The Whitney Handicap (often referred to as the "Whitney Stakes") is an American Grade I handicap race for thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and older, run at a distance of 1-1/8 miles. In 2007, the Breeders' Cup Ltd. introduced the "Win and You're In" qualification format that means that the winner of the Whitney Handicap will automatically qualify for the fall running of the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Held annually in late July/early August at the Saratoga Race Course near Saratoga Springs, New York, the race is named for the Whitney family, whose members have and remain prominent participants and supporters of the sport of thoroughbred racing.
Raced at a distance of 1-1/4 miles from inception in 1928 until 1940, it was closed to geldings. The inaugural running was won by William R. Coe's two-time champion filly, Black Maria. During World War II, the race was run at Belmont Park from 1943 through 1945, and again once in 1961. Between 1957 and 1969 the race was restricted to horses four years and older.
Some of the greatest horses in American racing history have won the Whitney Handicap, including Kelso, who won it for the third time in 1965 at the age of eight. The race also saw one of the most dramatic upsets in racing history when Secretariat finished second in the 1973 Whitney to Allen Jerkin's colt, Onion. Six fillies have also won the race: Black Maria (1928), Bateau (1929), Esposa (1937), Gallorette (1948), Lady's Secret (1986), and Personal Ensign (1988).
Records[]
Speed record:
- 1-1/8 miles - 1.46.64 - Lawyer Ron (2007)
- 1-1/4 miles - 2.02.00 - Devil Diver (1944) and Bolingbroke (1943)
Most wins:
- 3 - Kelso (1961, 1963, 1965)
- 3 - Discovery (1934, 1935, 1936)
Most wins by an owner:
- 6 - Greentree Stable (1931, 1942, 1944, 1951, 1953, 1958)
- 4 - C.V. Whitney (1932, 1952, 1980, 1982)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 - Pat Day (1986, 1987, 1989, 1995, 1998)
- 5 - Jerry Bailey (1992, 1997, 1999, 2003)
- 4 - John R. Velazquez (2002, 2007, 2008, 2013)
- 3 - Gary L. Stevens (1990, 1991, 2005)
Most wins by an trainer:
- 5 - John M. Gaver, Sr. (1942, 1944, 1951, 1953, 1958)
- 4 - J. Elliott Burch (1955, 1972, 1980, 1982)
Winners[]
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
Distance (miles) |
Time | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Cross Traffic | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | GoldMark Farm, LLC | 1-1/8 | 1:47.89 | I | |
| 2012 | Fort Larned | 4 | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | Ian R. Wilkes | Janis R. Whitham | 1-1/8 | 1:47.76 | I | |
| 2011 | Tizway | 6 | Rajiv Maragh | H. James Bond | William L. Clifton, Jr. | 1-1/8 | 1:52.43 | I | |
| 2010 | Blame | 4 | Garrett Gomez | Albert M. Stall, Jr. | Adele B. Dilschneider | 1-1/8 | 1:48.88 | I | |
| 2009 | Bullsbay | 5 | Jeremy Rose | H. Graham Motion | Mitchell Ranch LLC | 1-1/8 | 1:48.12 | I | |
| 2008 | Commentator | 7 | John R. Velazquez | Nick Zito | Tracy Farmer | 1-1/8 | 1:50.23 | I | |
| 2007 | Lawyer Ron | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Hines Racing LLC | 1-1/8 | 1:46.64 | I | |
| 2006 | Invasor | 4 | Fernando Jara | Kiaran McLaughlin | Shadwell Racing | 1-1/8 | 1:49.06 | I | |
| 2005 | Commentator | 4 | Gary Stevens | Nick Zito | Tracy Farmer | 1-1/8 | 1:48.33 | I | |
| 2004 | Roses in May | 4 | Edgar Prado | Dale L. Romans | Ken & Sarah Ramsey | 1-1/8 | 1:48.54 | I | |
| 2003 | Medaglia d'Oro | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 1-1/8 | 1:47.69 | I | |
| 2002 | Left Bank | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Michael B. Tabor | 1-1/8 | 1:47:04 | I | |
| 2001 | Lido Palace | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | John Amerman | 1-1/8 | 1:47.94 | I | |
| 2000 | Lemon Drop Kid | 4 | Edgar Prado | Scotty Schulhofer | Jeanne G. Vance | 1-1/8 | 1:48.30 | I | |
| 1999 | Victory Gallop | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Elliott Walden | Prestonwood Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:48.66 | I | |
