Fall Highweight Handicap
| Grade III race | |
| Location | Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York  |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1914 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred, Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three years old & up |
| Weight | Handicap |
| Purse | $200,000-added (2016)[1] |
The Fall Highweight Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Currently run at a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 m), it is open to horses three years of age and older under handicap conditions. The race was given its current Grade III status in 2009 by the American Graded Stakes Committee.[2]
Run at Belmont Park from its inception in 1914 to 1959 and again from 1963 to 1993, the race was open to horses of any age until 1959 when it was changed to its present format. It was raced on a straight course prior to 1921, from 1926 to 1939, and again from 1942 to 1957. A large field resulted in the 1976 edition being run in two divisions. The race is unusual for the high weights assigned – in the past the top-weighted horse was assigned a minimum of 140 pounds (63.5 kg). Although the 140 pound rule is no longer in place, horses still carry more weight than they normally would. The highweight in the 2015 renewal for example carried 134 pounds.[3]
The first edition of the Fall Highweight Handicap was a remarkable victory for Comely who was not only a filly that defeated male rivals, but the only two-year-old to ever win the race. The Comely Stakes were named in honor of her achievement.
Records
Speed Record:
- Senor Speedy (1991) – 1:08.62[1]
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by an owner:
- 4 - Joseph E. Widener (1919, 1929, 1931, 1941)
- 3 - Brookfield Farm (1956, 1957, 1958)
Winners of the Fall Highweight Handicap
Earlier winners
- 1964 - Delta Judge
- 1963 - Accordant
- 1962 - Be On Time
- 1961 - Smashing Gail
- 1960 - Four Lane
- 1959 - Mystic II
- 1958 - Bull Strength
- 1957 - Itobe
- 1956 - Impromptu
- 1955 - Sailor II
- 1954 - Pet Bully
- 1953 - Kaster
- 1952 - Hitex
- 1951 - Guillotine
- 1950 - Arise
- 1949 - Royal Governor
- 1948 - First Flight
- 1947 - Rippey
- 1946 - Cassis
- 1945 - True North
- 1944 - Ariel Lad
- 1943 - Cassis
- 1942 - Imperatrice
- 1941 - Roman
- 1940 - T. M. Dorsett
- 1939 - Rough Time
- 1938 - The Fighter
- 1937 - Preeminent
- 1936 - Miss Merriment
- 1935 - Sation
- 1934 - Miss Merriment
- 1933 - Microphone
- 1932 - Larrange
- 1931 - Mr. Sponge
- 1930 - Balko
- 1929 - Osmand
- 1928 - Finite
- 1927 - Happy Argo
- 1926 - Powhatan
- 1925 - Superlette
- 1924 - Worthmore
- 1923 - Fair Phantom
- 1922 - Careful
- 1921 - Crocus
- 1920 - Lion d'Or
- 1919 – Naturalist
- 1918 - Hollister*
- 1917 - Ima Frank
- 1916 - Mont d'Or
- 1915 - Harmonicon
- 1914 - Comely
References
- ^ a b "Fall Highweight Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- ^ Seven Additional Graded Stakes in 2009
- ^ Johnson, J. Keeler. "Will Holiday Star Shine on Thanksgiving Day?". cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 29 November 2016.