Occidental Handicap

The Occidental Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1899 through 1909 at Gravesend Race Track, Gravesend, Brooklyn, New York. A race for horses of either sex age three and older, it was contested on dirt over a distance of a mile and one-eighth until its final running when it became a mile and one-quarter selling race.

Occidental Handicap
Discontinued stakes race
LocationGravesend Race Track, Gravesend, Brooklyn, New York
Inaugurated1899
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Race information
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds and up

Historical notes

First run on September 16, 1899, the Occidental Handicap would come to be regarded as an important stakes race on the New York fall schedule. [1] Among the winners was the famous "mudder" Herbert who won back-to-back editions in 1901 and 1902.[2] [3] The race's only two-time winner, Herbert would duplicate that feat with wins in the Merchants and Citizens Handicap in 1901 and 1902.[4] [5]

In her September 26, 1907 win, the three-year-old filly Gold Lady set a new track record for a mile and one-eighth with a time of 1:51 3/5.[6]

The Demise of the Occidental Handicap

The status of the race as being important to the Gravesend track's fall racing schedule would change on June 11, 1908, when the Republican controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes passed the Hart-Agnew anti-betting legislation.[7] The owners of Gravesend Race Track, and other racing facilities in New York State, struggled to stay in business without income from betting.[8] Racetrack operators had no choice but to drastically reduce the purse money being paid out which resulted in the Occidental Handicap offering a purse in 1909 that was less than one-third of what it had been in earlier years. These small purses made horse racing unprofitable and impossible for even the most successful horse owners to continue in business. As such, for the 1910 racing season management of the Gravesend facility dropped some of its stakes races and used the purse money to bolster its most important events.[9] Although a February 21, 1913 ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division saw horse racing return in 1913, it was too late for the Occidental Handicap.[10] [11] [12]

Records

Speed record:

  • 1:41.60 @ 1 1-8 miles: Gold Lady (1907)

Most wins:

  • 2 - Herbert (1901, 1902)

Most wins by a jockey:

  • 2 - Lewis Smith (1901, 1902)
  • 2 - Eddie Dugan (1908, 1909)

Most wins by a trainer:

  • 2 - Julius J. Bauer (1899, 1908)
  • 2 - Walter C. Rollins (1901, 1902)
  • 2 - Walter B. Jennings (1904, 1905)

Most wins by an owner:

  • 2 - Bromley & Co. (1899, 1908)
  • 2 - Walter C. Rollins (1901, 1902)
  • 2 - Walter B. Jennings (1904, 1905)

Winners
Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Dist.
(Miles)		 Time
 Win$
1909 Firestone 4 Eddie Dugan Sam Hildreth Sam Hildreth 1 1-4 m 2:07.20 $1,050
1908 Priscillian 3 Eddie Dugan Julius J. Bauer Bromley & Co. (Arthur Featherstone) 1 1-8 m 1:52.00 $1,875
1907 Gold Lady 3 Joe Notter William McCann Anthony L. Aste 1 1-8 m 1:51.60 $3,350
1906 Coy Maid 4 Guy Garner John I. Smith Kenilworth Stable (Frederick C. McLewee) 1 1-8 m 1:53.40 $3,390
1905 Proper 5 Gene Hildebrand Walter B. Jennings Walter B. Jennings 1 1-8 m 1:55.40 $2,870
1904 Dainty 4 William Crimmins Walter B. Jennings Walter B. Jennings 1 1-8 m 1:52.60 $2,980
1903 Caughnawaga 4 George M. Odom William Hayward Jr. John Sanford 1 1-8 m 1:52.40 $1,795
1902 Herbert 5 Lewis Smith Walter C. Rollins Walter C. Rollins 1 1-8 m 1:53.20 $1,930
1901 Herbert 4 Lewis Smith Walter C. Rollins Walter C. Rollins 1 1-8 m 1:53.00 $1,695
1900 Pink Coat 6 Tommy Burns Patrick Dunne J. Hal Woodford & Mr. Buckner 1 1-8 m 1:53.80 $1,890
1899 Previous 4 Winfield O'Connor Julius J. Bauer Bromley & Co. (Arthur Featherstone) 1 1-8 m 1:54.60 $1,850

References
  1. "Important Stake Dates". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1906-09-20. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  2. "Notes from Saratoga". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1902-08-07. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  3. "Running of the Occidental Stakes". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1909-09-19. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  4. "Merchants and Citizens Handicap Goes to the Favorite. Herbert at Home in the Mud". Brooklyn Daily Eagle, page 10. 1901-08-25. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  5. "Herbert Won in a Drive". Indianapolis Journal, Volume 52, Number 232. 1902-08-20. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  6. "Gold Lady's Track Mark". New York Times, page 6. 1907-09-27. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  7. "Penalties in the New York Bills". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1908-01-18. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  8. "Keep Up Betting Ban". New York Times. 1908-09-01. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  9. "Coney Island Clubs Sturdy Stand". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1908-08-11. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  10. "Oral Betting Held Legal: Appellate Division of New York Supreme Court Renders Important Decision". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1913-02-22. Retrieved 2019-06-29.
  11. "Destruction Wrought by Hughes". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1908-12-15. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  12. "Famous Old Track is Sold". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1914-11-17. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
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