| 1998 | Awesome Again | 4 | Pat Day | Patrick B. Byrne | Stronach Stables | 1-1/8 | 1:49.71 | I | |
| 1997 | Will's Way | 4 | Jerry Bailey | H. James Bond | Rudlein Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:48.37 | I | |
| 1996 | Mahogany Hall | 5 | Jose Santos | James Baker | Woodlyn Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:48.60 | I | |
| 1995 | Unaccounted For | 4 | Pat Day | Scotty Schulhofer | Morven Stud | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | I | |
| 1994 | Colonial Affair | 4 | Jose Santos | Scotty Schulhofer | Centennial Farms | 1-1/8 | 1:48.60 | I | |
| 1993 | Brunswick | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Anthony Margotta | Jerry Denker | 1-1/8 | 1:47.40 | I | |
| 1992 | Sultry Song | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Patrick Kelly | Live Oak Racing | 1-1/8 | 1:47.20 | I | |
| 1991 | In Excess | 4 | Gary Stevens | Bruce L. Jackson | Jack J. Munari | 1-1/8 | 1:48.00 | I | |
| 1990 | Criminal Type | 5 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Calumet Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:48.60 | I | |
| 1989 | Easy Goer | 3 | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1-1/8 | 1:47.40 | I | |
| 1988 | Personal Ensign | 4 | Randy Romero | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1-1/8 | 1:47.80 | I | |
| 1987 | Java Gold | 3 | Pat Day | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:48.40 | I | |
| 1986 | Lady's Secret | 4 | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1-1/8 | 1:49.80 | I | |
| 1985 | Track Barron | 4 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | LeRoy Jolley | Peter M. Brant | 1-1/8 | 1:47.60 | I | |
| 1984 | Slew o' Gold | 4 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | John O. Hertler | Equusequity Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:48.20 | I | |
| 1983 | Island Whirl | 5 | Ed Delahoussaye | Laz Barrera | Elcee-H Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:48.40 | I | |
| 1982 | Silver Buck | 4 | Don MacBeth | J. Elliott Burch | C. V. Whitney | 1-1/8 | 1:47.80 | I | |
| 1981 | Fio Rito | 6 | Leslie Hulet | Michael Ferraro | Raymond LeCesse | 1-1/8 | 1:48.00 | I | |
| 1980 | State Dinner | 5 | Ruben Hernandez | J. Elliott Burch | C. V. Whitney | 1-1/8 | 1:48.20 | II | |
| 1979 | Star de Naskra | 4 | Jeffrey Fell | Richard D. Ferris | Caryle J. Lancaster | 1-1/8 | 1:47.60 | II | |
| 1978 | Alydar | 3 | Jorge Velasquez | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:47.40 | II | |
| 1977 | Nearly On Time | 3 | Steve Cauthen | LeRoy Jolley | Mrs. Moody Jolley | 1-1/8 | 1:49.40 | II | |
| 1976 | Dancing Gun | 4 | Roger Velez | Laz Barrera | Gedney Farms | 1-1/8 | 1:50.00 | II | |
| 1975 | Ancient Title | 5 | Sandy Hawley | Keith L. Stucki, Sr. | Ethel Kirkland | 1-1/8 | 1:48.20 | II | |
| 1974 | Tri Jet | 5 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Charles R. Parke | Fred W. Hooper | 1-1/8 | 1:47.00 | II | |
| 1973 | Onion | 4 | Jacinto Vasquez | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | II | |
| 1972 | Key To The Mint | 3 | Braulio Baeza | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | ||
| 1971 | Protanto | 4 | Jorge Velasquez | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stables | 1-1/8 | 1:49.40 | ||
| 1970 | Judgable | 3 | Robert Woodhouse | Herbert Nadler | Saul Nadler | 1-1/8 | 1:48.40 | ||
| 1969 | Verbatim | 4 | Pete Anderson | James P. Conway | Elmendorf Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:50.00 | ||
| 1968 | Dr. Fager | 4 | Braulio Baeza | John A. Nerud | Tartan Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:48.80 | ||
| 1967 | Stupendous | 4 | Eddie Belmonte | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:48.20 | ||
| 1966 | Staunchness | 4 | Ernest Cardone | Victor J. Nickerson | Red Oak Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:50.20 | ||
