Login
Login

Delaware Handicap

{{for multi|the Saratoga Race Course horse race|Delaware Handicap (Saratoga)}}

{{Infobox horseraces

| class = Grade 3

| horse race = Delaware Handicap

| image =

| caption =

| location = Delaware Park Racetrack
Wilmington, Delaware,
United States

| inaugurated = 1937

| race type = Thoroughbred – Flat racing

| website = {{URL|http://www.delawarepark.com/}}

| distance = {{frac|1|1|8}} Miles (9 Furlongs)

| surface = Dirt

| track = left-handed

| qualification = Fillies, Three-years-old and up

| weight = Handicap

| purse = US$400,000{{cite web |url=https://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Stakes&stkid=1527|title=Delaware Handicap (Gr. 2)|website=Equibase |access-date=4 July 2023}}

| bonuses =

}}

The Delaware Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Delaware Park Racetrack in Wilmington, Delaware. The Grade III race is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one mile and one eighth on the dirt.

The race was inaugurated as the New Castle Handicap as part of the racing schedule with the 1937 opening of Delaware Park Racetrack. In 1939, Shangay Lily won the race as a seven year old, and to date remains the oldest winner of the race. In 1953, the $100,000 purse offered by the New Castle Handicap made it the richest race in the world for fillies and mares at the time.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/22080528/ |title=First To Enter Racing Classic |publisher=The Morning Herald, Hagerstown, Maryland |date=1953-03-25 |access-date=2018-10-05}} In 1955 the race was renamed the Delaware Handicap.

The race was held at Saratoga from 1982 until 1985.

In 2017, champion filly Songbird won as the shortest-priced favorite in the race's history at 1-9 odds.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/222585/songbird-holds-fast-in-delaware-handicap|title=Songbird Holds Fast in Delaware Handicap|work=BloodHorse.com|access-date=2017-07-16|language=en}}

In 2023, Delaware Park management announced that the race would be shortened to {{frac|1|3|16}} miles, citing difficulties in attracting top fillies and mares to run the {{frac|1|1|4}}-mile distance.{{cite web |url=https://paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/delaware-handicap-shortened-to-1-3-16-miles-track-plans-85-live-racing-dates-in-2023/|title=Delaware Handicap Shortened To 1 3/16 Miles; Track Plans 85 Live Racing Dates In 2023|date=17 January 2023|website=paulickreport.com|access-date=4 July 2023}} Two years later, following the race's downgrading from Grade II to Grade III, management announced that the race would be further shortened to {{frac|1|1|8}} miles and moved to September. The race's fall positioning allows it to serve as a potential prep race for the year-end Breeders' Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.drf.com/news/delaware-handicap-moved-september-shortened-1-18-miles|title=Delaware Handicap moved to September, shortened to 1 1/8 miles|last=Hegarty|first=Matt|date=28 January 2025|publisher=Daily Racing Form|access-date=28 January 2025}}

Records

Speed record:

  • 1:59.80 – Coup de Fusil (1987) (At former distance of {{frac|1|1|4}} miles)

Most wins by a horse

  • 2 – Endine (1958, 1959)
  • 2 – Obeah (1969, 1970)
  • 2 – Blessing Angelica (1971, 1972)
  • 2 – Susan's Girl (1973, 1975)
  • 2 – Nastique (1988, 1989)
  • 2 – Royal Delta (2012, 2013)
  • 2 – Elate (2018, 2019)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
style="width:25px" | Year

! style="width:110px" | Winner

! style="width:20px" | Age

! style="width:110px" | Jockey

! style="width:120px" | Trainer

! Owner

! style="width:35px" | {{abbr|Dist.|Distance}}
(Miles)

! style="width:25px" | Time

! style="width:20px" | Gr.

align=center|2024

|Honor D Lady

|align=center|4

|José Ortiz

|Saffie Joseph, Jr.

|Final Furlong Farm and Madaket Stables, LLC

|align=center|1-3/16 m

|align=center|1:59.86

|align=center|G2

align=center|2023

|Idiomatic

|align=center|4

|Florent Geroux

|Brad Cox

|Juddmonte

|align=center|1-3/16 m

|align=center|1:56.41

|align=center|G2

align=center|2022

|Miss Leslie

|align=center|4

|Angel Cruz

|Claudio A. Gon

|BB Horses

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:04.50

|align=center|G2

align=center|2021

|Miss Marissa

|align=center|4

|Daniel Centeno

|James Ryerson

|Cammarota Racing LLC

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:04.50

|align=center|G2

align=center|2020

|Dunbar Road

|align=center|4

|Irad Ortiz Jr.

