The First Flight Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide 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 National Hunt racing...

 held annually in late June/early July at Belmont Park

Belmont Park

Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...

 in Elmont, New York

Elmont, New York

Elmont is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the northwest corner of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, along its border with the borough of Queens in New York City...

. A Grade II

Graded stakes race

A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...

 event open to 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, age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of seven furlong

Furlong

A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....

s.

The race is named in honor of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney's

Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney

Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney was an American businessman, film producer, writer, and government official, as well as the owner of a leading stable of thoroughbred racehorses....

 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1946. First Flight

First Flight

First Flight may refer to:* "First Flight" * First Flight , an animated short film* First Flight Airport, in North Carolina, United States* First Flight Handicap, a horse race...

 won the Matron Stakes, and beat male opponents in winning the Belmont Futurity Stakes.

Inaugurated in 1978, the race has been hosted by 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:...

 and Belmont Park:

• Aqueduct - 1978-1989, 1991-2002, 2004-2006
• Belmont - 1990, 2001, 2003, 2007-present

Records

Speed record:

• 1:20.60 - Shared Interest (1992)

Most wins:

• 2 - Twist Afleet (1994, 1995)
• 2 - Country Hideaway (1999, 2000)
• 2 - Shine Again (2001, 2002)

Most wins by a jockey

Jockey

A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

:

• 4 - Jerry Bailey (1987, 1990, 1992, 1994)

Most wins by a trainer

Horse trainer

In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

:

• 6 - H. Allen Jerkens
  H. Allen Jerkens
  Harry Allen Jerkens is an American Thoroughbred race horse Hall of Fame trainer.Jerkens' father owned a riding academy on Long Island that led to his interest in horse racing and in 1950 he trained his first winner. Sometimes called the "Giant Killer", he is best known for his upsets...
  
   (1991, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2008)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 - Bohemia Stable
  Allaire du Pont
  Allaire du Pont was an American sportswoman and a member of the prominent French-American Du Pont family of chemical manufacturers who is most remembered as the owner of the Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame champion, Kelso....
  
