The Massachusetts Handicap, frequently referred to as the "MassCap", was a flat thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and up held annually at Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was an ungraded stakes race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt. The race received Grade III status by the American Graded Stakes Committee for 2009,Seven Additional Graded Stakes in 2009 but the race was never held. The MassCap was stripped of its graded status in 2011 as a result of not being run for two consecutive years.Thirteen Fewer Graded Stakes in 2011
History The Massachusetts Handicap was won by some of the biggest names in Thoroughbred racing history including Hall of Fame inductees Riva Ridge, Stymie, Seabiscuit, Eight Thirty and Triple Crown winner Whirlaway who broke the track record in his 1942 win. On August 7, 1937, the great Seabiscuit won his seventh consecutive stakes race in track record time for the $70,000 purse of the 1937 MassCap.Champions – The Lives, Times, and Past Performances of America's Greatest Thoroughbreds (2005)
The MassCap had been a graded stakes race from 1973 through 1989. Notables horses such as Riva Ridge, Dixieland Band, and Private Terms all won during this time frame. In 1987, Waquoit beat Broad Brush in a thrilling race. In the 1955 Massachusetts Handicap, jockey Sam Boulmetis, Sr. rode Helioscope to a track record time of 2:01 for .
The Suffolk Downs track continued to fight for its economic life since closing for a three-year period beginning in 1989. The MassCap was a frequent casualty of those circumstances.Suffolk Downs Economics
Later, in an attempt to bring the MassCap back to its former glory, new ownership offered a purse of $500,000 in 1995 and quickly drew the likes of Cigar and Skip Away to the track. By 1997, the race was, once again, a graded race. Suffolk Downs also provided a bonus of $200,000 if the winner won multiple Grade I or Group 1 stakes races at a mile or longer. An additional $100,000 was to be awarded if the winner had won one Grade I or Group 1 race and at least one other graded stakes race at a mile or longer in 2007.MassCap Returns
Part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the winner of the 2008 Massachusetts Handicap -- which would prove to be the final MassCap held -- automatically qualified for the Breeders' Cup Classic.2008 Breeders' Cup Challenge series
Records Time record: : 1:47.27 – Skip Away (1998) (new track record)
Largest margin of victory: 14 lengths – Commentator (2008)
Most wins: 2 – First Fiddle (1944, 1945), Air Pilot (1959, 1962), Smart (1964, 1965), Cigar (1995, 1996), Skip Away (1997, 1998)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Jerry D. Bailey (1995, 1996, 1998, 2001)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Sonny Hine (1986, 1997, 1998) and Clyde Troutt (1959, 1960, 1962)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time Grade2008 Commentator7 John Velazquez Nick Zito Tracy Farmer1:48.97NG2007Brass Hat6Willie MartinezWilliam B. BradleyFred F. Bradley1:49.72NG2005 – 2006 Race not held2004Offlee Wild4Edgar PradoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.AZ Azalea Stables LLC1:49.14II2003 Race not held2002Macho Uno4Gary StevensJoe OrsenoStronach Stables1:50.52II2001Include4Jerry D. BaileyBud DelpRobert E. Meyerhoff1:48.60II2000Running Stag6John VelazquezPhilip MitchellRichard J. Cohen1:49.45II1999Behrens5Jorge ChavezH. James BondRudlein Stable1:49.00II1998Skip Away5Jerry D. BaileySonny HineCarolyn Hine1:47.27III1997Skip Away4Shane SellersSonny HineCarolyn Hine1:47.80III1996Cigar6Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson1:49.60NG1995Cigar5Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson1:48.60NG1990 – 1994 Race not held1989Private Terms4Kent DesormeauxCharles H. HadryLocust Hill Farm1:49.40II1988Lost Code4Craig PerretL. William DonovanWendover