The Trenton Handicap was 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 Garden State Park Racetrack in Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...

. Open to horses age three and older, the race was contested on dirt at various distances during its tenure:

• 1⅛ 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) : 1942-1953, 1990–1996
• 1¼ miles (10 furlongs) : 1954-1971, 1974, 1989
• 1¹/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) : 1973

The race was part of the inaugural season at Garden State Park Racetrack which opened for business on July 18, 1942. That year's winner was Calumet Farm's

Calumet Farm

Calumet Farm is a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm established in 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky, United States by William Monroe Wright, founding owner of the Calumet Baking Powder Company. Calumet is located in the heart of Lexington's blue grass country, the finest horse breeding region in...

 1941 U.S. Triple Crown

United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing

In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...

 winner, Whirlaway

Whirlaway

Whirlaway was an American champion thoroughbred racehorse.The chestnut horse was sired by English Derby winner Blenheim II, out of the broodmare Dustwhirl. Whirlaway was bred at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Kentucky....

. In its heyday, Garden State Park Racetrack attracted racing's top stars and as many as 40,000 fans for big races such as the Trenton Handicap.

There was no Trenton Handicap from 1977 through 1984 after a fire destroyed the Garden State Park Racetrack grandstand. The business did not reopen until new owners rebuilt the facility in 1984.

There was another Trenton Handicap which was run at Havre de Grace Racetrack

Havre de Grace Racetrack

The Havre de Grace Racetrack was an American horse racing track on Post Road in Havre de Grace, Harford County, Maryland which operated from August 24, 1912 to 1950...

.

Records

Speed record:

• 2:00.00 - Mongo
  Mongo (horse)
  Mongo was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:He was bred and raced by Marion duPont Scott, a member of the prominent Du Pont family. His sire was Royal Charger, a son of Nearco whom Thoroughbred Heritage says was "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century". ...
  
   (1962) (race and track record for 1¼ miles)

Most wins:

• 3 - Mr. Right (1967, 1968, 1969)