|Chad Brown

|Peter M. Brant

|align=center|1-1/8 m

|align=center|1:49.02

|align=center|G2

align=center|2019

|Elate

|align=center|5

|José Ortiz

|William I. Mott

|Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.51

|align=center|G2

align=center|2018

|Elate

|align=center|4

|José Ortiz

|William I. Mott

|Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:04.83

|align=center|G2

align=center|2017

|Songbird

|align=center|4

|Mike Smith

|Jerry Hollendorfer

|Fox Hill Farms Inc. (Rick Porter)

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.96

|align=center|G1

align=center|2016

|I'm a Chatterbox

|align=center|4

|Florent Geroux

|J. Larry Jones

|Fletcher & Carolyn Gray

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.64

|align=center|G1

align=center|2015

|Sheer Drama

|align=center|5

|Joe Bravo

|David Fawkes

|Harold L. Queen

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.58

|align=center|G1

align=center|2014

|Belle Gallantey

|align=center|5

|José Ortiz

|Rudy R. Rodriguez

|Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC (Michael Caruso), Gary Aisquith

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.15

|align=center|G1

align=center|2013

|Royal Delta

|align=center|5

|Mike Smith

|William I. Mott

|Besilu Stables

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.04

|align=center|G1

align=center|2012

|Royal Delta

|align=center|4

|Mike Smith

|William I. Mott

|Besilu Stables

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.51

|align=center|G2

align=center|2011

|Blind Luck

|align=center|4

|Garrett Gomez

|Jerry Hollendorfer

|Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo, Jerry Hollendorfer

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.28

|align=center|G2

align=center|2010

|Life at Ten

|align=center|5

|John R. Velazquez

|Todd Pletcher

|Candy DeBartolo

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.21

|align=center|G2

align=center|2009

|Swift Temper

|align=center|5

|Alan Garcia

|Dale L. Romans

|Mark H. Stanley

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.41

|align=center|G2

align=center|2008

|Hystericalady

|align=center|5

|Garrett Gomez

|Jerry Hollendorfer

|Rancho San Miguel et al.

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.37

|align=center|G2

align=center|2007

|Unbridled Belle

|align=center|4

|Ramon Domínguez

|Todd A. Pletcher

|Team Valor Stables LLC

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.16

|align=center|G2

align=center|2006

|Fleet Indian

|align=center|5

|José A. Santos

|Todd A. Pletcher

|Paul H. Saylor

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.08

|align=center|G2

align=center|2005

|Island Sand

|align=center|4

|Jerry D. Bailey

|J. Larry Jones

|B. A. Man Stable (James Osborne)

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.89

|align=center|G2

align=center|2004

|Summer Wind Dancer

|align=center|4

|Victor Espinoza

|Jeff Mullins

|Richard & Yvette Wira, Linda Vetter

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.63

|align=center|G2

align=center|2003

|Wild Spirit

|align=center|4

|Jerry D. Bailey

|Robert J. Frankel

|Sumaya U.S. Stables (Oussama Aboughazale)

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.95

|align=center|G2

align=center|2002

|Summer Colony

|align=center|4

|John R. Velazquez

|Mark A. Hennig

|Edward P. Evans

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:04.52

|align=center|G3

align=center|2001

|Irving's Baby

|align=center|4

|Ramon Domínguez

|Todd A. Pletcher

|Anstu Stables, Inc.

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:05.21

|align=center|G3

align=center|2000

|Lu Ravi

|align=center|5

|Pat Day

|Carl E. Bowman

|Yoshio Fujita

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.21

|align=center|G3

align=center|1999

|Tap to Music

|align=center|4

|Pat Day

|Joseph Orseno

|Stronach Stables

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.15

|align=center|G3

align=center|1998

|Amarillo

|align=center|4

|Julie Krone

|John H. Forbes

|Phantom House Farm (racing partnership, John Forbes, Jr. director)

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:04.20

|align=center|G3

align=center|1997

|Power Play

|align=center|5

|Larry Reynolds

|H. Graham Motion

|Robert A. Leonard

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.40

|align=center|G3

align=center|1996

|Urbane

|align=center|4

|Alex Solis

|Randy K. Bradshaw

|Samantha Siegel

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.80

|align=center|G3

align=center|1995

|Night Fax

|align=center|4

|Jeff Carle

|William H. Turner Jr.

|Audley Farm Stable

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.80

|align=center|G2

align=center|1994

|With A Wink

|align=center|4

|Richard Migliore

|D. Wayne Lukas

|Melvin Hatley

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.20

|align=center|G2

align=center|1993

|Green Darlin

|align=center|4

|Mike Luzzi

|Lawrence E. Murray

|Sondra D. Bender

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.60

|align=center|G2

align=center|1992

|Brilliant Brass

|align=center|5

|Edgar Prado

|Carlos A. Garcia

|Elaine L. Bassford

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.00

|align=center|G2

align=center|1991

|Crowned

|align=center|4

|Rick Wilson

|Benjamin W. Perkins Jr.

