The Fred W. Hooper 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...

 run annually at Calder Race Course

Calder Race Course

Calder Casino & Race Course is a casino and horse racetrack in Miami Gardens, Florida in the United States.-History:In the mid-1960s, real estate developer Stephen A. Calder envisioned summertime racing in Florida; in 1965, on the advice of Mr. Calder, the Florida Legislature approved a bill...

 in Miami Gardens, Florida

Miami Gardens, Florida

Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...

. A Grade III

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, it is open to horses age three and older and is contested on dirt at a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 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). Currently raced in mid December, it offers a purse of $100,000.

Inaugurated in 1984 as the Tropical Park Handicap, it was run under that name through 1996. In 1987 it was called the Tropical Park Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap. In 1997, the race was renamed in honor of the prominent Thoroughbred owner/breeder, Fred W. Hooper

Fred W. Hooper

Fred William Hooper was an American Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder. He was a member of The Jockey Club, an honorary director of the Breeders' Cup, and one of the founders of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and one of its first presidents.Born in Cleveland, Georgia, ...

 who operated Circle H Farm, a horse breeding

Horse breeding

Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...

 operation in Ocala, Florida

Ocala, Florida

Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...

.

Creme Fraiche

Creme Fraiche (horse)

Creme Fraiche was an American thoroughbred gelding racehorse. He was sired by Rich Cream, co-holder of the world record of 1:19.40 for 7 furlongs on dirt in the 1980 Triple Bend Handicap, out of the Terrible Tiger mare, Likely Exchange.Bred by Pamela Firman and her nephew, G...

 won the 1987 edition, which was run in January of 1988, in track record time and came back to win it again in December of 1988.

The 1984 and 1985 editions were run on 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 ...

 at a distance of “about” 1⅛ miles. In 1986 it was switched to dirt and set at a distance of 1³/16 miles. The 1987 edition, run in January of 1988 was set at 1¼ miles but the 1988 running in December was contested at 1⅛ miles and has remained at that diistance, since.

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1⅛ miles on dirt)

Most wins:

• Creme Fraiche
  Creme Fraiche (horse)
  Creme Fraiche was an American thoroughbred gelding racehorse. He was sired by Rich Cream, co-holder of the world record of 1:19.40 for 7 furlongs on dirt in the 1980 Triple Bend Handicap, out of the Terrible Tiger mare, Likely Exchange.Bred by Pamela Firman and her nephew, G...
  
   (1988, 1988)

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:...

:

• 2 - Walter Guerra (1984, 1988)
• 2 - Jose Velez, Jr.
  Jose A. Velez, Jr.
  Jose Antonio Velez, Jr. is a jockey who competes in American Thoroughbred horse races.The son of jockey Jose Velez, Sr., he began his riding career at Atlantic City Race Course in 1980 and won his first race later that year at the Meadowlands...
  
   (1989, 1996)
• 2 - 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...
  
   (2001, 2002)
• 2 - Rafael Bejarano (2005, 2006)

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...

:

• 3 - Nick Zito
  Nick Zito
  Nicholas Philip "Nick" Zito is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer.Zito began his career as a hot walker and worked his way up to a groom, to an assistant trainer, and to a trainer...
  