   (1997, 2001, 2002)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2009	Porte Bonheur	4	Ramon Dominguez Ramon A. Dominguez Ramon A. Dominguez is an Eclipse Award-winning champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing....	David Duggan	Johanna Murphy-Leopoldsberger	1:22.45
2008	Any Limit	5	Cornelio Velasquez Cornelio Velásquez Cornelio H. Velásquez is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He was introduced to horse racing at age fifteen by trainer Carlos Salazar Guardia in his native Panama and enrolled in the national jockey school...	H. Allen Jerkens H. Allen Jerkens Harry Allen Jerkens is an American Thoroughbred race horse Hall of Fame trainer.Jerkens' father owned a riding academy on Long Island that led to his interest in horse racing and in 1950 he trained his first winner. Sometimes called the "Giant Killer", he is best known for his upsets...	Joseph V. Shields Jr.	1:23.86
2007	Ginger Punch Ginger Punch Ginger Punch is an American Thoroughbred filly racehorse. Owned and bred by operations belonging to automotive parts magnate, Frank Stronach, she is out of the mare Nappelon and sired by the Canadian-bred Awesome Again, winner of his country's 1997 Queen's Plate and the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic...	4	Rafael Bejarano	Robert J. Frankel	Stronach Stable	1:22.64
2006	Carmandia	4	Chris DeCarlo	Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.	Four Roses Thoroughbreds	1:22.91
2005	Great Intentions	4	Edgar Prado	Michael E. Hushion	Barry K. Schwartz Barry K. Schwartz Barry K. Schwartz is an American businessman, Thoroughbred racehorse owner, and a former horse racing industry executive. The son of a grocer who was murdered when Barry was twenty-one-years old, Schwartz grew up in a one-bedroom apartment in The Bronx...	1:23.98
2004	Bending Strings	3	Shaun Bridgmohan Shaun Bridgmohan Shaun X. Bridgmohan is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.At age thirteen, Bridgmohan's family emigrated to the United States, settling in South Florida where he developed an interest in horse racing...	Kiaran McLaughlin Kiaran McLaughlin Kiaran P. McLaughlin is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He currently has a blog website, at http://kiaranmclaughlin.com where he updates what horses he has racing for that particular day...	John D. Gunther	1:22.13
2003	Randaroo	3	Heberto Castillo, Jr. Heberto Castillo, Jr. Heberto Castillo, Jr. is a retired jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He was born into a family involved in the sport. His father was a jockey and his mother Gloria was a horse trainer in Florida. His sister, Rita, married jockey José Santos in 1997.In 1986, Castillo, Jr...	Kiaran McLaughlin Kiaran McLaughlin Kiaran P. McLaughlin is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He currently has a blog website, at http://kiaranmclaughlin.com where he updates what horses he has racing for that particular day...	H. Joseph Allen H. Joseph Allen H. Joseph Allen is an American businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder.A graduate of the University of Michigan, Allen is a partner with his cousin Peter M. Brant in the privately owned newsprint company, Brant-Allen Industries, Inc...	1:23.65
2002	Shine Again	5	Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...	H. Allen Jerkens H. Allen Jerkens Harry Allen Jerkens is an American Thoroughbred race horse Hall of Fame trainer.Jerkens' father owned a riding academy on Long Island that led to his interest in horse racing and in 1950 he trained his first winner. Sometimes called the "Giant Killer", he is best known for his upsets...	Bohemia Stable Allaire du Pont Allaire du Pont was an American sportswoman and a member of the prominent French-American Du Pont family of chemical manufacturers who is most remembered as the owner of the Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame champion, Kelso....	1:23.75
2001	Shine Again	4	Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...	H. Allen Jerkens H. Allen Jerkens Harry Allen Jerkens is an American Thoroughbred race horse Hall of Fame trainer.Jerkens' father owned a riding academy on Long Island that led to his interest in horse racing and in 1950 he trained his first winner. Sometimes called the "Giant Killer", he is best known for his upsets...	Bohemia Stable Allaire du Pont Allaire du Pont was an American sportswoman and a member of the prominent French-American Du Pont family of chemical manufacturers who is most remembered as the owner of the Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame champion, Kelso....	1:23.21
2000	Country Hideaway	4	Jose Espinoza Jose L. Espinoza Jose L. Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.-Year-end charts:Jose L. Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing....	C. R. McGaughey III	Ogden Phipps Ogden Phipps Ogden Phipps 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...	1:22.60
1999	Country Hideaway	3	Heberto Castillo, Jr. Heberto Castillo, Jr. Heberto Castillo, Jr. is a retired jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He was born into a family involved in the sport. His father was a jockey and his mother Gloria was a horse trainer in Florida. His sister, Rita, married jockey José Santos in 1997.In 1986, Castillo, Jr...	C. R. McGaughey III	Ogden Phipps Ogden Phipps Ogden Phipps 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...	1:23.00
1998	Catinca	3	Richard Migliore	John C. Kimmel John C. Kimmel John C. Kimmel is an American thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He holds a pre-med undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School in 1980.-References:**...	Robert K. Waxman	1:22.14
1997	Dixie Flag	3	Mike Luzzi Mike Luzzi Michael Jude Luzzi is an American jockey. He grew up near Delaware Park Racetrack where his grandfather, trainer Buddy Raines, had a major role in raising him and his brother John who also became a jockey...	H. Allen Jerkens H. Allen Jerkens Harry Allen Jerkens is an American Thoroughbred race horse Hall of Fame trainer.Jerkens' father owned a riding academy on Long Island that led to his interest in horse racing and in 1950 he trained his first winner. Sometimes called the "Giant Killer", he is best known for his upsets...	Bohemia Stable Allaire du Pont Allaire du Pont was an American sportswoman and a member of the prominent French-American Du Pont family of chemical manufacturers who is most remembered as the owner of the Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame champion, Kelso....	1:22.84