|Bohemia Stable

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:04.00

|align=center|G2

align=center|1990

|Seattle Dawn

|align=center|4

|Robert Colton

|Michael Dickinson

|Dinwiddie Farm (Stewart Bainum)

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.00

|align=center|G2

align=center|1989

|Nastique

|align=center|5

|Eddie Maple

|Stephen L. DiMauro

|Chaus Stable (Bernard Chaus)

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.20

|align=center|G1

align=center|1988

|Nastique

|align=center|4

|Eddie Maple

|Stephen L. DiMauro

|Chaus Stable (Bernard Chaus)

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:07.60

|align=center|G1

align=center|1987

|Coup de Fusil

|align=center|5

|Ángel Cordero Jr.

|Jan H. Nerud

|Tartan Stable

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|1:59.80

|align=center|G1

align=center|1986

|Shocker T.

|align=center|4

|Gene St. Leon

|George Gianos

|Thomasina Caporella

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.20

|align=center|G1

align=center|1985

|Basie

|align=center|4

|Jean Cruguet

|Flint S. Schulhofer

|Frances A. Genter

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.00

|align=center|G1

align=center|1984

|Adored

|align=center|4

|Laffit Pincay Jr.

|Laz Barrera

|Ethel D. Jacobs

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.20

|align=center|G1

align=center|1983

|May Day Eighty

|align=center|4

|Jacinto Vásquez

|David A. Whiteley

|Calumet Farm

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.20

|align=center|G1

align=center|1982

|Jameela

|align=center|6

|Jack Kaenel

|Hyman Ravich

|Peter M. Brant

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.60

|align=center|G1

align=center|1981

|Relaxing

|align=center|5

|Ángel Cordero Jr.

|Angel Penna Sr.

|Ogden Phipps

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.00

|align=center|G1

align=center|1980

|Heavenly Ade

|align=center|4

|Jerry D. Bailey

|Mary Edens

|Adele W. Paxson

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:00.00

|align=center|G1

align=center|1979

|Likely Exchange

|align=center|5

|Mark S. Sellers

|Thomas H. Stevens

|G. Watts Humphrey Jr.

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.40

|align=center|G1

align=center|1978

|Late Bloomer

|align=center|4

|Jorge Velásquez

|John M. Gaver Jr.

|Greentree Stable

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.20

|align=center|G1

align=center|1977

|Our Mims

|align=center|3

|Jorge Velásquez

|John M. Veitch

|Calumet Farm

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.00

|align=center|G1

align=center|1976

|Optimistic Gal

|align=center|3

|Eddie Maple

|LeRoy Jolley

|Diana M. Firestone

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.00

|align=center|G1

align=center|1975

|Susan's Girl

|align=center|6

|Ray Broussard

|Ross Finstermaker

|Fred W. Hooper

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.80

|align=center|G1

align=center|1974

| Krislin

|align=center|5

|Ángel Cordero Jr.

|Stephen A. DiMauro

|Harold I. Snyder

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.60

|align=center|G1

align=center|1973

|Susan's Girl

|align=center|4

|Laffit Pincay Jr.

|John W. Russell

|Fred W. Hooper

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:01.80

|align=center|G1

align=center|1972

|Blessing Angelica

|align=center|4

|Eddie Belmonte

|H. Allen Jerkens

|Hobeau Farm

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:00.60

align=center|1971

|Blessing Angelica

|align=center|3

|Jacinto Vásquez

|H. Allen Jerkens

|Hobeau Farm

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.40

align=center|1970

|Obeah

|align=center|5

|Leroy Moyers

|Henry S. Clark

|Christiana Stables

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.60

align=center|1969

|Obeah

|align=center|4

|John L. Rotz

|Henry S. Clark

|Christiana Stables

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:04.20

align=center|1968

|Politely

|align=center|5

|Ángel Cordero Jr.

|George M. Baker

|Bohemia Stable

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.80

align=center|1967

|Straight Deal II

|align=center|5

|Bobby Ussery

|Hirsch Jacobs

|Ethel D. Jacobs

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.20

align=center|1966

|Open Fire

|align=center|5

|Frank Lovato

|Virgil W. Raines

|Brandywine Stable

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:00.40

align=center|1965

|Steeple Jill

|align=center|4

|John Ruane

|Bert Mulholland

|George D. Widener Jr.

