The First Flight Handicap is an American

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 ...

held annually in late June/early July at

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse racing facility in the northeastern United States, located in Elmont, New York, just east of the New York City limits. It was opened on May 4, 1905. It is operated by the non-profit New York Racin ...

Elmont, New York Elmont is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located in northwestern Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, United States, along its border with the borough of Queens in New York City. The population was 35,265 at the ...

. A

Grade II In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

event open to

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 four ...

s, ages three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of seven

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hors ...

s. The race is named in honor of

Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Cornelius "Sonny" Vanderbilt Whitney (February 20, 1899 – December 13, 1992) was an American businessman, film producer, government official, writer and philanthropist. He was also a polo player and the owner of a significant stable of Thorough ...

American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly The American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971. The award originated in 1936 when both t ...

of 1946.

First Flight The maiden flight, also known as first flight, of an aircraft is the first occasion on which it leaves the ground under its own power. The same term is also used for the first launch of rockets. The maiden flight of a new aircraft type is alw ...

won the Matron Stakes, and beat male opponents in winning the

Belmont Futurity Stakes The Futurity Stakes, commonly referred to as the Belmont Futurity, is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid-September or October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, United States. Open to two-year-old horses, it is raced on turf ...

. Inaugurated in 1978, the race has been hosted by

Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and casino in the South Ozone Park, Queens, South Ozone Park and Jamaica, Queens, Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack locate ...

and Belmont Park: * Aqueduct – 1978–1989, 1991–2002, 2004–2006 * Belmont – 1990, 2001, 2003, 2007–present

Records

Speed record: * 1:20.60 – Shared Interest (1992) Most wins: * 2 – Twist Afleet (1994, 1995) * 2 – Country Hideaway (1999, 2000) * 2 – Shine Again (2001, 2002) Most wins by a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

: * 4 –

Jerry Bailey Jerry D. Bailey (born August 29, 1957 in Dallas, Texas) is an Thoroughbred Racing on NBC, NBC Sports thoroughbred racing analyst and a retired American National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame jockey. Early years Bailey was born ...

(1987, 1990, 1992, 1994) Most wins by a trainer: * 6 – H. Allen Jerkens (1991, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2008) Most wins by an owner: * 3 –

Bohemia Stable Allaire du Pont (May 4, 1913 – January 6, 2006) was an American sportswoman and a member of the prominent French-American Du Pont family of chemical manufacturers who is most remembered as the owner of the Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fa ...

(1997, 2001, 2002)

Winners

{, class="wikitable sortable" , - ! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:25px" , Year
! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:125px", Winner
! style="background-color:#DACAA5" width:25px" , Age
! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:130px", Jockey
! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:130px", Trainer
! style="background-color:#DACAA5; , Owner
! style="background-color:#DACAA5" , Time
, - , 2009 , Porte Bonheur , 4 ,

Ramon Domínguez Ramón A. Domínguez (born November 24, 1976 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a retired Eclipse Award-winning champion jockey and Hall of Fame member in American thoroughbred horse racing. Domínguez began riding horses at age 16 in his native Venezuela ...

, David Duggan , Johanna Murphy-Leopoldsberger , 1:22.45 , - , 2008 , Any Limit , 5 ,

Cornelio Velásquez Cornelio H. Velásquez (born September 28, 1968, in Panama City, Panama) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He was introduced to horse racing at age fifteen by trainer Carlos Salazar Guardia in his native Panama and enrolled in th ...

, H. Allen Jerkens , Joseph V. Shields Jr. , 1:23.86 , - , 2007 , Ginger Punch , 4 ,

Rafael Bejarano Rafael Bejarano (born June 23, 1982 in Arequipa, Peru) is a champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He trained at the Peruvian national riding school before embarking on his professional career in 1999. Having met with success, inclu ...

, Robert J. Frankel ,

Stronach Stable Stronach Stables is the North American racing arm of Thoroughbred horse racing owner and horse breeding, breeder, Frank Stronach, who also owns the horse breeding operation Adena Springs. Stronach is also the CEO of the Stronach Group which owns ra ...