1996	Thunder Achiever	3	Robbie Davis Robbie Davis Robbie Glen Davis is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Early life:Davis grew up in a single parent household forced onto welfare, something that would impact him for the rest of his life....	Carlos F. Martin	Flying Zee Stables	1:21.59
1995	Twist Afleet	4	Gary Stevens	John C. Kimmel John C. Kimmel John C. Kimmel is an American thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He holds a pre-med undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School in 1980.-References:**...	Lucille Conover	1:22.95
1994	Twist Afleet	3	Jerry Bailey	John C. Kimmel John C. Kimmel John C. Kimmel is an American thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He holds a pre-med undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School in 1980.-References:**...	Lucille Conover	1:23.02
1993	Raise Heck	5	Roger I. Velez	H. Allen Jerkens H. Allen Jerkens Harry Allen Jerkens is an American Thoroughbred race horse Hall of Fame trainer.Jerkens' father owned a riding academy on Long Island that led to his interest in horse racing and in 1950 he trained his first winner. Sometimes called the "Giant Killer", he is best known for his upsets...	Hobeau Farm	1:23.51
1992	Shared Interest	4	Jerry Bailey	Flint S. Schulhofer Flint S. Schulhofer Flint S. "Scotty" Schulhofer was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Schulhofer was born into a racing family in Aiken, South Carolina, where his father owned a racing stable as well as a riding academy...	Robert S. Evans	1:20.65
1991	Missy's Mirage	3	Eddie Maple Eddie Maple Edward Retz "Eddie" Maple is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. One of eight brothers and sisters, he was an older brother to jockey Sam Maple who won more than 2,500 races. He began riding horses at age 12 and won his first race as a professional at 17...	H. Allen Jerkens H. Allen Jerkens Harry Allen Jerkens is an American Thoroughbred race horse Hall of Fame trainer.Jerkens' father owned a riding academy on Long Island that led to his interest in horse racing and in 1950 he trained his first winner. Sometimes called the "Giant Killer", he is best known for his upsets...	Middletown Stables	1:21.98
1990	Queena	4	Jerry Bailey	C. R. McGaughey III	Emory G. Alexander	1:22.40
1989	Grecian Flight	5	Craig Perret Craig Perret Craig Perret is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding horses at age five and by seven was riding quarter horses in match races...	Joseph H. Pierce, Jr.	Henry C. B. Lindh	1:22.00
1988	Cagey Exuberance	4	Joseph Imparato	Robert W. Camac Robert W. Camac Robert W. Camac was an American horse trainer and owner/breeder in Thoroughbred racing. He was murdered in 2001....	Lindsey D. Burbank	1:24.40
1987	Al's Helen	4	Jerry Bailey	Jack Van Berg Jack Van Berg John Charles "Jack" Van Berg is an American Hall of Fame horse trainer. Born into a horse racing family, his father is Hall of Fame trainer, Marion Van Berg....	Kinsman Stable Kinsman Stable Kinsman Stable is the nom de course for the American Thoroughbred racing stable of George Steinbrenner, best known as the owner of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team...	1:21.80
1986	Chaldea	6	Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn Jean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...	Thomas J. Skiffington	R. Lewis Mangum	1:22.40
1985	Alabama Nana	4	Jorge Velasquez Jorge Velasquez Jorge Velásquez is a thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey.Jorge Velasquez career in thoroughbred racing began in his native Panama but as a teenager moved to the United States...	D. Wayne Lukas D. Wayne Lukas Darrell Wayne Lukas is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S...	Leonard D. Mathis	1:22.20
1984	Shortly	4	Mario G. Pino Mario G. Pino Mario G. Pino is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. Raised on a farm, he began his riding career in 1978 at Delaware Park in Wilmington...	James W. Murphy	Sam O. Graham	1:22.60
1983	Pert	4	Frank Lovato, Jr. Frank Lovato, Jr. Frank Lovato, Jr. is a retired American Thoroughbred jockey.- Career :During a career that spanned 25 years Lovato rode a total of 15,603 mounts, winning on 1,686 of them and finishing in the money on another 3,506. The horses he rode earned a total of $41,795,267...	Stephen A. DiMauro Stephen A. DiMauro Stephen A. "Steve" DiMauro is a retired jockey, Champion trainer and successful breeder and owner in American Thoroughbred horse racing....	Harold I. Snyder	1:25.20
1982	Number	3	Eddie Maple Eddie Maple Edward Retz "Eddie" Maple is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. One of eight brothers and sisters, he was an older brother to jockey Sam Maple who won more than 2,500 races. He began riding horses at age 12 and won his first race as a professional at 17...	Woody Stephens Woody Stephens Woody Stephens was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame trainer.Born Woodford Cefis Stephens in Stanton, Kentucky, his younger brother William Ward Stephens also became a successful trainer. Woody Stephens first started in racing as a jockey at age 16 but within a few years switched...	Claiborne Farm Claiborne Farm Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...	1:22.20
1981	Island Charm	4	Richard Migliore	Stephen A. DiMauro Stephen A. DiMauro Stephen A. "Steve" DiMauro is a retired jockey, Champion trainer and successful breeder and owner in American Thoroughbred horse racing....	David A. McKibbin	1:23.60
1980	Samarta Dancer	4	Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, operate a ranch in Laredo, Texas...	Carlos A. Garcia	Gustave Ring	1:25.60
1979	Gladiolus	5	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Freeman E. McMillan	Sea Spray Farms	1:22.40
1978	What A Summer What A Summer What A Summer was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse who defeated both male and female competitors. She was bred in Maryland by Milton Polinger. She was a stunning gray color out of the mare, Summer Tan. Her sire was What Luck, the multiple stakes winning son of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame...	5	Jeffrey Fell Jeffrey Fell Jeffrey J. Fell is a retired jockey and a Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee who was also a successful rider in the United States.-References:* * *...	Leroy Jolley LeRoy Jolley LeRoy Jolley is an United States Hall of Fame Thoroughbred horse trainer. The son of horse trainer Moody Jolley, LeRoy Jolley has been around horses all his life at age nineteen received a New York State trainer's license....	Diana M. Firestone	1:22.20