Stable1:50.20II1987Waquoit4Chris McCarronGuido FedericoJoseph Federico1:49.00II1986Skip Trial4Jean-Luc SamynSonny HineZelda Cohen1:49.80II1985Bounding Basque5Antonio GraellWoody SedlacekJacques D. Wimpfheimer1:47.60II1984Dixieland Band4Declan MurphyCharles PeoplesMary Sharp1:52.00II1983Let Burn4Jack PenneyWilliam W. PerryScorpio Stable1:48.80II1982Silver Supreme4Eric BeitiaRichard DeStasioMichael Berry1:48.80III1981Soldier Boy5Roger DanjeanDominique ImpresciaSandy Cooperstein1:49.40III1980Ring of Light5Frank Lovato Jr.Pancho MartinViola Sommer1:50.40III1979Island Sultan4John RuaneDavid HofmansBuckland Farm1:48.60II1978Big John Taylor4Jacinto VásquezDoug PetersonKaren L. Taylor1:48.40II1977Blue Times6Ángel Cordero Jr.Laz BarreraAaron U. Jones1:49.40II1977Swinging Hal4Steve PaganoJames W. WoodsJohn Martin1:49.20II1976Dancing Champ4Chris McCarronBud DelpWindfields Farm1:49.20II1975Stonewalk4Ron TurcotteDaniel J. LopezTimberland Stable1:48.60II1974Billy Come Lately4Don MacBethJohn J. Tammaro Jr.Richard W. Palmer1:48.60II1973Riva Ridge4Ron TurcotteLucien LaurinMeadow Stable1:48.20II1972Droll Role4Eddie MapleThomas J. KellyJohn M. Schiff1:49.201971Chompion6Jorge VelásquezIvor G. BaldingC. V. Whitney2:34.401970Semillant5Jean CruguetAngel Penna Sr.Sarah Hall2:37.201969Beau Marker4Leroy MoyersLucien LaurinReginald N. Webster2:04.601968Out Of The Way3John L. RotzMax HirschKing Ranch2:02.801967Good Knight5Karl KorteArnold Scruton Jr.Arnold Scruton2:02.401966Fast Count3Mike VeneziaIvor G. BaldingC. V. Whitney2:01.201965Smart6Eldon NelsonHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stables2:01.601964Smart5Eldon NelsonHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stables2:03.201963Crimson Satan4Herberto HinojosaGordon R. PotterCrimson King Farm2:01.201962Air Pilot8Leroy MoyersRobert E. HolthusHorace J. Wise2:01.401961Polylad5Eddie ArcaroThomas M. MilesMrs. Quentin A. S. McKean2:01.801960Talent Show5Ray BroussardJames P. ConwayAda L. Rice2:03.601959Air Pilot5Jack LeonardClyde TrouttAda L. Rice2:02.401958Promised Land4Pete D. AndersonHirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs2:01.801957Greek Spy4Eric GuerinSherrill W. WardCharles U. Bay2:03.201956Midafternoon4William BolandThomas M. WallerMrs. Edward E. Robbins2:04.001955Helioscope4Sam Boulmetis Sr.Frank CaltroneWilliam G. Helis Jr.2:01.001954Wise Margin4Keith StuartSam N. EdmundsonSamuel Tufano2:01.601953Royal Vale5Jack WestropeJames E. RyanEsther D. du Pont2:02.201952To Market4William BolandMax HirschKing Ranch2:01.401951One Hitter5Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable2:02.201950Cochise4Eddie ArcaroVirgil W. RainesBrandywine Stable2:01.801949First Nighter4Joseph RenickWilliam J. HirschSam A. Mason II2:04.601948Beauchef5Ruperto DonosoRobert B. OdomAndes Stable2:02.601947Stymie6Conn McCrearyHirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs1:50.001946Pavot4Arnold KirklandOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords1:49.801945First Fiddle6Johnny LongdenEddie MulrenanMrs. E. Mulrenan1:49.401944First Fiddle5Johnny LongdenEddie MulrenanMrs. E. Mulrenan1:49.001943Market Wise5Vincenzo NodarseGeorge W. CarrollLouis Tufano1:52.001942Whirlaway4George WoolfBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1:48.201941War Relic3Ted AtkinsonWalter A. CarterGlen Riddle Farm1:48.601940Eight Thirty4Harry RichardsBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1:49.001939Fighting Fox4James StoutJames FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1:52.001938Menow3Nick WallDuval A. HeadleyHal Price Headley1:52.601937Seabiscuit4Red PollardTom SmithCharles S. Howard1:49.001936Time Supply5Raymond WorkmanCarl A. RolesMrs. Frank A. Carreaud1:49.801935Top Row4George WoolfAlbert A. BaroniAlbert A. Baroni1:49.40
* Day Court finished first in 1959 but was disqualified and placed second.* Raced in two divisions in 1977.
References
External links History at MassCap.com