The Distaff Handicap is a
Grade III American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...
for
fillies
A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use:
*In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old.
*In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, t ...
and
mare
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than fo ...
s that are four years old or older at a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt run annually in early April at
Aqueduct Racetrack in
Ozone Park, Queens
Ozone Park is a neighborhood in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States. It is next to the Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, a popular spot for Thoroughbred racing and home to the Resorts W ...
,
New York. The event currently offers a purse of $150,000.
History
The event was inaugurated on 28 June 1954 at the old Aqueduct racetrack, and was won by Robert S. Howard's
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
mare Mab's Choice, who was trained by the future
US Hall of Fame trainer
Charles E. Whittingham in a time of 1:24.
[ Mab's Choice was a 20-1 longshot in the field who had not won a race in two years came through with a late drive to win by length.][
After the 1955 season the old Aqueduct track was close for reconstruction for a period of four years.][
The event was run in two split divisions in 1964.][ This was only time that the event was run in split divisions.][
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Aqueduct closed their track and the event was cancelled.]
Records
Speed record:
*7 furlongs – 1:21.18 Devil's Orchid (1991)
*6 furlongs – 1:09.10 La Verdad (2014)
Margins:
*12 lengths – Ride Sally (1986)
Most wins:
* 2 – La Verdad (2014, 2015)
* 2 – Happy Princess (1958, 1959)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1976, 1983, 1984, 1987)
* 4 – Richard Migliore
Richard Migliore (born March 14, 1964 in Babylon, New York) is a retired American jockey. He now works as a racing analyst for XBTV. He was nicknamed "The Mig," which is a type of Russian fighter jet, for his tenacious style of riding. He lives ...
(1997, 1998, 2004, 2005)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 3 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1988, 1995, 1999)
* 3 – Linda L. Rice (2014, 2015, 2018)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Lady Sheila Stable (2014, 2015, 2018)
Winners
''Notes:''
§ Ran as an entry
See also
*List of American and Canadian Graded races
The List of American and Canadian Graded races is a list of Thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada that meet the graded stakes standards maintained by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders ...
References
{{reflist, 2
Graded stakes races in the United States
Grade 3 stakes races in the United States
Sprint category horse races for fillies and mares
Horse races in New York (state)
Aqueduct Racetrack
Recurring sporting events established in 1954
1954 establishments in New York City