Municipal Handicap

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.[1][2]

Municipal Handicap
Discontinued stakes race
LocationMorris Park Racecourse, The Bronx, New York (1895–1904)
Belmont Park, Elmont, New York (1905–1918)
Inaugurated1895–1918
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Race information
Distance​1 1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old & older

Distances:

  • 1895–1909: 1¾ miles
  • 1914–1915 : 1¼ miles
  • 1916–1918 : 1½ miles

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 2:59 ¼ 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.[3] 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."[4]

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.[5][6][7]

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.[8]

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 [9] 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,[10] 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 @ 1¾ miles, Major Daingerfield (1903)
  • 2:33 2/5 @ 1½ miles, Sunny Slope (1918)
  • 2:04 0/0 @ 1¼ 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$
1918 Sunny Slope 3 John Callahan Richard F. Carman Beach Stable (Richard F. Carmen, et al.) 1​1⁄2 M 2:33.40 $2,150
1917 Clematis 4 Merritt C. Buxton John Whalen Oscar Lewisohn 1​1⁄2 M 2:34.00 $2,325
1916 Stromboli 5 John McTaggart Sam Hildreth August Belmont Jr. 1​1⁄2 M 2:39.00 $2,175
1915 Borrow 7 Joe Notter James G. Rowe Sr. Lewis S. Thompson 1​1⁄4 M 2:05.00 $1,875
1914 Roamer 3 James Butwell A. J. Goldsborough Andrew Miller 1​1⁄4 M 2:04.00 $2,150
1913 Race not held
1912 No races held due to the Hart–Agnew Law.
1911
1910 Race not held
1909 Olambala 3 James Butwell T. J. Healey Montpelier Stable 1​3⁄4 M 2:58.60 $1,060
1908 Fair Play 3 James Lee A. Jack Joyner August Belmont Jr. 1​3⁄4 M 2:58.00 $3,525
1907 Nealon 4 Willie Knapp Frank M. Taylor Patchogue Stable (William H. DuBois) 1​3⁄4 M 2:58.80 $3,945
1906 Dishabille 4 Willie Knapp Charles A. Mulholland George C. Bennett 1​3⁄4 M 2:57.60 $3,230
1905 St. Bellane 3 Willie Knapp Richard E. Watkins Edward R. Thomas 1​3⁄4 M 2:59.60 $2,820
1904 Gunfire 5 Willie Shaw John W. Rogers Herman B. Duryea 1​3⁄4 M 2:59.50 $2,850
1903 Major Daingerfield 4 George M. Odom John E. Madden William B. Leeds Sr. & Andrew Miller 1​3⁄4 M 2:57.00 $2,805
1902 Advance Guard 5 George M. Odom Alexander Shields Alexander Shields & James Carruthers 1​3⁄4 M 3:00.00 $2,730
1901 Latson 6 Otto Wonderly John Hynes Gottfried Walbaum 1​3⁄4 M 2:58.50 $3,495
1900 Ethelbert 4 George M. Odom A. Jack Joyner Perry Belmont 1​3⁄4 M 2:58.50 $3,125
1899 Ben Holladay 6 Henry Spencer Peter Wimmer Augustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie 1​3⁄4 M 3:00.50 $3,325
1898 Ben Holladay 5 Tommy Burns Peter Wimmer Augustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie 1​3⁄4 M 3:01.50 $2,750
1897 Ben Holladay 4 Alonzo Clayton Peter Wimmer Augustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie 1​3⁄4 M 2:59.25 $2,250
1896 Sir Walter 6 Samuel Doggett Walter C. Rollins Oneck Stable 1​3⁄4 M 3:05.00 $1,950
1895 Henry of Navarre 4 Henry Griffin John J. Hyland Blemton Stable 1​3⁄4 M 3:02.00 $2,400

References
  1. "Condensed History of the Municipal Handicap". Daily Racing Form. 1908-10-10. Retrieved 2019-02-06 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  2. "Borrow in Front Again: Takes the Municipal Handicap". Daily Racing Form. 1915-09-02. Retrieved 2019-02-06 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  3. Three Forks News – August 8, 1922
  4. "Turf Topics". The New Zealand Mail, page 20. 1899-01-12. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  5. "Henry of Navarre". Racingmuseum.org. 1985-01-01. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  6. "Fair Play". Racingmuseum.org. 1956-01-01. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  7. "Roamer". Racingmuseum.org. 1981-01-01. Retrieved 2019-05-13.
  8. "Penalties in the New York Bills". Daily Racing Form. 1908-01-18. Retrieved 2018-10-26 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
  9. Liebman, Bennett (May 24, 2009). "The First American Triple Crown Series". The Rail. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  10. "Race Track Bill Defeated In Senate; Measure Modifying Directors' Liability for Gambling Fails of Passage". The New York Times. July 14, 1911. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
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