, 1:22.64 , - , 2006 , Carmandia , 4 ,

Chris DeCarlo Chris is a short form of various names including Christopher, Christian, Christina, Christine, and Christos. Chris is also used as a name in its own right, however it is not as common. People with the given name * Chris Abani (born 1966), N ...

, Richard E. Dutrow Jr. , Four Roses Thoroughbreds , 1:22.91 , - , 2005 , Great Intentions , 4 ,

Edgar Prado Edgar S. Prado (Lima, June 12, 1967) is a Peruvian-born American jockey, a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey in thoroughbred horse racing. His big break came in 1997 when he won 536 races, making him the fourth rider in history to win 500 races in ...

, Michael E. Hushion , Barry K. Schwartz , 1:23.98 , - , 2004 , Bending Strings , 3 ,

Shaun Bridgmohan Shaun Xavier Bridgmohan (born June 24, 1979 in Spanish Town, Jamaica) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. At age thirteen, Bridgmohan's family emigrated to the United States, settling in South Florida where he developed an interes ...

Kiaran McLaughlin Kiaran P. McLaughlin (born November 15, 1960, in Lexington, Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer best known for training 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor. Background McLaughlin was born in an area of the country where horse r ...

, John D. Gunther , 1:22.13 , - , 2003 , Randaroo , 3 , Heberto Castillo Jr. ,

H. Joseph Allen H. Joseph Allen (born July 19, 1941 in The Bronx, New York) is an American businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder. Biography A graduate of the University of Michigan, Allen is a partner with his cousin Peter M. Brant in the pri ...

, 1:23.65 , - , 2002 , Shine Again , 5 ,

Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn (born November 6, 1956 in Bailleul, Nord, France) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer Jo ...

, H. Allen Jerkens ,

, 1:23.75 , - , 2001 , Shine Again , 4 ,

, H. Allen Jerkens ,

, 1:23.21 , - , 2000 , Country Hideaway , 4 , Jose Espinoza , C. R. McGaughey III ,

Ogden Phipps Ogden Phipps (November 26, 1908 – April 21, 2002) was an American stockbroker, court tennis champion and Hall of Fame member, thoroughbred horse racing executive and owner/breeder, and an art collector and philanthropist. In 2001, he was induc ...

, 1:22.60 , - , 1999 , Country Hideaway , 3 , Heberto Castillo Jr. , C. R. McGaughey III ,

, 1:23.00 , - , 1998 , Catinca , 3 ,

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 ...

, John C. Kimmel , Robert K. Waxman , 1:22.14 , - , 1997 , Dixie Flag , 3 , Mike Luzzi , H. Allen Jerkens ,

, 1:22.84 , - , 1996 , Thunder Achiever , 3 ,

Robbie Davis Robbie Glen Davis (born July 18, 1961 in Pocatello, Idaho) is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Early life Davis grew up in a single parent household forced onto welfare, something that would impact him for the rest of his life ...

, Carlos F. Martin , Flying Zee Stables , 1:21.59 , - , 1995 , Twist Afleet , 4 , Gary Stevens , John C. Kimmel , Lucille Conover , 1:22.95 , - , 1994 , Twist Afleet , 3 ,

, John C. Kimmel , Lucille Conover , 1:23.02 , - , 1993 , Raise Heck , 5 , Roger I. Velez , H. Allen Jerkens ,

Hobeau Farm John J. Dreyfus Jr. (August 28, 1913 – March 27, 2009) was an American financial expert and the founder of the Dreyfus Funds. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Dreyfus was a graduate of Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He is widely publicize ...

, 1:23.51 , - , 1992 , Shared Interest , 4 ,

, Flint S. Schulhofer ,

Robert S. Evans The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

, 1:20.65 , - , 1991 , Missy's Mirage , 3 ,

Eddie Maple Edward Retz "Eddie" Maple (born November 8, 1948, in Carrollton, Ohio) is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. One of eight siblings, he is an older brother to jockey Sam Maple, who won more than 2,500 races. Maple began riding h ...

