The Jennings 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 ...

run annually at

Laurel Park Racecourse Laurel Park, formerly Laurel Race Course, is an American thoroughbred racetrack located just outside Laurel, Maryland which opened in 1911. The track is miles in circumference. Its name was changed to "Laurel Race Course" for several decades unt ...

Laurel, Maryland Laurel is a city in Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington and Baltimore on the banks of the Patuxent River. While the city limits are entirely in northern Prince George's County, outlying developments extend into Anne Arunde ...

. Raced in December each year, it is open to horses age three and older that are registered Maryland-breds and is contested on dirt over a distance of 1 mile (8

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). Prior to 1993, the race alternated locations between Laurel Park and

Pimlico Race Course Pimlico Race Course is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Ol ...

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

. The race has been run at four different distances: miles, miles, 1 mile, and 6 furlongs. The race was named in honor of William Jennings Sr. who was one of Maryland's all-time great horsemen. His Glengar Farm was located six miles from "Old Hilltop" (

) on Smith Avenue in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

. Jennings achieved national prominence in the late 19th century. Among his good horses was 1887

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held on Armed Forces Day which is also the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs () on ...

winner

Dunboyne Dunboyne () is a town in Meath, Ireland. It is a commuter town for Dublin. In the 20 years between the 1996 and 2016 censuses, the population of Dunboyne more than doubled from 3,080 to 7,272 inhabitants. Location Dunboyne is centred on the ...

, whom he bred, owned and trained. His heritage continued through his grandson, U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Henry S. Clark, regarded by many as the dean of Maryland horse trainers.2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 68-69 on March 3, 2007.

Records

Speed record: * miles - 1:48.40 - Include (2001) * miles - 1:42.20 - Amber Hawk (1972) Most wins by a horse: * 4 - Eighttofasttocatch (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) * 3 - Little Bold John (1987, 1988 & 1989) 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 ...

: * 5 - Donnie Miller Jr. (1983, 1986, 1987, 1988 & 1989) Most wins by a trainer: * 4 -

Tim Keefe Timothy John Keefe (January 1, 1857 – April 23, 1933), nicknamed "Smiling Tim" and "Sir Timothy", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He stood tall and weighed . He was one of the most dominating pitchers of the 19th century and po ...

(2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) * 3 - Jerry Robb (1987, 1988 & 1989)

Winners of the Jennings Handicap since 1923

References

{{Reflist Open middle distance horse races Restricted stakes races in the United States 1923 establishments in Maryland Laurel Park Racecourse Horse races in Maryland Recurring sporting events established in 1923

Records

Winners of the Jennings Handicap since 1923

See also

References