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 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 y ...

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 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 ...

as the Maskette Stakes in honor of the

Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...

filly,

Maskette Maskette (1906–1930) was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse who never lost a race against other fillies. Background Bred by James R. Keene at his Castleton Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, Maskette was trained by future Hall of ...

, 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 actua ...

. The Maskette took place at

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 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 (horse ...

(1964, 1965) * 2 –

Lady's Secret Lady's Secret (April 8, 1982 – March 4, 2003) was an American Eclipse Award winning Thoroughbred 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 Farm in Oklah ...

(1985, 1986) * 2 –

Ginger Punch {{Infobox racehorse , horsename = Ginger Punch , image = , caption = , sire = Awesome Again , grandsire = Deputy Minister , dam = Nappelon , damsire = Bold Revenue , sex = Filly , foaled = 2003 , country = United States , colour = ...

(2007, 2008) 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 ...

: * 6 –

Ángel Cordero Jr. Ángel Tomás Cordero Jr. (born: November 8, 1942) is one of the leading Thoroughbred horse racing jockeys of the late 20th-century and the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the United States' Racing Hall of Fame. He led all jockeys in win ...

(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 inducte ...

(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)