, H. Allen Jerkens , Middletown Stables , 1:21.98 , - , 1990 , Queena , 4 ,

, C. R. McGaughey III , Emory G. Alexander , 1:22.40 , - , 1989 , Grecian Flight , 5 ,

Craig Perret Craig Perret (born February 2, 1951, in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding horses at age five and by seven was riding quarter horses in match races. At age fifteen he began his career in thorou ...

, Joseph H. Pierce Jr. , Henry C. B. Lindh , 1:22.00 , - , 1988 , Cagey Exuberance , 4 , Joseph Imparato , Robert W. Camac , Lindsey D. Burbank , 1:24.40 , - , 1987 , Al's Helen , 4 ,

Jack Van Berg John Charles "Jack" Van Berg (June 7, 1936 in Columbus, Nebraska – December 27, 2017) was an American Hall of Fame horse trainer. Born into a horse racing family, his father was the Hall of Fame trainer, Marion Van Berg. Both father and son hav ...

Kinsman Stable Kinsman Stable is the '' nom de course'' for the American Thoroughbred racing stable of George Steinbrenner, best known as the owner of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. A director and former president of the Florida Thoroughbred Br ...

, 1:21.80 , - , 1986 , Chaldea , 6 ,

, Thomas J. Skiffington , R. Lewis Mangum , 1:22.40 , - , 1985 , Alabama Nana , 4 ,

Jorge Velásquez Jorge Velásquez (born December 28, 1946 in Chepo, Panama) is a thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. Jorge Velasquez's career in thoroughbred racing began in his native Panama but as a teenager moved to the United States. In 1967 he won ...

, D. Wayne Lukas , Leonard D. Mathis , 1:22.20 , - , 1984 , Shortly , 4 , Mario G. Pino , James W. Murphy , Sam O. Graham , 1:22.60 , - , 1983 , Pert , 4 , Frank Lovato Jr. , Stephen A. DiMauro , Harold I. Snyder , 1:25.20 , - , 1982 , Number , 3 ,

Woody Stephens Woody Stephens (September 1, 1913 – August 22, 1998) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame trainer. Biography Born Woodford Cefis Stephens in Stanton, Kentucky, he had a younger brother named William Ward Stephens who also b ...

, Claiborne Farm , 1:22.20 , - , 1981 , Island Charm , 4 ,

, Stephen A. DiMauro , David A. McKibbin , 1:23.60 , - , 1980 , Samarta Dancer , 4 ,

Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen (born March 15, 1962 in Agar, South Dakota) is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn ...

, Carlos A. Garcia ,

Gustave Ring Gustav, Gustaf or Gustave may refer to: * Gustav (name), a male given name of Old Swedish origin Art, entertainment, and media * ''Primeval'' (film), a 2007 American horror film * ''Gustav'' (film series), a Hungarian series of animated short car ...

, 1:25.60 , - , 1979 , Gladiolus , 5 , Laffit Pincay Jr. , Freeman E. McMillan , Sea Spray Farms , 1:22.40 , - , 1978 , What A Summer , 5 ,

Jeffrey Fell Jeffrey J. Fell (born June 20, 1956, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) is a retired jockey and a Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee who was also a successful rider in the United States. On June 17, 1978, Jeffrey Fell rode Tiller (horse), Til ...

LeRoy Jolley LeRoy S. Jolley (January 14, 1938 – December 18, 2017) was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred horse trainer. The son of horse trainer Moody Jolley, LeRoy Jolley had been around horses all his life and at age nineteen received a New York State ...

, Diana M. Firestone , 1:22.20 , -

References

The 2009 First flight Handicap at the NTRA
Graded stakes races in the United States Sprint category horse races for fillies and mares Recurring sporting events established in 1978 Belmont Park Horse races in New York (state)