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.80

align=center|1964

|Old Hat

|align=center|5

|Buck Thornburg

|Charles C. Norman

|Stanley Conrad

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:04.00

align=center|1963

|Waltz Song

|align=center|5

|Sheridan Mellon

|Thomas F. White

|Thomas F. White

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:04.00

align=center|1962

|Seven Thirty

|align=center|4

|Larry Adams

|Bert Mulholland

|George D. Widener Jr.

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.60

align=center|1961

|Airmans Guide

|align=center|4

|Howard Grant

|Bert B. Williams

|Hugh A. Grant

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.40

align=center|1960

|Quill

|align=center|4

|Bobby Ussery

|Lucien Laurin

|Reginald N. Webster

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.40

align=center|1959

|Endine

|align=center|5

|Paul J. Bailey

|Henry S. Clark

|Christiana Stable

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.60

align=center|1958

|Endine

|align=center|4

|Eldon Nelson

|Henry S. Clark

|Christiana Stable

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.00

align=center|1957

|Princess Turia

|align=center|4

|Bill Hartack

|Horace A. Jones

|Calumet Farm

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:05.00

align=center|1956

|Flower Bowl

|align=center|4

|Logan Batcheller

|Preston M. Burch

|Brookmeade Stable

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:03.00

align=center|1955

|Parlo

|align=center|4

|Eric Guerin

|Richard E. Handlen

|Foxcatcher Farms

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.40

align=center|1954

|Gainsboro Girl

|align=center|4

|Augustine Catalano

|Walter D. Carroll

|Shawmut Farm (Richard A. Jenks)

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.60

align=center|1953

|Grecian Queen

|align=center|3

|Ted Atkinson

|James P. Conway

|Florence Whitaker

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.80

align=center|1952

|Kiss Me Kate

|align=center|4

|Ronnie Nash

|Oscar White

|Walter M. Jeffords

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:02.60

align=center|1951

|Busanda

|align=center|4

|Eric Guerin

|Bart Sweeny

|Ogden Phipps

|align=center|1-1/4 m

|align=center|2:04.60

align=center|1950

|Adile

|align=center|4

|John Gilbert

|Oscar White

|Walter M. Jeffords

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:44.60

align=center|1949

| Allie's Pal

|align=center|4

|Robert J. Martin

|Morrie Sidell

|Samuel D. Sidell

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:46.40

align=center|1948

|Miss Grillo

|align=center|6

|Ira Hanford

|Horatio Luro

|Mill River Stable

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:49.00

align=center|1947

|Elpis

|align=center|5

|Arthur F. Skelton

|Larney Hansman

|William G. Helis

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:46.60

align=center|1946

|Bridal Flower

|align=center|3

|Abelardo DeLara

|James W. Smith

|John R. Bradley

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:43.80

align=center|1945

|Plucky Maud

|align=center|4

|Robert Permane

|Oleg Dubassoff

|Lazy F Ranch

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:42.60

align=center|1944

|Everget

|align=center|3

|Arnold Kirkland

|Virgil W. Raines

|Brandywine Stable

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:44.80

bgcolor="#eeeeee"

|align=center|1943

|align=center colspan=7| Race not held due to wartime restrictions

align=center|1942

|Monida

|align=center|5

|Abelardo DeLara

|William S. Cotton

|Constance Morabito

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:45.60

align=center|1941

|Dotted Swiss

|align=center|4

|Maurice Peters

|Max Hirsch

|W. Arnold Hanger

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:49.00

align=center|1940

|Tedbriar

|align=center|3

|Jimmy Lynch

|John Porter Jones

|William H. Lipscomb

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:43.80

align=center|1939

|Shangay Lily

|align=center|7

|Ruperto Donoso

|John L. Roberts

|William V. McGrath

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|n/a

align=center|1938

|Marica

|align=center|5

|Robert Dotter

|Howard Wells

|Thomas D. Taggart

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:45.60

align=center|1937

|Rosenna

|align=center|3

|Maurice Peters

|Richard E. Handlen

|William du Pont Jr.

|align=center|1-1/16 m

|align=center|1:43.80

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.colinsghost.org/2008/07/delaware-handicap.html History of the Delaware Handicap]
  • [http://www.drf.com/news/article/113600.html New Castle served as Delaware Handicap's predecessor]
  • [http://helloracefans.com/races/ten-things/del-cap/ Ten Things You Should Know About the Delaware Handicap at Hello Race Fans]

Category:Grade 2 stakes races in the United States

Category:Graded stakes races in the United States

Category:Middle distance horse races for fillies and mares

Category:Horse races in Delaware

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1937

Category:Delaware Park Racetrack

Category:1937 establishments in Delaware