Display Handicap
Encyclopedia
The Display Handicap was an American
Thoroughbred
horse race
formerly run on Long Island, New York's Aqueduct Racetrack
. It was for 3-year-olds and up, and was traditionally held on the last day of racing in New York
for that calendar year. It began ending the season on December 31, 1976, when year-round racing was introduced in New York.
Originally known as the New York Handicap, its name was changed to the Display Handicap in 1955 (the name "New York Handicap" was later appended to another stakes race for fillies
and mare
s three years old and up, and is now run on the grass, or turf
course). The distance of the Display Handicap varied at different times, but was always at least 2 miles (3,219 m), and was run at 2¼ miles (3,621 m) from the late 1960s until its last running in 1990.
The race was aptly named for Display
, a son of Fair Play
(as was Man O'War
, elected #1 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century
). Display was considered one of the greatest Thoroughbred race horses of all time; he was noted for being able to carry heavy weights over marathon distances successfully. The Display Handicap was distinctive for the fact that many horses who normally ran in claiming races (but possessed abundant stamina) would be entered in it, and a few such horses went on to win the event. In 1978, Seaney Bear nosed out Framarco, another horse who ran mostly in claiming races. They competed in one of the two divisions of the race which were run in that year, necessitated by an unusually high number of horses entered in the race. Although the race was for 3-year-olds and up, it was rare for a 3-year-old to win it; when In the Ruff won the 1983 running, he became the first 3-year-old winner of the Display since Dean Carl in 1963, and the first ever at the 2¼-mile distance.
Horses bred (and sometimes based) outside the United States
often competed in the Display; one such horse — the Argentine-bred Paraje — won it three years in a row in the early 1970s. Horses were also frequently shipped from Canada
to compete. The discontinuing of the Display Handicap after the 1990 running left the Valedictory Stakes
at Woodbine Racetrack
in Toronto
, Ontario
(run at 1¾ miles) as the longest stakes race run on the dirt in North America
.
In its later years field sizes became progressively smaller, with only five starters in what would prove to be the final running in 1990.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse race
formerly run on Long Island, New York's Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
. It was for 3-year-olds and up, and was traditionally held on the last day of racing in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
for that calendar year. It began ending the season on December 31, 1976, when year-round racing was introduced in New York.
Originally known as the New York Handicap, its name was changed to the Display Handicap in 1955 (the name "New York Handicap" was later appended to another stakes race for fillies
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
and mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
s three years old and up, and is now run on the grass, or turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
course). The distance of the Display Handicap varied at different times, but was always at least 2 miles (3,219 m), and was run at 2¼ miles (3,621 m) from the late 1960s until its last running in 1990.
The race was aptly named for Display
Display (horse)
Display was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was owned and bred by Walter J. Salmon, Sr. at his Mereworth Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. Display was sired by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Fair Play, a descendant of West Australian, the first winner of the English Triple Crown. He was out...
, a son of Fair Play
Fair Play (horse)
Fair Play was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was successful on the track, but even more so as a sire.His grandsire was Spendthrift, whose grandsire was the English Triple Crown champion West Australian....
(as was Man O'War
Man O'War
Man O' War is a now out-of-print table top war game by Games Workshop. The game was set in the same realm of Warhammer Fantasy as used for the Warhammer Fantasy Battle and included most of the factions from that setting...
, elected #1 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century
Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century
In 1999, a panel for The Blood-Horse magazine was made up of distinguished horse racing people: Howard Battle, Lenny Hale, Jay Hovdey, William Nack, Pete Pedersen, Jennie Rees and Tommy Trotter. These experts compiled a list of what they considered to be the top 100 United States thoroughbred...
). Display was considered one of the greatest Thoroughbred race horses of all time; he was noted for being able to carry heavy weights over marathon distances successfully. The Display Handicap was distinctive for the fact that many horses who normally ran in claiming races (but possessed abundant stamina) would be entered in it, and a few such horses went on to win the event. In 1978, Seaney Bear nosed out Framarco, another horse who ran mostly in claiming races. They competed in one of the two divisions of the race which were run in that year, necessitated by an unusually high number of horses entered in the race. Although the race was for 3-year-olds and up, it was rare for a 3-year-old to win it; when In the Ruff won the 1983 running, he became the first 3-year-old winner of the Display since Dean Carl in 1963, and the first ever at the 2¼-mile distance.
Horses bred (and sometimes based) outside the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
often competed in the Display; one such horse — the Argentine-bred Paraje — won it three years in a row in the early 1970s. Horses were also frequently shipped from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to compete. The discontinuing of the Display Handicap after the 1990 running left the Valedictory Stakes
Valedictory Stakes
The Valedictory Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early December at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Open to horses age three and older, the n;on-graded stakes is contested on Polytrack synthetic dirt over a distance of 1¾ miles .Inaugurated as the Valedictory...
at Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack
Woodbine Racetrack is a Canadian racetrack for Thoroughbred horse races located at 555 Rexdale Blvd. in the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
(run at 1¾ miles) as the longest stakes race run on the dirt in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
In its later years field sizes became progressively smaller, with only five starters in what would prove to be the final running in 1990.