The Municipal Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race for horses of either sex age three and older. It was held at Morris Park Racecourse in The Bronx, New York from inception in 1895 through 1904 when the racetrack closed. It was then run at the newly built Belmont Park from 1905 to 1909 then revived in 1914 and run until 1918 when the race was discontinued.
Historical race notes Ben Holladay's greatness Eastin & Larabie won this race three straight years from 1897 through 1899 with their outstanding distance runner Ben Holladay who won his first Municipal Handicap under jockey Alonzo Clayton in which he set a new world record time of for a mile and three-quarters. Ben Holladay's owner was a racing and breeding partnership created in 1886 between Montana banker and financier Samuel E. Larabie and Augustus Eastin, a wealthy Kentucky businessman.Three Forks News – August 8, 1922 Following his 1899 season, the Wellington New Zealand Mail newspaper, reporting on racing in the United States, wrote that "Ben Holladay has proved himself this year to be by far the best long-distance horse in America" and quoting a front-page story in New York City's Spirit of the Times said that he is described as "the greatest Cup horse of the decade."
Henry of Navarre, Fair Play and Roamer were winners of the Municipal Handicap who would have careers that resulted in their induction into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame.
The Hart–Agnew Law: a disaster for racing On June 11, 1908, the Republican-controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes passed the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation with penalties allowing for fines and up to a year in prison.
In spite of strong opposition by prominent owners such as August Belmont, Jr. and Harry Payne Whitney, reform legislators were not happy when they learned that betting was still going on at racetracks between individuals and they had further restrictive legislation passed by the New York Legislature in 1910 that made it possible for racetrack owners and members of its board of directors to be fined and imprisoned if anyone was found betting, even privately, anywhere on their premises. After a 1911 amendment to the law to limit the liability of owners and directors was defeated, every racetrack in New York State shut down. The consequences of this law meant the Municipal Handicap was not run from 1910 through 1913.
Records Speed record: 2:57 0/0 @ miles, Major Daingerfield (1903) 2:33 2/5 @ miles, Sunny Slope (1918) 2:04 0/0 @ miles, Roamer (1914)
Most wins: 3 – Ben Holladay (1897, 1898, 1899)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – George M. Odom (1900, 1902, 1903) 3 – Willie Knapp (1905, 1906, 1907)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Peter Wimmer (1897, 1898, 1899)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – Augustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie (1897, 1898, 1899)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$1918Sunny Slope3John CallahanRichard F. CarmanBeach Stable (Richard F. Carman, et al.)1 M2:33.40$2,1501917Clematis4Merritt C. BuxtonJohn WhalenOscar Lewisohn1 M2:34.00$2,3251916Stromboli5John McTaggartSam HildrethAugust Belmont Jr.1 M2:39.00$2,1751915Borrow7Joe NotterJames G. Rowe Sr.Lewis S. Thompson1 M2:05.00$1,8751914Roamer3James ButwellA. J. GoldsboroughAndrew Miller1 M2:04.00$2,1501913 Race not held1912 No races held due to the Hart–Agnew Law.19111910 Race not held1909Olambala3James ButwellT. J. HealeyMontpelier Stable1 M2:58.60$1,0601908Fair Play3James LeeA. Jack JoynerAugust Belmont Jr.1 M2:58.00$3,5251907Nealon4Willie KnappFrank M. TaylorPatchogue Stable (William H. DuBois)1 M2:58.80$3,9451906Dishabille4Willie KnappCharles A. MulhollandGeorge C. Bennett1 M2:57.60$3,2301905St. Bellane3Willie KnappRichard E. WatkinsEdward R. Thomas1 M2:59.60$2,8201904Gunfire5Willie ShawJohn W. RogersHerman B. Duryea1 M2:59.50$2,8501903Major Daingerfield4George M. OdomJohn E. MaddenWilliam B. Leeds Sr. & Andrew Miller1 M2:57.00$2,8051902Advance Guard5George M. OdomAlexander ShieldsAlexander Shields & James Carruthers1 M3:00.00$2,7301901Latson6Otto WonderlyJohn HynesGottfried Walbaum1 M2:58.50$3,4951900Ethelbert4George M. OdomA. Jack JoynerPerry Belmont1 M2:58.50$3,1251899Ben Holladay6Henry SpencerPeter WimmerAugustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie1 M3:00.50$3,3251898Ben Holladay5Tommy BurnsPeter WimmerAugustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie1 M3:01.50$2,7501897Ben Holladay4Alonzo ClaytonPeter WimmerAugustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie1 M2:59.25$2,2501896Sir Walter6Samuel DoggettWalter C. RollinsOneck Stable1 M3:05.00$1,9501895Henry of Navarre4Henry GriffinJohn J. HylandBlemton Stable1 M3:02.00$2,400
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