The Coney Island Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1894 through 1910 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in New York state. An event that always attracted a quality field, the conditions for entry allowed horses of either sex, aged three and older. Both the inaugural 1894 and the 1895 running's were on the track's Futurity Course at a distance of 5¾ furlongs after which it was moved to the main track and run at 6 furlongs each year thereafter except for 1909 when it was run at 6½ furlongs.
Race Notes While James R. Keene's Voter set the race record with three wins that came in 1897, 1900, and 1901, he only earned National Championship honors for 1899 when he would be recognized as the American Champion Older Male Horse.
For the Osceola Stable of Thomas L. Watt, Lady Uncas finished second in both the 1900 and 1902 editions of the Coney Island Handicap but then won the next two in 1903 and 1904.
Demise In 1908, the administration of Governor Charles Evans Hughes signed into law the Hart–Agnew bill that effectively banned all racetrack betting in the state of New York. The legislation allowed for fines and up to a year in prison which was strictly enforced. A 1910 amendment to the Hart–Agnew legislation added further restrictions that made the owners and directors of a racetrack personally liable for any betting done on their premises, with or without their consent. Such an onerous liability was intolerable and meant that by 1911 all racetracks in the state ceased operations. Although a February 21, 1913, ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division paved the way for racing to resume that year, by then it was too late for horse racing at Sheepshead Bay Race Track and it went out of business.
Records Speed record: 1:12.00 @ 6 furlongs – Dreamer (1908)
Most wins: 3 - Voter (1897, 1900, 1901)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 - Henry Spencer (1900, 1901)
Most wins by a trainer: William Lakeland (1895, 1897) James G. Rowe Sr. (1900, 1901) Barry D. Woods (1903, 1904)
Most wins by an owner: 4 - James R. Keene (1895, 1897, 1900, 1901)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$1910Restigouche5Carroll H. ShillingSam HildrethSam Hildreth6 F1:14.80$1,4701909Lady Bedford3Eddie DuganJohn E. MaddenJohn E. Madden6.5 F1:19.00$4601908Dreamer6Dalton McCarthyJohn HugginsHerman B. Duryea6 F1:12.00$3,6801907Tony Faust3Carroll H. ShillingSam HildrethSam Hildreth6 F1:13.80$3,4901906King's Daughter3Jack MartinJohn GainesThomas Clay McDowell6 F1:12.40$3,4001905Hamburg Belle4Willie DavisA. Jack JoynerSidney Paget6 F1:12.60$3,2001904Lady Uncas7Eddie KunzBarry D. WoodsOsceola Stable (Thomas L. Watt)6 F1:13.80$3,6301903Lady Uncas6Arhur RedfernBarry D. WoodsOsceola Stable (Thomas L. Watt)6 F1:17.00$2,8501902Hatasoo3Winfield O'ConnorJulius J. BauerArthur Featherstone6 F1:14.20$1,4501901Voter7Henry SpencerJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene6 F1:12.40$1,4501900Voter6Henry SpencerJames G. Rowe Sr.James R. Keene6 F1:13.80$1,4501899Bendoran4Nash TurnerWalter B. JenningsWalter B. Jennings6 F1:13.40$1,2001898Maceo4Isaac Burns MurphyByron McClellandSallie McClelland6 F1:15.40$1,2001897Voter3Tod SloanWilliam LakelandJames R. Keene6 F1:14.75$1,2001896Hanwell4Henry GriffinOrson J. DeckerM. F. Stephenson6 F1:15.00$1,2001895Domino4Fred TaralWilliam LakelandJames R. Keene & Foxhall P. Keene5.75 F1:10.00$1,2001894Armitage3CarterJohn V. ElliottManhattan Stable5.75 F1:10.00$1,500
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