   (2004, 2005, 2006)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Brushwood Stable (1988, 1988)
• 2 - Robert V. LaPenta (2004, 2005)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2011	Jimanator	5	Joe Bravo Joe Bravo Wilkyns Nuñez, better known by his ring name Joe Bravo, is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler best known for performing with the International Wrestling Association and World Wrestling Council.-International Wrestling Association :...	Michael J. Trombetta	Three Diamonds Farm	1:53.56
2010	Tackleberry	3	Javier Santiago	Luis Olivares	Luis Olivares	1:54 4/5
2008	Finallymadeit	4	Eduardo O. Nunez	Javier Negrete	Rolbea Thoroughbred Racing	1:53.75
2007	Electrify	4	Elvis Trujillo Elvis Trujillo Elvis Raúl Trujillo is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing best known for riding Maryfield to victory in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint which that year was his big break. He is one of two jockeys in American racing whose mother was an Elvis Presley fan and who named their...	Edward Plesa, Jr.	Padua Stables	1:52.56
2006	Hesanoldsalt	3	Rafael Bejarano	Nick Zito Nick Zito Nicholas Philip "Nick" Zito is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer.Zito began his career as a hot walker and worked his way up to a groom, to an assistant trainer, and to a trainer...	Live Oak Racing	1:51.87
2005	Andromeda's Hero	3	Rafael Bejarano	Nick Zito Nick Zito Nicholas Philip "Nick" Zito is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer.Zito began his career as a hot walker and worked his way up to a groom, to an assistant trainer, and to a trainer...	Robert V. LaPenta	1:53.46
2004	Pies Prospect	3	Edgar Prado	Nick Zito Nick Zito Nicholas Philip "Nick" Zito is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer.Zito began his career as a hot walker and worked his way up to a groom, to an assistant trainer, and to a trainer...	Robert V. LaPenta	1:50.74
2003	Predawn Raid	4	Jorge Chavez Jorge F. Chavez Jorge F. Chavez is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Chavez began his career in horse racing in 1982 in his native Peru and by 1987 was his country's leading rider. In April 1988 he emigrated to the United States where he raced with a great deal of success at Florida race tracks...	Bennie Stutts, Jr.	Mount Joy Stables	1:52.47
2002	The Judge Sez Who	3	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...	Milton W. Wolfson	Sez Who Racing	1:50.53
2001	Kiss A Native	4	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...	William P. White	John A. Franks John A. Franks John Franks was an American businessman and a Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder. A native of Haughton, Louisiana, he earned a degree in geology from Louisiana State University. In 1962, he founded the highly successful Franks Petroleum Inc. and later invested in real estate with Franks...	1:51.05
2000	American Halo	4	Charleen Hunt	Angel M. Medina	Jose Paparoni	1:51.68
1999	Dancing Guy	4	Jose C. Ferrer Jose C. Ferrer Jose C. Ferrer is an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding in the United States in 1983 at Calder Race Course in Florida then at Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey. On November 24, 1983 Ferrer became the first jockey to win five races on a single card...	Newcomb Green	Frances Green	1:50.83
1998	Wicapi	6	Joe Bravo Joe Bravo (jockey) Joe Bravo is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. The son and grandson of jockeys, he began his professional career in Thoroughbred flat racing at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida during the latter end of 1988.According to his NTRA profile, Joe Bravo has dominated the New...	Joseph Calascibetta	Acclaimed Racing Stable	1:52.00
1997	Shrike	4	Jerry Bailey	Martin D. Wolfson Martin D. Wolfson Martin "Marty" D. Wolfson is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He embarked on a professional training career in the early 1970s. He is the son of Louis Wolfson, owner of Florida's Harbor View Farm who won the U.S...	Peachtree Stable	1:51.40
1996	Cimarron Secret	5	Jose Velez, Jr. Jose A. Velez, Jr. Jose Antonio Velez, Jr. is a jockey who competes in American Thoroughbred horse races.The son of jockey Jose Velez, Sr., he began his riding career at Atlantic City Race Course in 1980 and won his first race later that year at the Meadowlands...	Jim Hartley	Francis C. McDonnell	1:52.60
1995	Bound By Honor	4	Julie Krone Julie Krone Julie Krone , is a retired American jockey. In 1993, she became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she captured the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair...	Carl Nafzger Carl Nafzger Carl A. Nafzger is an American Hall of Fame horse trainer. Before he was involved in horseracing he was a championship Rodeo bullrider....	Darby Dan Farm Darby Dan Farm Darby Dan Farm is a produce, livestock, and thoroughbred horse breeding and training farm founded in 1935 near the Darby Creek in Galloway, Ohio by businessman John W. Galbreath. Named for the creek and for Galbreath's son, Daniel M. Galbreath , it was expanded from an original farm into a 4,000...	1:51.80
1994	Halo's Image	3	Gary Boulanger Gary Boulanger Gary Dale Boulanger is a former jockey who competed in Canada and the United States and who is currently a trainer in Florida. He began his career in 1987 at Tampa Bay Downs then went to the Pacific Northwest where he was the leading jockey for three straight years from 1989 through 1991 at...	Happy Alter	A. I. Appleton & Alter's Racing Stable	1:51.40
1994	Take Me Out	6	Mike E. Smith	William I. Mott	Carl F. Pollard/Warner L. Jones, Jr.	1:51.80
1993	Barkerville	5	Randy Romero Randy Romero Randy Paul Romero is a Hall of Fame jockey in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing, Born into a family involved with horses, his father Lloyd J...	Frank L. Brothers Frank L. Brothers Frank L. Brothers is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who in 1991 won two of the three U.S. Triple Crown races...	Darley Stud Darley Stud Darley Stud is a Thoroughbred breeding operation owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates. Darley breeds horses in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Dubai, Japan and Australia....	1:52.40
1992	Classic Seven	4	Chuck Lopez Chuck C. Lopez Charles C. "Chuck" Lopez is an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. Recorded as "Charles," he is the son of jockey Carlos Lopez, Sr....	Tom Cairns	John O. Berry	1:53.00
1990	Public Account	5	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...	George Gianos	S. Young Stable, Inc.	1:52.60
1989	Primal	4	Jose Velez, Jr. Jose A. Velez, Jr. Jose Antonio Velez, Jr. is a jockey who competes in American Thoroughbred horse races.The son of jockey Jose Velez, Sr., he began his riding career at Atlantic City Race Course in 1980 and won his first race later that year at the Meadowlands...	James E. Bracken	Tartan Stable	1:51.60
1988	Creme Fraiche Creme Fraiche (horse) Creme Fraiche was an American thoroughbred gelding racehorse. He was sired by Rich Cream, co-holder of the world record of 1:19.40 for 7 furlongs on dirt in the 1980 Triple Bend Handicap, out of the Terrible Tiger mare, Likely Exchange.Bred by Pamela Firman and her nephew, G...	6	Walter Guerra	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...	Brushwood Stable	1:51.80
1988	Creme Fraiche Creme Fraiche (horse) Creme Fraiche was an American thoroughbred gelding racehorse. He was sired by Rich Cream, co-holder of the world record of 1:19.40 for 7 furlongs on dirt in the 1980 Triple Bend Handicap, out of the Terrible Tiger mare, Likely Exchange.Bred by Pamela Firman and her nephew, G...	6	Angel Cordero, Jr.	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...	Brushwood Stable	2:05.80
1987	Arctic Honeymoon	4	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...	Luis Olivares	Beverly Green	1:59.60
1986	Racing Star	4	Earlie Fires Earlie Fires Earlie Stancel Fires is a retired United States' Racing Hall of Fame jockey.Fires began riding professionally in 1964 and led all American apprentices in wins that year with 224. He retired on September 21, 2008 having won 6,470 races at racetracks across North America...	Manuel Estevez	Five Star Stable	1:45.20
1985	Uptown Swell	4	Walter Guerra	Richard J. Lundy	Virginia Kraft Payson	1:53.20