The Gallant Fox Handicap is a discontinued Thoroughbred horse race in New York City which was run annually from 1939 through 2009. Hosted by the now defunct

Jamaica Race Course Jamaica Race Course, also called the Jamaica Racetrack, was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility operated by the Metropolitan Jockey Club in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. History The track opened on April 27, 1903, a day which featu ...

Jamaica, Queens Jamaica is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It is mainly composed of a large commercial and retail area, though part of the neighborhood is also residential. Jamaica is bordered by Hollis to the east; St. Albans, Springfi ...

from inception through 1957, it was then moved to

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 ...

in the Borough of Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The race was open to horses age three and older and although contested on dirt at various distances for the most part it was a longer distance race. The race was named for Gallant Fox, the second winner of the U.S. Triple Crown in 1930.

Historical notes

The inaugural running took place on October 12, 1939 at the Jamaica track and was won by Belair Stud Stable's Isolater whose jockey, James Stout, and his trainer, Jim Fitzsimmons would both have careers that led to induction in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame. On December 13, 1975, Edward R. Scharps'

gelding A gelding is a castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. Castration, as well as the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male equine to be calmer and better-behaved, makin ...

Sharp Gary won the 1⅝ mile Gallant Fox Handicap in track record time. Ten days later Sharp Gary won the 2¼ mile

Display Handicap The Display Handicap was an American long distance Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1955 through 1990. A race for 3-year-olds and up, it was run at the Jamaica Race Course from inception through 1958 at a distance of 2 miles. In 1959 th ...

, the longest major stakes event in North America. Future U.S. and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Sandy Hawley was aboard Gary Sharp for both wins. As a result of bad weather, the 2000 Gallant Fox Handicap was rescheduled and raced on January 1, 2001. With long-distance racing steadily declining in popularity with fans, and breeding now almost exclusively designed for speed, after seventy one years the Gallant Fox was canceled following the 2009 edition.

Records

Speed record: * 2:40 2/5 @ 1 miles : Gary Sharp (1975) Most wins: * 3 –

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(2000, 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 –

Mike Luzzi Mike may refer to: Animals * Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum * Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off * Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and document ...

(2000, 2002, 2005, 2007) Most wins by a Horse trainer, trainer: * 4 – Max Hirsch (1942, 1946, 1947, 1950) * 4 – H. Allen Jerkens (1957, 1958, 1965, 1983) * 4 – Bruce N. Levine (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) Most wins by an owner: * 4 – Roderick J. Valente (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002)

Winners

* † In 1972, Autobiography finished first, but was disqualified and set back to second.

Other past and present North American marathon races

On dirt: * Annual Champion Stakes * Daingerfield Handicap *

* Empire City Gold Cup * Gallant Man Handicap * Brooklyn Handicap * Fort Harrod Stakes * Tokyo City Cup * Valedictory Stakes On Grass, turf: * American St. Leger Stakes * Canadian International Stakes * Carleton F. Burke Handicap * San Juan Capistrano Handicap

References

{{reflist Discontinued horse races in New York City Open long distance horse races Recurring sporting events established in 1939 Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2010 Aqueduct Racetrack Jamaica Race Course