The Merchants and Citizens Handicap is a discontinued 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 ...

which was first run in 1900 at

Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, Saratoga Springs, New York (state), New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting v ...

Saratoga Springs, New York Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over ...

. Open to horses aged three and older, it was contested on dirt. The inaugural event was won by Orville Richards'

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

Charentus and the final running in 1960 by Gustave Ring's Don Poggio. In between them, some of the races most notable winners include U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductees Roamer,

Sir Barton Sir Barton (April 26, 1916 – October 30, 1937) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the first winner of the American Triple Crown. Background Sir Barton was a chestnut colt bred in 1916, in Kentucky, by John E. Madden at ...

, Exterminator (1921) and

Discovery Discovery may refer to: * Discovery (observation), observing or finding something unknown * Discovery (fiction), a character's learning something unknown * Discovery (law), a process in courts of law relating to evidence Discovery, The Discover ...

(1935). The 1919 U. S. Triple Crown winner Sir Barton set a world record of 1:55 3/5 for 1 3/16 miles on dirt in winning the August 28, 1920 edition of the Merchants and Citizens Handicap.

Records

Speed record: * 2:55.80 – Don Poggio (1960) at 1 miles * 1:54.60 –

Reveille Boy "Reveille" ( , ), called in French "Le Réveil" is a bugle call, trumpet call, drum, fife-and-drum or pipes call most often associated with the military; it is chiefly used to wake military personnel at sunrise. The name comes from (or ), ...

(1932) at 1 Most wins: * 2 – Herbert (1901, 1902) * 2 – Sir John Johnson (1909, 1910) Most wins by a jockey: * 6 –

Ted Atkinson Theodore Frederick Atkinson (June 17, 1916 – May 5, 2005) was a Canadian-born American thoroughbred horse racing jockey, inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1957. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His sister was Ru ...

(1943, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1955) Most wins by a trainer: * 6 –

James E. Fitzsimmons James Edward "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons (July 23, 1874 – March 11, 1966) was a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. Early life Born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn in 1874, Fitzsimmons began his career in 1885 working at a racetrack as a stable boy. After ...

(1914, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1940, 1941) Most wins by an owner: * 4 –

Belair Stud Belair Stud was an American thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm founded by Provincial Governor of Maryland Samuel Ogle in 1747 in Collington, Prince George's County, Maryland, in Colonial America. Colonial period Queen Mab a ...

(1930, 1934, 1940, 1941)

Winners

References

{{reflist 1900 establishments in New York (state) Discontinued horse races in New York (state) Saratoga Race Course Open middle distance horse races Open long distance horse races Recurring sporting events established in 1900 Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1961