The Isaac Murphy 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 at

Arlington Park Arlington International Racecourse (formerly Arlington Park, the name was Arlington Park Jockey Club from as soon as 1948 up to 1955) was a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago re ...

racetrack in a suburb of

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rock ...

. The race is run on

Polytrack The track surface of a horse racing track refers to the material of which the track is made. There are three types of track surfaces used in modern horse racing. These are: *Turf, the most common track surface in Europe *Dirt, the most common trac ...

synthetic dirt and is 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

mares 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 ...

, age three and older who were bred in the

State of Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

. The race is named in honor of

Isaac Burns Murphy Isaac Burns Murphy (January 6, 1861 – February 16, 1896) was an American Hall of Fame jockey, who is considered to be one of the greatest riders in American Thoroughbred horse racing history. Murphy won three runnings of the Kentucky Derby and ...

, a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey whom the Hall says "is considered one of the greatest race riders in American history." Isaac Murphy raced in Chicago and won the city's then very prestigious

American Derby The American Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at Chicago's old Washington Park Race Track on the city's South Side and ra ...

on four occasions. The race was run as the Isaac Murphy Memorial Handicap from its inception in 1976 through 1980. Inaugurated at a distance of miles on

turf Sod, also known as turf, is the upper layer of soil with the grass growing on it that is often harvested into rolls. In Australian and British English, sod is more commonly known as ''turf'', and the word "sod" is limited mainly to agricult ...

, since then it has been contested at various distances on both turf and dirt: On turf: 1976, 1991–1996 * miles : 1976 * miles: 1991-1996 On dirt: 1977, 1980–1990, 1997 to present * 6 furlongs : 1986, 1997 to present * 7 furlongs : 1987-1990 * 1 mile : 1977, 1980–85 * miles : 1978-79 The race was restricted to three-year-old horses from 1980 through 1985 and again between 1991 and 1994. For 1983 only, it was limited to colts and geldings only. There were no state-bred restrictions prior to 1980 nor during the period from 1986 through 1996. There was no running of the Isaac Murphy Handicap in 1988, 1995, 1998 and 1999.

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 6 furlongs) * 1:08.00 - Taylor's Special (1986) Most wins: * 2 - Taylor's Special (1986, 1987) 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 ...

: * 2 -

Earlie Fires Earlie Stancel Fires (born March 19, 1947, in Rivervale, Arkansas) is a retired National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame jockey. Fires began riding professionally in 1964 and led all American apprentices in wins that year with 224. He retired ...

(1981, 1992) * 2 -

Pat Day Patrick Alan "Pat" Day (born October 13, 1953, in Brush, Colorado) is a retired American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991 a ...

(1986, 1987) * 2 - Carlos Silva (1991, 2004) * 2 - James Graham (2005, 2007) Most wins by a trainer: * 2 -

William I. Mott William I. "Bill" Mott (born July 29, 1953, in Mobridge, South Dakota) is an American horse trainer, most notable for his work with Cigar. Mott earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in 1995 and 1996. He was inducted into the Nationa ...

(1986, 1987) Most wins by an owner: * 2 - William F. Lucas (1986, 1987)

Winners of the Isaac Murphy Handicap

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! style="background-color:#DACAA5; width:150px", Trainer
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! style="background-color:#DACAA5" , Time , - , 2016 , Puntsville , 4 , Victor Santiago , Michele Boyce , S. D. Brilie, Ltd. , 1:10.87 , - , 2015 , Royal Posh , 7 , Santo Sanjur , Steve Manley , Larry Owens , 1:12:80 , - , 2014 , Fire Tricks , 5 , Eduardo E. Perez , Sharon Wilson , Meryl J. Squires-Cannon , 1:11.58 , - , 2013 , Kip Berries , 7 , , , Tom Swearingen Racing Stable , 1:10.94 , - , 2012 , Third Chance , 4 , Francisco C. Torres , James P. DiVito , Magers/Marcocchio , 1:10.92 , - , 2011 , Wild Hope , 4 , Tanner Riggs , Frank J. Kirby , Gary & Beth Leverton , 1:12.42 , - , 2010 , Secret Kin , 6 ,

Jesus Castanon Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...

Michael Stidham Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...

, Michael Stidham , 1:11.32 , - , 2009 , Nicks , 5 , James Graham , Christine Janks , Carson Springs Farm , 1:10.62 , - , 2008 , Magnetic Miss , 4 , Carlos Silva , Joseph E. Broussard , Richard Rudolph/Michael Vranich , 1:09.78 , - , 2007 , Modjadji , 5 , James Graham , Christine Janks , Arbaway Farm et al. , 1:10.91 , - , 2006 , Bluesbdancing , 4 , Eusebio Razo, Jr. , Terrel Gore , Bob & Nancy Bartels , 1:10.26 , - , 2005 , Jaguar City , 5 , James Graham , Frank R. Springer , Jaguar on the Run Stable , 1:10.82 , - , 2004 , Dharma Girl , 5 , Carlos Silva , Richard Hazelton , Ben Barnow , 1:10.28 , - , 2003 , Summer Mis , 4 , Larry Sterling, Jr. , Anthony Mitchell , Otto Stables Inc. , 1:10.62 , - , 2002 , Come September , 6 , Alfredo Juarez, Jr. , Joseph P. McKellar , L. J. Gaudreau/L. Gillen , 1:10.64 , - , 2001 , Rain Boots , 4 ,

Eduardo Perez Eduardo is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the male given name Edward. Another version is Duarte. It may refer to: Association football * Eduardo Bonvallet, Chilean football player and sports commentator * Eduardo Carvalho, Portuguese footbal ...