| 1965 | Kelso | 8 | Ismael Valenzuela | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:49.80 | ||
| 1964 | Gun Bow | 4 | Walter Blum | Edward A. Neloy | Gedney Farms | 1-1/8 | 1:49.20 | ||
| 1963 | Kelso | 6 | Ismael Valenzuela | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:50.40 | ||
| 1962 | Carry Back | 4 | Johnny Sellers | Jack A. Price | Katherine Price | 1-1/8 | 1:50.00 | ||
| 1961 | Kelso | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:48.00 | ||
| 1960 | Warhead | 5 | Mike Sorrentino | Kay Erik Jensen | Mabel C. Scholtz | 1-1/8 | 1:51.00 | ||
| 1959 | Plion | 4 | Manuel Ycaza | Tom Jolley | Edward M. Potter | 1-1/8 | 1:53.00 | ||
| 1958 | Cohoes | 4 | John Ruane | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:51.60 | ||
| 1957 | Kingmaker | 4 | Bobby Ussery | Frank I. Wright | Happy Hill Farm | 1-1/8 | 1:52.80 | ||
| 1956 | Dedicate | 4 | William Boland | G. Carey Winfrey | Jan Burke | 1-1/8 | 1:49.80 | ||
| 1955 | First Aid | 5 | Hedley Woodhouse | J. Elliott Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:51.60 | ||
| 1954 | Social Outcast | 4 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1-1/4 | 2:04.40 | ||
| 1953 | Tom Fool | 4 | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:05.40 | ||
| 1952 | Counterpoint | 4 | David Gorman | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 1-1/4 | 2:05.60 | ||
| 1951 | One Hitter | 5 | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:05.00 | ||
| 1950 | Piet | 5 | Nick Combest | R. Emmett Potts | BoMar Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:06.60 | ||
| 1949 | Round View | 6 | Sebastian Perez | Hollie Hughes | Sanford Stud Farms | 1-1/4 | 2:06.60 | ||
| 1948 | Gallorette | 6 | Arnold Kirkland | Edward A. Christmas | William L. Brann | 1-1/4 | 2:05.20 | ||
| 1947 | Rico Monte | 5 | Ruperto Donoso | Horatio Luro | W. Arnold Hanger | 1-1/4 | 2:02.60 | ||
| 1946 | Stymie | 5 | Basil James | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1-1/4 | 2:07.40 | ||
| 1945 | Trymenow | 3 | Herb Lindberg | Oscar White | Walter M. Jeffords, Sr. | 1-1/4 | 2:02.20 | ||
| 1944 | Devil Diver | 5 | Eddie Arcaro | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:02.00 | ||
| 1943 | Bolingbroke | 6 | Herb Lindberg | Walter Burrows | Townsend B. Martin | 1-1/4 | 2:02.00 | ||
| 1942 | Swing and Sway | 4 | Don Meade | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:05.40 | ||
| 1941 | Fenelon | 4 | James Stout | James Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1-1/4 | 2:06.40 | ||
| 1940 | Challedon | 4 | George Woolf | Louis J. Schaefer | William L. Brann | 1-1/4 | 2:03.20 | ||
| 1939 | Eight Thirty | 3 | Harry Richards | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:06.20 | ||
| 1938 | War Admiral | 4 | Wayne D. Wright | George Conway | Glen Riddle Farm | 1-1/4 | 2:03.80 | ||
| 1937 | Esposa | 5 | Nick Wall | Matthew P. Brady | William Ziegler, Jr. | 1-1/4 | 2:05.20 | ||
| 1936 | Discovery | 5 | John Bejshak | Bud Stotler | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1-1/4 | 2:06.80 | ||
| 1935 | Discovery | 4 | John Bejshak | Bud Stotler | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1-1/4 | 2:04.80 | ||
| 1934 | Discovery | 3 | Don Meade | Bud Stotler | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1-1/4 | 2:07.80 | ||
| 1933 | Caesar's Ghost | 3 | Dominick Bellizzi | Jack J. Connors | Brookmeade Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:10.80 | ||
| 1932 | Equipoise | 4 | Raymond Workman | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. Whitney | 1-1/4 | 2:05.60 | ||
| 1931 | St. Brideaux | 3 | Linus McAtee | James G. Rowe, Jr. | Greentree Stable | 1-1/4 | 2:05.00 | ||
| 1930 | Whichone | 3 | Raymond Workman | James G. Rowe, Jr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 1-1/4 | 2:04.00 | ||
| 1929 | Bateau | 4 | Eddie Ambrose | Scott P. Harlan | Walter M. Jeffords, Sr. | 1-1/4 | 2:09.40 | ||
| 1928 | Black Maria | 5 | Laverne Fator | William H. Karrick | William R. Coe | 1-1/4 | 2:06.00 |