1934Observant3Silvio CoucciMax HirschMorton L. Schwartz1 m1:37.601933Equipoise5Raymond WorkmanThomas J. HealeyCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1 m1:39.001932Equipoise4Raymond WorkmanThomas J. HealeyCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1 m1:38.201931Blind Bowboy3Laverne FatorHerbert J. ThompsonEdward R. Bradley1 m1:38.001930Battleship Gray4Henry EricksonWilliam R. MidgleyGlen Riddle Farm1 m1:38.60
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