, Tom Dorris , David Halfacher , 1:11.20 , - , 2000 , Capitol View , 5 ,

Christopher Emigh Christopher Alan Emigh (born January 14, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He earned his first win as a professional at Evangeline Downs in 1989. The winner of more than 4,000 career races, he has ...

, Ronald O. Goodridge , John Conforti , 1:11.26 , - bgcolor="#eeeeee" , 1999 , ''no race'' , , , , , , , , , , , , - bgcolor="#eeeeee" , 1998 , ''no race'' , , , , , , , , , , , , - , 1997 , Miss Delovely , 4 ,

Curt Bourque Curt C. Bourque (born August 22, 1967 in Erath, Louisiana) is an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He began his riding career in 1984 at Evangeline Downs in Lafayette, Louisiana and won his first race later that year at Jefferson D ...

, Harvey L. Vanier , Nancy A. Vanier , 1:11.26 , - , 1996 , Lady Lodger , 5 , Ron Warren, Jr. , Brent Sumja , T. Webber, Jr. , 1:41.55 , - bgcolor="#eeeeee" , 1995 , ''no race'' , , , , , , , , , , , , - , 1994 , Star Campaigner , 3 ,

Aaron Gryder Aaron Tod Gryder (born June 5, 1970, in West Covina, California) is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Career At age 16 in 1986, Gryder began his career as a professional jockey in Tijuana, Mexico at Agua Caliente Racetrack. His firs ...

, Louis Roussel III , Louis Roussel III , 1:43.47 , - , 1993 , Snake Eyes , 3 , Wigberto Ramos , Steve Morguelan , M. Isenstein , 1:47.27 , - , 1992 , Nijinsky's Gold , 3 ,

, G. Romero , Stanton P. Powell , 1:43.11 , - , 1991 , Al Bing , 3 , Carlos Silva , Gene A. Cilio , Crown's Way Farm , 1:43.58 , - , 1990 ,

Beau Genius {{Infobox racehorse , horsename = Beau Genius , image = , caption = , sire = Bold Ruckus , grandsire = Boldnesian , dam = Royal Colleen , damsire = Viceregal , sex = Stallion , foaled = 1985 , country = Canada , colour = Chestnut ...

, 4 , Ricardo Lopez , Gerald S. Bennett , Brian Davidson , 1:21.40 , - , 1989 , Carborundum , 5 , Jamie Bruin , Steven C. Penrod , Hermitage Farm , 1:25.00 , - bgcolor="#eeeeee" , 1988 , ''no race'' , , , , , , , , , , , , - , 1987 , Taylor's Special , 6 ,

, William F. Lucas , 1:22.00 , - , 1986 , Taylor's Special , 5 ,

, William F. Lucas , 1:08.00 , - , 1985 , Magic North , 3 , Gerland Gallitano , Rickey Harris , C. & T. Tribble , 1:37.40 , - , 1984 , Raja Native , 3 , Carlos Marquez , James Garrard , G. R. Bunn , 1:36.60 , - , 1983 , Le Cou Cou , 3 , Don Howard , Jon Arnett , D. B. Clark , 1:37.40 , - , 1982 , Noted , 3 ,

Randy Romero Randy Paul Romero (December 22, 1957 – August 29, 2019) was a National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame jockey in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. Born into a family involved with horses, his father Lloyd J. Romero was a ...

, Herb Stevens , Preston W. Madden et al. , 1:36.40 , - , 1981 , Tri Crown , 3 ,

, B. Hickman , N. Cutlich , 1:35.80 , - , 1980 , Earlstone , 3 , Darrell Haire , J. Gural , Hickory Knoll Stable , 1:36.80 , - , 1979 , Hold Your Tricks , 4 , E. C. Aguirre , J. Johnson , Mabar Farm , 1:48.40 , - , 1978 , Romeo , 5 , H. Eddie Arroyo , Paul T. Adwell , M. L. Cashman , 1:52.40 , - , 1977 , Always Gallant , 3 ,

Eddie Delahoussaye Edward J. Delahoussaye (born September 21, 1951) is a retired American Thoroughbred jockey from New Iberia, Louisiana. He began his career in 1968 and ten years later became the top American jockey with 384 wins. He has won the Kentucky Derby ...

, W. Smith , Joseph W. LaCroix , 1:35.60 , - , 1976 , Victorian Prince , 6 ,

Sandy Hawley Desmond Sandford "Sandy" Hawley, (born April 16, 1949 in Oshawa, Ontario) is a Canadian Hall of Fame jockey. Sandy Hawley decided to be a jockey when he was a 17-year-old boy, hotwalking, grooming and excise horses at a Woodbine racetrack in Toro ...

, Michael Whittingham , Grovetree Stable , 1:50.20 , - Horse races in Illinois Recurring sporting events established in 1976 Arlington Park 1976 establishments in Illinois