The Go For Wand 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 ...

established in 1954 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 mares age three and up. Raced in the fall, it is a Grade III race (Grade I before 2010) on dirt at a distance of one mile. Inaugurated in 1954 at Belmont Park as the Maskette Stakes in honor of the Hall of Fame filly, Maskette, it was renamed in 1992 for its ill-fated 1990 winner and Hall of Fame inductee, Go For Wand who is buried in the infield at

Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the country, but is actu ...

. The Maskette took place at Aqueduct Racetrack in 1959, 1960, and from 1962 to 1968. From 1994–2009, the Go For Wand was hosted at the Saratoga Race Course. After not being raced in 2010, the Go For Wand Handicap returned to Aqueduct on November 25, 2011. The distance reverted to the mile distance the race was contested at prior to its move to Saratoga Race Course. Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances: * 1 mile (8 furlongs) : 1954–1981, 1983–1993, 2011- * 7 furlongs : 1982 * miles (9 furlongs) : 1994–2009 The race was run in two divisions in 1976. This race was downgraded to a Grade III for its 2014 running.http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/82327/eight-stakes-elevated-in-status-for-2014

Records

Speed record: *Lady's Secret – 1:33.60 (1986) (at current 8 furlong distance) Most wins: * 2 – Tempted (1958, 1960) * 2 –

Tosmah Tosmah (1961–1992) was a champion Thoroughbred race horse. She was the leading American filly of her generation at both two and three years of age. Background Tosmah was bred in Kentucky by Eugene Mori. Her sire was the great Tim Tam, by ...

(1964, 1965) * 2 –

Lady's Secret Lady's Secret (April 8, 1982 – March 4, 2003) was an American Eclipse Award winning Thoroughbred horse racing, racemare that was listed in the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century. Lady's Secret was bred by Robert H. Spreen at Lucas ...

(1985, 1986) * 2 – Ginger Punch (2007, 2008) Most wins by a jockey: * 6 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1967, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1987, 1991) Most wins by a trainer: * 6 – C. R. McGaughey III (1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001) Most wins by an owner: * 5 –

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 ...

(1972, 1979, 1988, 1992, 1995)

Winners

† In 1974,

Desert Vixen Desert Vixen (1970–1982) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. She was the leading American filly of her generation, winning an Eclipse Award at the ages of both three and four. She was later inducted into the U. S. Racing Hall of Fame. Ra ...

finished first, but was later disqualified.

References

{{reflist Mile category horse races for fillies and mares Graded stakes races in the United States Grade 3 stakes races in the United States Horse races in New York (state) Recurring sporting events established in 1954 Aqueduct Racetrack 1954 establishments in New York (state)