Commonwealth Handicap

Waterboy won the 1903 inaugural edition and would go on to retrospectively be named that year's American Champion Older Male Horse. In the next two years Ort Wells and then Sysonby would similarly be named the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse for the year of their win.[http://www.bloodhorse.com/eclipsewinners/pdf/History_Charts.pdf The Bloodhorse.com Champion's history charts] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904120526/http://www.bloodhorse.com/eclipsewinners/pdf/History_Charts.pdf |date=September 4, 2012}}

The 1906 winner Sir Huon came into the Commonwealth Handicap as the victor in the May 2 Kentucky Derby. However, New York racing fans thought little of the "western" horse and sent him off as a 15-1 longshot

{{cite web |url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/ |title=Derby countdown – Sir Huon, 1906 |publisher=The Courier-Journal |date=2015-03-31 |accessdate=2020-02-02 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1906/07/08/archives/sir-huon-at-15-to-1-won-the-commonwealth-longchance-horses-filled.html |title=Sir Huon, at 15-1, Won The Commonwealth |work=New York Times|page=6|date=1906-07-08 |accessdate=2020-02-02}} Sir Huron then showed it was no fluke and won the Seagate Stakes at Brighton Beach Race Course.{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1910071301/drf1910071301_1_7 |title=Condensed History of the Seagate Stakes |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1910-07-13|accessdate=2020-02-02}}

In winning the 1910 and last running of the Commonwealth Handicap, Richard Wilson Jr.'s speedy Olambala equaled the American record for a mile and one-quarter set by Broomstick six years earlier.{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1910070301/drf1910070301_1_2 |title=Olambala in Fine Fettle: Equals American Record for Mile and Quarter in Winning Commonwealth |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1910-07-03 |accessdate=2019-01-01}}

The race had a short existence as a result of the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation passed by the New York Legislature which devastated horse racing.{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1908011801/drf1908011801_1_7 |title=Penalties in the New York Bills |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1908-01-18|accessdate=2018-10-26}} For its first six years the winner's share of the purse for the Commonwealth Handicap averaged more than $12,000 but for its final two runnings in 1909 and 1910 the winner's share was reduced to less than 20% of what it had been.{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1909070601/drf1909070601_3_1 |title=New York Form Chart |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1909-07-06 |accessdate=2019-05-14}}{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1910070301/drf1910070301_1_2 |title=Olambala in Fine Fettle: Equals American Record for Mile and Quarter in Winning Commonwealth |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1910-07-03 |accessdate=2019-01-01}} When a February 21, 1913 ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division saw horse racing return it was too late for the Sheepshead Bay horse racing facility and it never reopened.{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1913022201/drf1913022201_1_9 |title= Oral Betting Held Legal: Appellate Division of New York Supreme Court Renders Important Decision |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1913-02-22 |accessdate=2019-06-29}}{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1908121501/drf1908121501_1_7|title=Destruction Wrought by Hughes |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1908-12-15|accessdate=2018-11-30}}{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1914111701/drf1914111701_1_2 |title=Famous Old Track is Sold |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1914-11-17|accessdate=2018-11-30}}

Speed record:

• 2:02 4/5 @ 1{{Frac|1|4}} miles : Olambala (1910) (equaled American record)

Most wins:

• No horse won this race more than once.

Most wins by a jockey:

• No jockey won this race more than once.

Most wins by a trainer:

• 2 – A. Jack Joyner (1903, 1908)

Most wins by an owner:

• No owner won this race more than once.

{{reflist}}

Category:Open middle distance horse races

Category:Discontinued horse races in New York City

Category:Horse races established in 1903

Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1911

Category:Sheepshead Bay Race Track